This document was extracted from the booklet of the same name issued by the NATIONAL PARKS & WILDLIFE SERVICE. It is a short introduction to wilderness survival-both your survival in the wilderness and the survival of the wilderness as you walk through it.

It won't tell you everything you'll need to know but it will tell you the basics-what to take, what situations you'll need to be prepared for and where to go for more detailed information. Hopefully it will give you a feel for the wilderness and an idea of how your actions can greatly affect its survival. if the Tasmanian World Heritage Area is to remain one of the world's great wilderness areas, a lot depends on you.

The information here is aimed mainly at bushwalker’s camp mg out overnight. It applies in particular to the Tasmanian Wilderness World Heritage Area, a region made up of the following reserves:

Cradle Mountain-Lake St Clair National Park;

Franklin-Gordon Wild Rivers National Park:

Southwest National Park;

Walls of Jerusalem National Park and the

Central Plateau Conservation Area.

However much of the general advice is also applicable to other Tasmanian walking areas.

BEFORE YOU GO

The word 'wilderness' originally meant 'place of wild beasts' and it was seen as a harsh land, truly testing those brave enough to venture into it. This is still so today. Unwary walkers have lost their lives by taking the wilderness too lightly. Proper pre-planning of your trip is essential:

Familiarise yourself with the area. Study maps and route guides, ask experienced bushwalker’s about track conditions and campsites.

Work up to it. Train your body by doing shorter day and overnight walks first-many rescues involve knee and ankle injuries that could have been avoided with better preparation.

Plan your party size Four is optimal for safety (if someone is injured there is one person to stay with the injured person and two to go for help). If you travel alone take extra care and stay on the more frequently used tracks. Avoid walking in large parties; these have a greater environmental impact and tend to become socially unwieldy. Eight should be considered the maximum.

Make sure you are well equipped .

Leave a walk plan (use the centre pages of this booklet) with trustworthy friends, relatives or the police. Remember to register in the log books at the start of the track and don't forget to de-register at the end. Pre-planning to minimise the impact of your walk is also essential. Remember to take:

A hand trowel for burying faecal waste;

A fuel stove and fuel to use instead of a campfire

Gaiters so you can walk comfortably through boggy tracks and

A good quality tent with sewn-in floor and tent poles to minimise damage at campsites.

(See the section 'How to bushwalk' for ideas on how to minimise your impact.)

WHERE TO GO

The choices are vast. The World Heritage Area covers 1.38 million hectares and there are over a thousand kilometres of walking tracks and routes. Some of the major tracks and routes are marked on the map over the page.

Below are brief outlines of some of the more common overnight walks in the World Heritage Area.

The Overland Track

This is the best known and most used long distance walking track in Tasmania. The 80 kilometre-long track winds through some of Tasmania's most spectacular alpine scenery and past Tasmania's highest mountain (Mount Ossa at 1,617 metres).

It takes between 5 and 10 days for the average party to complete their trek (depending on side trips done and how bad the weather gets). Most walkers (about 90%) walk the track North - South. During the Bookings Period this is the only direction permitted by Parks & Wildlife.

There are a number of huts along the Overland Track but these must not be relied on for overnight shelter. The huts can often be overcrowded and in bad weather bushwalker’s have perished trying to get to the next hut. Always carry a tent and be prepared to camp before the party gets fatigued.

The huts are basic shelters, their only concession to comfort is a pot-bellied coal stove. These are designed for heating-they do not cook effectively. Fuel stoves are necessary for cooking as Cradle Mountain-Lake St Clair National Park is a declared Fuel Stove Only Area-campfires are not permitted within the park.

A Parks Pass is required.

South Coast Track

The South Coast Track is renowned for its magnificent beaches and spectacular coastal scenery.

At 85 kilometres it is one of the longest tracks in the Southwest National Park. Parties take 5 to 10 days to walk it. Walkers usually fly into Melaleuca and walk out to Cockle Creek. Some combine the South Coast Track with the Port Davey Track to make a 10 to 16 day epic.

The climate is generally milder than the more alpine parts of the World Heritage Area, as the walk is largely coastal. However you will still need all your wet weather gear as it rains, on average, every second day.

The track receives regular maintenance but sections of mud, still have to be negotiated. There are no huts on the track (except next to Melaleuca airstrip), so tents are essential.

Peat soil, which poses a fire risk (see section on campfires p19), underlies most campsites on the South Coast Track. To lessen the chance of campfires burning into the peat the use of fuel stoves along the entire track is recommended. Currently a Fuel Stove Only Area applies over a section of the South Coast Track, this may be expanded in 1993-check with local rangers prior to your walk.

Frenchmans Cap

This walk takes between 4 and 5 days and is a return walk to Frenchmans Cap-a sheer quartzite mountain towering over the Franklin River valley. The daily Hobart to Queenstown bus service provides access to the start of the track by early afternoon.

The walk is considerably more arduous than the Overland Track; it contains some steep extended climbs and extensive sections of mud.

There are two huts on the track at Lake Vera and Lake Tahune. These are often full so tents must be carried. Fire has destroyed much of the sensitive vegetation in the area, particularly near the huts. For this reason a Fuel Stove Only Area applies over the length of the track.

Walls of Jerusalem

The 'Walls' is an area of increasing popularity, but one that is often taken too lightly. Many people attempt to do it as a day walk-it really needs an overnight stay to allow you to see the main 'Walls' amphitheatre.

This however presents a problem as the central 'Walls' area is being degraded by camping at a number of sites.

If you are going to the 'Walls' plan to camp outside the central 'Walls' area at either Solomons Jewels or Dixons Kingdom. Both these areas can take the pressure better. Stay on the main tracks where these exist in the central 'Walls' area as the surrounding vegetation is sensitive to trampling.

The 'Walls' also has one of the largest remaining stands of pencil pines-ancient trees that can grow to over 1,000 years old. To protect these and other fire-sensitive, alpine plant communities the National Park is a declared Fuel Stove Only Area.

WHEN TO GO

Many people have to walk during the main holiday period-December to February. The peak season has its advantages, such as relatively fine weather, (though March and April are sometimes more settled) however other times of the year have the big advantage of there not being many other walkers trying to 'get away from it all'.

Seasons

Below are some of the seasonal highlights.

Summer (December - February)

Warm weather - Well, at least some of the time, but days of 30C are not uncommon, be warned you will still need your "winter woollies" as a "White Christmas" is  not uncommon at Cradle Mountain! Never forget that this is Tasmania at high altitude and that you must be prepared for sun and snow anytime of the year. This is also the peak period for walkers and you are required to book your Overland track trip through the Parks & Wildlife Service. So if you are after the true solitude of the wilds, summer may be a good time to avoid the more popular routes.

Autumn (March - May)

"Fagus" - The golden-orange autumn colours of the decidu005 beech (Nothofagus gunnii) make autumn a photographer's delight. Fagus is Tasmania's only deciduous tree, it usually changes colour around the Anzac Day holiday (April 25) or a fortnight or so either side.

Winter (June - August)

Snow - There are few more beautiful sights than snow on the jagged mountain peaks. Winter days, though cold, are often crisp and clear, especially in the morning. However you will need all your warm protective clothing. Be prepared for snow and to be holed up during blizzards, sometimes for days.

Spring (September -November)

It usually rains. However even in the rain the new flush of growth and the burgeoning rivers make this time of year very beautiful-but again remember your wet weather gear.

Weather

The weather is one of the most common topics of conversation amongst bushwalker’s. Western Tasmania is notorious for glorious, sunny, summer conditions one minute followed by squalls, bucketing rain and often snow the next.

The tables on page II show weather data averaged over the last 50 years. The data comes from two gauging stations within the World Heritage Area, Maatsuyker Island at sea level off the south coast and Cradle Valley at 914 metres above sea level in the North.

Bear in mind that these figures are only averages, at Cradle Valley in January 1987, 294 mm of rain fell, in January 1988, 45 mm fell. There is no guarantee of good weather even if you go in the driest month, so be prepared!

FINAL CHECK

Whatever time of the year you decide to go you need to be prepared for the full range of weather conditions. It is vital not to skimp on safety items but also not to overload your pack! This will greatly detract from your enjoyment of the walk. Between one fifth and one third of your body weight (depending on fitness) is a comfortable carrying load for most people.

For any overnight trip into the wilderness a number of items are essential survival gear, Use the equipment check list, (PDF) as a guide, experience will teach which items are less necessary.

Park Fees

Fees are payable to enter all Tasmanian national parks. Contact the ranger station closest to your walk. Contact NPWS for further information.

Wilderness Pass

Many parts of the World Heritage Area, particularly alpine areas, are extremely fragile and subject to erosion. The increasing number of walkers has meant that a number of tracks and campsites are suffering severe degradation-damage the Department does not have the funds to redress. To decrease this damage a wilderness pass system with limits on the number of walkers is in operation.

The Pass system (with number limits) is now in place on the Overland Track and walks must be pre-booked at peak times and is likely to be progressively introduced for all tracks in the World Heritage Area. Whatever track you intend walking in the World Heritage Area check with the local ranger station prior to walking to see if a pass is necessary and if any number limits apply.

 ****** SAVE YOUR OWN LIFE ******

Let Someone Know Before You Go

Fill out a TRIP INTENTIONS FORM, included in the hard copy version of this document and available seperately from Dept of Tourism, Sport and Recreation, The Tasmanian Bush & Mountaincraft Board, Tasmanian Police and National Parks and Wildlife RANGER STATIONS It is designed to ensure that someone does know where you are. Fill it out and leave it with someone reliable (a friend, family member or responsible authority) before you commence your walk.

HOW TO BUSHWALK

How to bushwalk?! Yes how. From the viewpoint of the survival of the wilderness how you walk and camp is the most important thing about your Journey.

While technology has allowed us to alter the natural world it has also given us the tools to walk the wilderness and leave virtually no trace of our passage. Modern walking gear and minimal impact bushwalking techniques are probably the best chance we have of ensuring the wilderness survives us.

So how do you walk in a way that has minimal impact on the environment?

Walking 'Softly'

In tracked areas stay on the tracks. This limits damage to a planned route.

In open untracked areas spread out. If there are no tracks the vegetation has more chance of surviving if only one foot lands on it. Stay on rocks and hard ground wherever possible. Avoid walking on alpine and other soft vegetation-it can take years to recover.

Don't create new tracks around bogs or cut corners on zig-zags. These lead to erosion and visual scarring.

Make No Trace Camps

Look for low impact camps. Sandy or hard surfaces are better than boggy or vegetated areas. In tracked areas, camp at existing campsites rather than creating new ones. In untracked areas, camp 30 metres from watercourses and the track. Only stay one or two nights at any one site.

Modern tents and sleeping mats make it unnecessary to cut vegetation for mattresses or saplings for tentpoles, (this is also illegal in National Parks). Similarly, digging drainage ditches around tents scars the landscape and is not necessary if the tent's seams are properly sealed and it is correctly sited.

Leave camps better than you found them-by removing rubbish and dismantling unnecessary or unsafe fireplaces.

Use Fuel Stoves-Not Campfires (See also Fuel Stove only Areas)

Environmentally disastrous bushfires have started from walker's campfires. Campfires also lead to local environmental degradation around campsites. For these reasons we recommend you:

Use fuel stoves instead of campfires in all situations. Fuel stoves minimise the risk of fires escaping. Compared with campfires they are faster, a lot easier in wet weather, don't deplete firewood at campsites and don't leave lasting scars on the landscape.

Use fuel stoves in Fuel Stove Areas. A number of Tasmanian National Parks or parts of parks (including much of the World Heritage Area) are Fuel Stove Only Areas. This has been done to reduce the bushfire risk and lessen environmental degradation at campsites, firewood is also often scarce in these areas. Fines of up to $5,000 can be imposed for lighting fires in such areas.

Use fuel stoves in highland and rainforest areas. All highland and rainforest areas should be regarded as Fuel Stove Only. They are particularly easily destroyed by fire.

Do not light fires on peat. Organic peat soil underlies much of the Tasmanian wilderness. Peat is a dark, spongy soil that feels 'greasy' when rubbed between the fingers. Fires lit on peat can burn into the soil and smoulder underground for months, causing bushfires in the next hot weather. It is illegal to light fires on peat anywhere in Tasmania. Fines of up to $1,000 can be imposed.

For all the above reasons fuel stoves are safer and better than campfires. However if you are in an emergency situation and must have a fire:

Keep it small;

Don't put rocks around it;

Use an existing fireplace;

Use only dead and down wood (leave axes and machetes at home) and

In pristine areas, scatter all traces of the fire when you leave.

Above all make absolutely sure the fire is out before you leave. Put it out with water, not soil.

How Not to Get 'Gastro' - The Art of Bush Toiletry

Attacks of gastroenteritis-diarrhoea and vomiting-are a risk in the wilderness. They are thought to be due to walkers leaving faecal waste exposed. Flies land on the waste and spread disease. The waste can also pollute water supplies. To avoid getting gastro' or giving it to others:

In areas with toilets, use them! Close toilet lids after use.

In areas without toilets, or if the toilets are full or flyblown, bury waste 100 metres away from camps or water. Dig a hole 15 centimetres (6 inches) deep, (use your hand trowel) and bury all faecal waste and toilet paper. Carry out condoms, sanitary pads and tampons (a plastic screw top container is useful).

In alpine areas digging a toilet hole will cut the roots of slow growing alpine plants, so if you're near a toilet use it, but if you're not consider carrying the waste out! Carry the waste and used toilet paper in 2 or more heavy duty, well sealed plastic bags (waste only-no urine), make sure the bags are well separated from food, eating utensils and clothing.

Dispose of the waste at the end of your walk at home. Thoroughly wrap the waste and plastic bags with newspaper and put them out with your garbage; or empty the waste into the toilet, wrap the bags and put in the garbage. If you empty the waste into the toilet make sure the bags don't go in as well-plastic can jam toilet systems. Avoid skin contact and wash your hands afterwards.

Keep food away from flies and places they land on, such as hut tables, furniture etc.

As a precaution, boil water for ten minutes in areas used by large numbers of walkers, especially when the water comes from a small enclosed water catchment such as a tarn or minor stream. While boiling for three minutes gets rid of most nasties 10 minutes is necessary to get rid of Giardia-a human parasite that lives in mountain streams when contaminated by faecal waste.

Giardia causes chronic diarrhoea and an array of other nasties. So far it has not been recorded in Tasmanian waters though it has been found in the Australian Alps and New Zealand. Following the above steps-particularly defecating away from watercourses and burying the waste-will decrease the chances of it establishing here.

Wash Well Away From Creeks

Wash billies and cooking gear 50 metres away from streams and lakes. Use sand or a scourer instead of soap or detergent. Even biodegradable soap is alien to the wilderness environment.

Carry Out All Rubbish

Avoid taking potential rubbish such as cans, bottles and excess packaging. Plan your meals so you won't have any organic waste left over.

Don't bury rubbish-animals dig it up and scatter it.

Carry out all your rubbish including small, easy-to-miss items like cigarette butts, silver paper, tea bags and freeze dried food packaging. Organic material, such as orange peel and egg shells, takes a long time to degrade and needs to be carried out. Check your camp thoroughly before leaving.

Don't dispose of waste (particularly plastics) into watercourses or the sea these can kill water life.

If you have the misfortune to come across other walker's rubbish, do the wilderness a favour and take that out too.

WHAT TO AVOID

Getting Lost!

Prevention

Stop to make camp well before dark or at the first sign of stormy weather. Keep your group together, especially towards the end of the day. Do not take unnecessary chances or push too hard. Abandon the trip if anyone becomes ill or if really bad weather sets in. Know your group and its limitations and modify plans as necessary.

If you get lost

If you think you are lost, stop. Sit down, try to think calmly. Use your map and compass. Climb a tree or go to a high spot to look for landmarks (know where your pack is when you do this!). Do not continue travelling until you know where you are.

If your almost certain your lost. Don't panic. Sit down. Make a brew. (a hot drink) and have a snack. Review the situation again after you have done this, it helps to calm you down.

If you are lost, stay in the one place. Put out signals of three-three blasts on a whistle, three columns of smoke, three lines stamped in the snow, three yells. Any pattern of three is a standard distress signal. Be sure children know what to do if lost.

Feeding Animals

All animals within National Parks are protected. Don't feed them as this creates unbalanced and unnaturally dependent populations. The animals also become nuisances (some will now open tent flies to get at food) and can contract diseases such as lumpy jaw' from eating refined foods. Keep food well hidden in your pack or tent and keep wildlife wild!

Also try to cook only the amount of food you can eat so you don't need to dispose of leftovers (carrying it out is a pain) and scattering it compounds the animal problem.

Spreading Plant Disease

A plant disease known as root rot fungus (Phytophthora cinnamomi), has caused disease and death particularly in moorland, heath and dry eucalypt plant communities. The fungus is spread into new areas by moving infected soil or plant material into uninfected areas. It is too small to be seen and is easily carried on muddy boots, trowels, tent pegs etc. Parts of some walking tracks are already infected. You can help by always starting your walk with clean gear. Wash your tent pegs and trowel where you use them and if directed by signs on the track wash the mud from your boots and gaiters. In some areas it is best to walk the track in a particular direction-contact the local ranger about this before you walk, particularly if you are walking the South Coast Track or the Douglas Apsley National Park on the East Coast.

Disturbing Archaeological Sites

Parts of the World Heritage Area have been occupied by Aborigines for at least 20,000 years prior to the arrival of Europeans. The Area was the southernmost known extent of human occupation during the last ice age.

Aboriginal artefacts you may come across include shelter sites in limestone caves, large coastal 'midden' sites (large piles of shells which have been used as a food source and then discarded), and stone and rock engraving or painting sites. You may also see relics of past European activities such as abandoned settlements or huts.

Large fines are now in place for persons that do damage to these sites.

So: If you do come across an archaeological site please:

Leave it undisturbed.

  Do not under any circumstances remove anything Doing so diminishes the value of both the site (because it becomes less intact) and of the artefact (which generally only has value because of its context). It is also an offence to damage Aboriginal sites and fines can be imposed.

  Report all archaeological sites to the Archaeology section, Department of Parks, Wildlife and Heritage when you return.

Including:

  What is there;

  A photograph if possible;

  Where it is: i.e. 1:100,000 map grid reference or GPS location info..

FIRST AID

Blisters

Blisters are the most common First Aid problem for walkers but also one of the most preventable. Wear two pairs of socks and make sure your walking boots are worn in before any long walks.

At the first sign of blisters stop and protect the sore area-use adhesive tape (eg leucoplast TM) to fully cover the site. If blisters form they can be pricked with a flame sterilised needle. Drain the fluid, apply antiseptic and tape the site, this will usually allow you to finish the walk. For bad blisters tape a foam pad around the blister to protect it from abrasion against the boot.

Hypothermia

Hypothermia is the physical and mental collapse that accompanies chilling of the body's inner core. It is caused by exposure to cold, and is intensified by wet and windy conditions. Most cases develop when air temperatures are between -1 and 100C. It is the most common killer of walkers in wilderness areas.

Prevention

To avoid hypothermia, dress to stay warm and dry and beware of the chilling effect of wind. Always keep your sleeping bag and a spare set of clothes dry (in a tough plastic bag inside your pack)-they are essential for treating hypothermia. Symptoms: Early signs of hypothermia are persistent shivering, frequent stumbling and exhaustion. Get the victim out of the wind and rain and into dry clothes. Give warm sugary drinks and place them in a dry sleeping bag.

In advanced cases, shivering stops, the patient becomes irrational and, if untreated, will lapse into coma. Death soon follows. Treatment is the same as for milder cases but have someone get into the sleeping bag with the person to transfer body heat via skin to skin contact. If breathing stops give mouth to mouth resuscitation. Aim to slowly and gently re-warm the victim. Even if the patient appears to have recovered it is necessary to treat them as a stretcher case. Get medical assistance to the patient as soon as possible.

Do Not: rub the victim's skin, give them alcohol, apply direct heat to any part of their body or give them stimulants (including coffee or chocolate). These 'treatments' cause heat to be lost from the body's core and lead to a worsening of the condition. A gentle, evenly distributed warmth is required.

Heat Exhaustion

This condition is usually caused by physical exertion during prolonged exposure to heat - your body simply overheats.

Prevention: Take it easy in hot weather, and drink plenty of water. Symptoms: pale, moist and clammy skin, dizziness, headache, normal or sub-normal temperature and possible vomiting. Treat by resting in a cool shaded area. Have the victim lie down with feet elevated. Give them lots of fluids (eg an electrolyte replacement drink such as StaminadeTM). Continue until symptoms disappear.

If untreated heat exhaustion can become heat stroke (hyperthermia-the opposite of hypothermia). Symptoms include: dry, flushed skin, dizziness, nausea, muscle spasms and unconsciousness. Treat as above but also include rapid body cooling techniques such as emersion in water, wetting clothing and fanning. Continue to replace body fluids. Seek medical aid urgently.

Snakes

There are 3 varieties, all are venomous but rarely attack unless provoked. Most bites occur when people try to kill snakes (this is illegal in National Parks where all wildlife is protected) or when they are accidentally stepped on. Snakes are particularly aggressive during the mating season, (Feb-Mar). If you see a snake, give it a wide berth.

If someone in your party is bitten treat them in the following manner:

Keep them at rest, lying down. Do not permit them to move. Don't wash or cut the bitten area. The majority of the venom is likely to be on the surface of the skin. Cutting or washing may actually allow more venom to enter the wound.

Immediately apply a firm pressure bandage from the bite site all the way up the limb, cover the entire limb if possible. The bandage should be firm but not tight, a pulse should be discernible beyond the bandaged area at the end of the limb. Immobilise the affected limb by splinting. Do not apply a tourniquet as these can cause tissue damage at the site and lead to the loss of the limb.

Reassure the patient-death from snakebite is very uncommon. Observe the airway and breathing during treatment. If breathing stops apply emergency resuscitation. Leave the bandage on and either transport the patient to the nearest medical facilities (only if nearby) or send a minimum of two people out to alert the ranger or Police. When sending people to get help make sure they have written details on the patient and the party (name, sex, age, condition, treatment, time of bite, party's resources etc)

NB Don't try and kill the snake to identify it-the same antivenene is used for all snakes in Tasmania.

MORE INFO

Maps

The Backpackers Barn maintains a well stocked supply of all Tasmanian maps and will most likely have the map you need..                                                                                           There is a large range of maps useful for walkers. The standard 1:100,000 map series covers all of Tasmania, and a 1:25,000 series covers most of Tasmania (though remoter parts of the WHA are still to be finished). Specific National Park maps show the more popular walks for many National Parks. Within the World Heritage Area there are specific National Park maps for Cradle Mountain-Lake St Clair, the Frenchmans Cap area, the Walls of Jerusalem and the South coast walks within Southwest National park.                                                                            For further information or to order maps contact "The Backpackers Barn" or write to the Tasmap Centre, Department of Environment and Planning, GPO Box 44A, Hobart 7001 or phone (03) 6233 3382.

Walking Track Fact Sheets

A series of brief fact sheets are being progressively produced for major walking tracks and rafting routes within the World Heritage Area. As of mid 1992 notes covering the Franklin River and Overland Track were available. For copies use this link http://www.parks.tas.gov.au/factsheets/index.html

For general queries on walking in Tasmanian National Parks write to the Department at the above address. For up-to-date information on specific tracks phone the nearest field centre (phone numbers below ).

Bushwalking Info

A range of minimal impact bushwalking and safe walking education materials are available from the Department. These include pamphlets, posters, a teachers kit, two videos (Walk Softly and Walk Safely), and a computer game (for BBC computers only). For further information phone or write to the Wilderness Recreation Research Officer-(03) 6233 6047 at the above address. (Some of these may no longer be available.)

The Bush and Mountain craft Board also publish the following comprehensive pamphlets 'Wilderness Trip Planning' (covering trip preparation, clothing, equipment and weather) and 'Wilderness Safety Skills' (covering first aid, navigation and rescue). These publications cover a number of the topics dealt with here in more detail.

The Board also publishes 'BushSafety' and a trip registration form 'Let Someone Know Before You Go'. These can be ordered from:

The Bush and Mountain craft Board,

Dept. of Tourism, Sport and Recreation,

GPO Box 5O1E, Hobart, 7001.

The book 'Safety in the Bush' (Published by the Hobart Walking Club, GPO Box 753H, Hobart, 7001) is also a useful reference.

Field Centre Contact Numbers

Cradle Mountain-Lake St Clair National Park

Cradle Valley-(03 64 92 1133

Lake St Clair-(03) 6289 1115 or 6289 1172

Walls of Jerusalem National Park

Mole Creek (03) 6363 5182

Central Plateau Conservation Area

Liawenee - (03) 6259 8148

Franklin-Lower Gordon Wild Rivers National Park

Queenstown-(03) 6471 2511

Strahan-(03) 6471 7122

Southwest National Park

Maydena (West)-(03) 6288 1283

Esperance (East)-(03) 6298 3198

Track Guide Books

An ever increasing range of guidebooks are available through Tasmap and outdoor equipment shops. They range from shorter walks within a region to longer walks through a whole National Park. Contact Tasmap for details

Guided Walks

The Department of Parks, Wildlife and Heritage issues concessions to adventure tour companies to conduct guided walking and rafting trips in the World Heritage Area. Places covered include: the Overland Track, Frenchmans Cap Track, the South Coast Track and the Franklin River. Such trips are particularly useful for those with limited walking experience (though you still need to be fit). Contact your nearest Tasmanian Travel Centre office for details.