Ready to immerse yourself in beauty, serenity and blissful isolation? Then take a hike - along one of Tasmania's famed walking tracks.

Heighten your senses along one of the most spectacular sections of the World Heritage-listed Tasmanian Wilderness by hiking the famed Overland Track. It's a six to eight-day, 67km walk that will take you into the heart of the Cradle Mountain-Lake St Clair National Park. The terrain is challenging but infinitely rewarding, as you travel past craggy mountains, dense forests, alpine lakes, clear waterfalls and a variety of ecosystems.

The Overland Track commences at Ronny Creek, and you walk close to Tasmania's tallest mountain, Mount Ossa - which you can climb as a side trip - before finishing the hike at Lake St Clair. Despite its international reputation as a strenuous hike - some parts of the route are high and exposed and the weather can be changeable - the track has been improved dramatically to appeal to travellers with reasonable fitness levels.

Several companies offer guided walks, ranging from tent-based trips where you carry your own pack to fully catered walks where you stay in comfortable private huts. Guided walks are a good way to go, allowing you to get the most out of the environment while still being able to enjoy some creature comforts. You're also likely to learn a lot from the fit and knowledgeable guides, who tend to carry the bulk of the provisions as well.

For a walk on the wild side, there's no better place than along the South Coast Track, which runs from Cockle Creek to Melaleuca in the Southwest National Park. On this 85km walk you'll traverse two rugged mountain ranges, wade across rivers, cross a lagoon by dinghy and explore remote wilderness beaches. For a slightly less challenging option, you can take the 70 km Port Davey Track between Scotts Peak Road and Melaleuca. Both walks will reward you with views of spectacular beaches - but you'll need to have some walking experience.

There are no roads to Melaleuca, so you know the South Coast Track is going to be an adventure; walkers must take a light plane flight, sail or walk in and out. Most people take between six and eight days to complete the walk. The Southwest National Park is primarily a wilderness area so the only huts on the walk are at Melaleuca.

Wildlife is in abundance here: you'll see wombats, quolls and pademelons as you pass through large tracts of virgin rainforest and fields of buttongrass. Most guided walks will allow for side trips and give you time to swim, fish and relax along the empty beaches.

For those of us who like the idea of being outdoors and enjoying some physical exercise without having to lug anything heavier than a daypack, the leisurely Freycinet Experience is the perfect holiday.

The Freycinet Experience is a four-day, fully catered and guided walk covering the length of the Freycinet Peninsula on Tasmania's east coast. Each day, after a challenging walk visiting natural attractions, you return to comfortable lodge accommodation, a good dinner and a comfortable bed.

Each day brings simple yet enriching experiences - the contrast of bright orange lichen on granite mountains, pristine stretches of sand, views across the Tasman Sea and the crisp taste of water from mountain streams.

Of course you can choose to do any of these walks independently so if you prefer to tackle the routes on your own, make sure you book in advance. But remember, there's a social element to guided walks - a sense of kinship - that makes the experience all the more rewarding.

However you choose to hike the Tasmanian Wilderness, you'll be amazed at the restorative powers of striking scenery, fresh air and a sense of freedom, and you'll want to return for another dose soon.

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• Nearest City:Launceston
• Distance to Launceston from Cradle Mountain:150km
• Nearest Airport:Launceston
• Distance to Launceston Airport:150km

Local Attractions in the Area

• The Overland Track - Cradle Mountain Huts
• Freycinet Experience Walk
• South Coast Track
• Bay of Fires Walk
• Maria Island Walk

Helpful Links for the Area

• Cradle Mountain - Lake St Clair National Park
• South West National Park
• Freycinet National Park
• Cradle Mountain
• Tasmanian Wilderness World Heritage Area

Seasonal Events

• Great Tasmanian Bike Race
• Southern Open Vineyards Weekend
• Three Peaks Race
• A Taste Of The Huon