Bushwalk Australia

Hi Hikers,

I'm looking for some recommendations for a multi day hike. We are a group of mums wanting to take our 12yr old kids on a 'coming of age' trip when they graduate primary school. Looking for something around 3 nights in length, challenging but achievable, scenery that will keep the kids engaged and with huts rather than camp sites. Planning to undertake the trip in Dec 2023 so lots of time to prepare but will need to be somewhere with a cooler climate. We are thinking Tassie or NZ but open to all suggestions.

Thanks

Huts will mean money, but then so will the travel from Qld. You will probably need to book well in advance .. so keep that in mind as time goes by quickly.


Easy organization ..

Tassie 3 Capes track - near Hobart.
Vic. Grampians - part of the peaks walk? https://grampianspeaks.com.au/#huts
NZ will have similar ... but with a different accent. Might be a good thing to get them 'overseas'.

Public huts or guided with private huts?

Suggestions:

Three Capes in Tassie.

Or the NZ Great Walks : Abel Tasman, Routeburne (over 3 nights), Kepler, Heaphy - the blocked section will probably be fixed by next December). But you have to be ready to book the minute they open the bookings.

Do the Overland Track in Tassie. A couple of families with young teenagers doing it when I walked it and for the kids, it was just one big adventure. They were all loving it.

It's set up for newbies with trail angels, rangers, huts and multiple transport providers. It even has helipads in places.

6 days of awesome, mostly easy walking and a heap of side trips for the fitter, more adventurous in the group.

BTW I noticed someone selling an 80L pack on the forum. Could be a good option for one of pack mules (parents).

Sent from my SM-G998B using Tapatalk

Tazzie:
Short and free (apart from parks pass): Cynthia Bay to Narcissus to Pine Valley with day trip/s to the Labyrinth and/or Acropolis. This would be my first choice.
Short and free but harder: Frenchmans.
Short and $$: (Two out of) Three Capes, using the TasPAWS gluts.
Longer and $$: Full Overland Track.

By "short" I mean three nights.

I'd suggest Three Capes. 4 days, 3 nights. Mildly challenging, not too extreme weather wise and there are sculptures to look out for along the way with explanations in the guide book about their meaning. it's hut based, mattresses provided so you only need sleeping bag and liner. Cooking facilities provided so only need to carry food and eating utensils (cups, bowls/plates,cutlery). It's also easy to get transport to and from Hobart.

Or, if you want to hike some of the Capes for minimal cost, camp at Fortescue Bay and do a series of day walks eg Cape Huay, part of the Tasman Coastal Track, there's a shipwreck at Canoe Bay (deliberately scuttled to create a breakwater). Cape Pillar would be an overnighter. If you chose to camp at Fortescue Bay, you'd need to hire a vehicle to get there.

There are plenty of public huts in Kosciuszko National Park and the Bogong High Plains. These are often cited as refuge only, and there may be other parties in the huts, so tents must be carried. A 3-4 day loop is Round Mountain, Farm Ridge, O'Keefes Hut, Jagungal, Derschkos Hut, Round Mountain. taking four days will avoid rushing. Go clockwise to cross the Tumut River on the first day. O'Briens Hut is a possible place to stay before or after the walk, but it may be crowded on Friday nights and weekends

https://bushwalk.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=36&t=28837
https://actelan.com/2017-04-02-jagungal-circuit/
http://www.johnevans.id.au/Pages/Walk%2 ... 23-25.html
https://khuts.org/index.php/huts/kosciu ... briens-hut
https://khuts.org/index.php/huts/kosciu ... keefes-hut
https://khuts.org/index.php/huts/kosciu ... rshkos-hut

I wonder if the OP was seeking info on huts because she is trying to lighten the load - for her and the kids - by using huts with bunks and mattresses instead of having to carry a tent and mat?

The OP may well be seeking a walk that does not require carrying much gear. My post was to advise the OP about the possibility of camping at public huts, and using the huts if the weather is bad. Four days for the Jagungal loop is viable for children, with care needed on the Tumut crossing. If that sounds too hard then out and back on the Toolong Range is an option - flat, good scenery, easy navigation, and no river crossing.

Lophophaps wrote:The OP may well be seeking a walk that does not require carrying much gear. My post was to advise the OP about the possibility of camping at public huts, and using the huts if the weather is bad. Four days for the Jagungal loop is viable for children, with care needed on the Tumut crossing. If that sounds too hard then out and back on the Toolong Range is an option - flat, good scenery, easy navigation, and no river crossing.

And the OP is silent after almost a week. Great bunch of people here willing to help. I would suggest waiting for a response before anymore effort is put in.

using huts with bunks and mattresses instead of having to carry a tent and mat?

Hum - there may be a few huts which actually have mattresses, but very few!
I know of only one in KNP. Light air mats are advised.

Cheers
Roger

Check out the Green Gully track. Not as amazing a landscape as Tasmania but should suit everyone. A day trip to get nearby at Port Macquarie or Walcha or Armidale, a day trip home to Qld. Add in some beach time or the Waterfall Way sightseeing to make a week of it.