The Tarkine wilderness region encompasses 447,000 hectares of wilderness, including the southern hemispheres largest single tract of temperate rainforest, a wild western coastline with an extraordinary wealth of aboriginal cultural heritage sites and critical habitat for over 50 threatened species.
Join Tarkine Trails on this fully accommodated day pack hiking adventure, exploring one of the most remote and beautiful parts of the world – the Tarkine wilderness in the north-west of Tasmania.
The Tarkine (takayna) contains a wildly diverse landscape – including Australia’s largest patch of temperate rainforest – and a world of natural treasures including mountain ranges, wild river and cave systems, buttongrass moorlands, and a rugged coastline with long sandy beaches, grassy woodland and coastal heath. The plant and animal life here is as rich and varied as the many habitats that support them – it is alive with frogs, birds, 28 different mammals, endangered wedge-tailed eagles and the now rare Astacopsis gouldi – the world’s biggest freshwater lobster. It is home to one of the greatest concentrations of Aboriginal sites in Australia and reflects the history of more recent times telling the stories of miners, farmers and fishers.
We explore the spectacular highlights and trails of the Tarkine region with stays in lodge style accommodation. Three nights at Corinna in eco-cabins, set deep in the pristine Tarkine rainforest along the banks of the majestic Pieman River is an experience not to be missed.
Itinerary Summary
Day 1 : Pick up Launceston, transfer to Rocky Cape National Park, transfer to Stanley | 10kms
Day 2 : Explore Trowutta Arch, travel the Western Explorer and trek Mt. Donaldson | 13kms
Day 3 : Kayak the majestic rainforest clad Pieman and Savage Rivers, return rainforest walk to Corinna | 10kms+paddle | 5km walk
Day 4 : Coastal Hike on the Tarkine Coast to Point Rupert | 14kms
Day 5 : Fatman Barge, Zeehan, walk Montezuma Falls track, Tullah |12 kms
Day 6 : Mount Farrell hike , return to Launceston | 6kms
What’s included
- 2 professional wilderness guides.
- 5 nights lodge/cabin style accommodation (twin share).
- 5 breakfasts, 6 lunches and 5 dinners.
- All delicious snacks on the trail.
- Return transport from Launceston.
- Pieman River boat transfers.
- Kayak hire.
- All national park fees.
- Emergency communications & group first aid kit.
- Alcohol is not included.
- Maximum 10 guests
Notes to Consider
Our 6 day Tarkine and the West adventure is a moderately graded walk. However, we advise you to do as much training as you can before your tour with us. The more you train for the walk the easier you will handle the terrain and the more you will enjoy this wonderful part of the world. It’s also important to come along with an open mind, ready for an awesome experience whatever the weather, whoever the group. It is very important that you bring the right gear for the conditions. The Tasmanian West Coast weather can be unpredictable, storms and very strong winds can arise very quickly and heavy rain can fall at any time of the year. Quality rain jackets and over pants are available for hire. If you are at all concerned about your ability to do this walk, please feel free to call one of us here at Trek Tasmania for more advice.
Note: This itinerary is subject to change with any change in Community regulations as well as Governmental changes and natural circumstances beyond our control.
Day 1: Depart Launceston, Hike Rocky Cape National Park, transfer to Stanley
We collect you from your hotel in Launceston at 7:30am for a 1.25 hour drive to the small coastal town of Penguin on the northwest coast for a morning tea stop. Continuing for another hour we transfer to the trail head of our first walk in the Rocky Cape National Park. Our days walk takes us along stunning coastline, past rocky headlands and through towering coastal banksia forests. We have multiple options to tailor the days walking as we explore one of Tasmania’s main ancient geological and cultural epicentres. We then transfer to your accommodation in beautiful Stanley.
After settling into your accommodation we may have time for a spectacular sunset hike across Tasmania’s Uluru – The Nut at Stanley (1-hour circuit walk / 4 km).
10kms+
Meals: Lunch, Dinner
Day 2: The Western Explorer to Corinna
After breakfast depart Stanley at around 8am for a short transfer to the Trowutta Arch, where a 45-minute hike will explore the magnificent geological arch created by collapsed cave systems. After this leg stretch, we commence the trek down the “Western Explorer”. This is a 2 hour drive connecting the old mining settlement of Balfour in the north with our destination, Corinna in the south. After a nice stop at the Scenic Donaldson river, we transfer to the trail head of Mount Donaldson (408m). Ascending through forest on to an open button grass ridge leading to the summit for spectacular wilderness views of the Pieman River, the rainforest valleys of the Donaldson River, the Tarkine’s deep interior, and the Southern Ocean to the west. This is now our playground for next days! After returning to the trailhead there is a short drive to your eco-cabins at Corinna, deep in the southern Tarkine wilderness. After checking into your accommodation there may be time for a sunset walk along the Whyte River. Dinner tonight is at the Tannin Restaurant at Corinna.
up to 13kms
Meals: Breakfast,Lunch, Dinner
Day 3: Kayak ruyinrim (Pieman river) and explore rainforest surrounds
Enjoy breakfast with your guides to the waking sounds of the Tarkine. Today we explore the Tarkine by kayaks, paddling down the Pieman River. The water here is flat and perfect even for first time paddlers. After 2-3 hours we reach our lunch spot at Lovers Falls. There is a short
hike to the lunch spot through a fern forest. After lunch continue our paddle up a tributary river, the Savage River, for about an hour. We return to Corinna with a hike along the shorelines of the rivers paddled today. A delicious dinner will be prepared by your guides tonight at Corinna.
5kms hiking | 10kms+ paddling
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 4: Coastal hike to laymanika (Rupert Point)
After breakfast enjoy a spectacular ferry transfer to the Pieman River Heads. Transfer to the northern side of the Heads and undertake a coastal exploratory hike to Point Rupert. Our walk includes significant indigenous cultural sites, rare coastal flora and amazing coastal rock formations. A late afternoon transfer to your accommodation at Corinna where your guides will prepare another tasty dinner.
14kms
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 5: Fatman Barge, the Silver City and Montezuma Falls, Tullah
After breakfast we leave Corinna taking a short transfer over the Pieman River with the unique “Fatman” barge. We continue south east past the Heemsskirk Ranges to Zeehan, which was once the thriving hub of Tasmania’s west coast, known as the “Silver City”. We complete a loop
walk before lunch, exploring the mining heritage of the area through a unique discussed Spary Silver Mine located just outside town. After lunch, we transfer to Montezuma Falls. Following a late 1800’s abandoned tramline, the trail explores scenic rainforest crowded with many stunning tree types including sassafras, myrtle and leatherwood to one of Tasmania’s highest waterfalls (104m). A short transfer to our accommodation at Tullah Lakeside Lodge Dinner will be at the lodge tonight.
12kms
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 6: Mt Farrell Mountain Hike, return to Launceston
After breakfast, we will undertake one of the most rewarding mountain treks in Tasmania – Mount Farrell (684m). The return walk takes us up through forest onto an exposed moorland plateau and along stunning mountain ridges to the summit. In clear weather, under the imposing guise of Mt. Murchison, the central Tasmanian mountains can be viewed, including Cradle Mountain. After a hearty lunch in Tullah we return to Launceston via some scenic and taste bud rewarding stops to conclude your tour in Launceston in the late afternoon.
up to 6kms
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Notes to consider
Our 6 day Tarkine and the West adventure is a moderately graded walk. However, we advise you to do as much training as you can before your tour with us. The more you train for the walk the easier you will handle the terrain and the more you will enjoy this wonderful part of the world. It’s also important to come along with an open mind, ready for an awesome experience whatever the weather, whoever the group. It is very important that you bring the right gear for the conditions. The Tasmanian West Coast weather can be unpredictable, storms and very strong winds can arise very quickly and heavy rain can fall at any time of the year. Quality rain jackets and over pants are available for hire. If you are at all concerned about your ability to do this walk, please feel free to call one of us here at Trek Tasmania for more advice.
Note: This itinerary is subject to change with any change in Community regulations as well as Governmental changes and natural circumstances beyond our control.
Tarkine and the West Trail Notes
The terrain experienced on this trek is a mix of hardened, well- maintained track work and natural walking trails. The trails we explore are generally in good condition and clearly marked. However, we stress that the Tasmanian West Coast can be very unforgiving with all year-round inclement weather conditions possible.
Experience is not necessary at this level and anyone who is in good health and fit enough to enjoy an extended weekend beach walk and some moderate inclines and declines – will be able to handle this trek. You can expect to spend 4-8 hours trekking each day on marked but uneven trails.
Mostly but not limited to Australian Walking Track Grade 2 – No bushwalking experience required. The track is hardened or compacted surface and may have a gentle hill section or sections and occasional steps.
Some Australian Walking Track Grade 3 – Suitable for most ages and fitness levels. Some bushwalking experience recommended. Tracks may have short steep hill sections a rough surface and many steps.
What y0u carry
The things you need to carry on your walk each day are: your personal equipment for the day in a 25-30L day pack (with waist harness), wet weather gear, water, snacks, sunscreen etc.
Please keep all other personal clothing and equipment in a smaller duffel bag / suitcase for your support vehicle to transport.
A comprehensive gear list is available at the end of the itinerary detailing what equipment is included in the tour cost, what items are available for hire and what you will need to bring with you to enjoy and be prepared for your holiday.
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TARKINE TRAILS
Tarkine Trails was established in 2002 by a group of like-minded, passionate individuals, with a focus to provide exposure from the threats to the Tarkine region through tourism. From here the company has evolved to provide multiple unique deep immersion walking experiences, both within the Tarkine’s vast rainforest areas and along its wild coastline.
Tarkine Trails is now proudly part of the Trek Tours Australia family, continuing the legacy of offering truly unique and genuine takayna / Tarkine experiences.
We feel privileged to continue the important work set by the founders and more recently through Bonorong Wildlife Sanctuary. Protecting the takayna/Tarkine for future generations is our core philosophy. This has remained unchanged, to this very day and has been the driving force and bond for those individuals involved with Tarkine Trails from inception.
Tarkine Trails is here to get it right. We are proud to be an ambassador for business, community and the environment. This is what we believe ecotourism should be for anyone with the privilege to operate in an incredible natural environment such as takayna. Tarkine Trails believes that working collaboratively with the north west community and industry will create the strongest outcome for a positive future.
ABOUT TAKAYNA/TARKINE
The takayna/Tarkine wilderness region is located in the north-west of Tasmania. The area encompasses approximately 447,000 hectares of wilderness including the southern hemisphere’s largest single tract of temperate rain forest, a wild coastline with an extraordinary wealth of Aboriginal cultural heritage sites, and habitat for over 50 threatened species.
Over 90% of the natural values in takayna / Tarkine are largely intact. A living example of one of the most primitive vegetation formations on Earth. Providing a unique window into our planet’s ancient past, the cool temperate rain-forests in takayna were once widespread across the ancient super continent Gondwana. Some of the best-preserved plant fossil sites in the world, dating back 65 million years. Magnesite karst systems of caves and pinnacles considered internationally rare. There are groves of some the tallest hardwood trees around, numerous wild rivers, and spectacular mountain ranges.
takayna / Tarkine is now gaining international recognition for the its’ outstanding beauty, natural and cultural values and the important position it holds for the future of our planet. Until the early 2000s the forests of Tarkine were inaccessible for walking tours. Tarkine Trails facilitates immersive small group walking experiences in this ancient wilderness. It is our privilege and passion to be part of showcasing this unique place to our visitors.
WHY ‘TAKAYNA’?
You may see us refer to the Tarkine as ‘takayna/Tarkine’. ‘takayna’ (tah kye nah) is the palawa kani name for this region. The Tasmanian Aboriginal Centre says:
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takayna (tah kye nah) is recorded as the name of the people from the Sandy Cape-Pieman River area.
It is an acceptable practice to use the same word for a place as for the people of that place. Other words for a place are the same as the word for ‘the nation at that place’; some examples are nungu and yingina.
So we revive takayna for the Tarkine area, and also for the people of that area.
There are no other names recorded for this place or its people.
The English spelling ‘Tarkine’ has been used since the 1980s as the place name for an area of more than 447,000 hectares between the Arthur and Pieman Rivers. Conservationists chose that word with Aboriginal approval to name the area, based on one spelling variant of the name of the Aboriginal people from the Sandy Cape/Pieman River area – ‘Tarkiner’.
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Out of respect for the original inhabitants of the land, we refer to it by takayna first, and Tarkine second, where possible.
