The Freycinet Experience Walk

By Daniel Resnik on January 24, 2014 in Other

It’s a pleasure to introduce Beast readers to my new monthly travel section. I’m a freelance travel writer and also the travel writer/blogger for the websites of travel magazines Asian Paradises and Pacific Paradises.

I’m a born and bred Bondi local, went to Bondi Beach Public School, learnt to swim at the Icebergs and my old man pushed me onto my first wave on a foam surfboard at South Bondi. It was from here that I ventured on my first road trip to Forster on the NSW east coast.

And what a road trip it was, rattling and rumbling up the pot-holed Pacific Highway in an old, battered, out of tune FJ Holden with my parents. The only entertainment was to play ‘I Spy’ in the back seat with my sister.

The highlight of that trip was my first ‘eating out’ experience at a Chinese restaurant with linoleum floors and plastic tables and chairs. It was like a scene from ‘The Castle’, with my old man picking up a spring roll and to my amazement explaining to me in his best Aussie accent (by way of Tel Aviv), “deepa fried springa rolla”.

Thirty years of extensive travelling later, a recent four-day guided walking tour on Tasmania’s Freycinet Peninsula will be my introductory travel story.

This trek takes you into some of the world’s most spectacular wilderness – over mountains, through coastal forests and along isolated beaches including the world-renowned Wineglass Bay.

The Freycinet Experience Walk is one of seven ‘Great Walks’ available around Australia and run by the ‘Great Walks of Australia’ company.

The idea of hiking into the wilderness and staying in a solar-powered eco-friendly lodge with shared bathrooms, non-flushing composting toilets, no television, no power points and no phone coverage almost caused a panic attack.

I needn’t have worried; the accommodation was excellent. There were nine of us in the group and we all agreed that overall it was one of the most exciting, fun, adventurous and educational experiences you could possibly have – while walking in the wilderness!

A decent level of fitness and a sense of adventure are definitely required to enjoy the trip. Each day you travel by boat or 4WD into the remote areas of the Freycinet National Park and at the end of the day you are dropped off at your luxury lodge, where you are greeted with a range of hors d’ oeuvres that will ensure any weight left on the trails is quickly replaced.

The exquisite food served by the lodge staff was a real highlight of the trip. I’d go back just for the freshly baked white chocolate and ginger cookies, but there was also fresh caught crumbed flathead, succulent lamb chops, creamy local oysters and so much more on offer.

DAY ONE
We met our guides at the Woolshed Apartments/Hotel opposite Constitution Dock in Hobart. After a three-hour road trip and a boat across Coles Bay to Schouten Island, we landed at our first uninhabited beach. First important assignment? Eat, something we didn’t stop doing for four days. After lunch it was a challenging trek up Bear Hill for magnificent views of the Freycinet Peninsula. If you don’t want to exert yourself on the first day there is a fishing option available too. At the end of the day we returned to Coles Bay and had a short walk to our lodging at Friendly beach.

DAY TWO
We started with a boat drop off to Bryans beach, which, thousands of years ago, Aboriginal tribes called home. After a three-hour hike through the bush – during which the only other life we saw or heard was the occasional native bird and wallaby – we stopped for lunch at a beach with water as turquoise and as clear as I’ve ever seen. After lunch we walked for miles along picturesque, deserted beaches to Wineglass Bay, one of the best beaches in the world. The more adventurous can choose the Mt. Graham walk, which descends to Wineglass Bay via the spectacular Quartzite Ridge.

DAY THREE
We were driven by 4WD to Bluestone Bay, where we trekked to the Bluestone Bay cliff tops. The views during the first 30 minutes were stunning and offer the perfect natural vista for whale watching. Lunch was a picnic treat in the wilderness, after which we continued through lush bush tracks, passing black swans and pelicans, before walking back to the lodge via the hauntingly isolated Friendly Beach.

DAY FOUR
The last trek is up to Mt. Mary, situated behind the lodge, and with the help of our guides we discovered ancient fossils strewn across the tracks. It’s a relaxing walk from here down to Isaacs Point, which leads to the beach. From there we continued onto the lodge to be greeted to a scrumptious ‘end of trek’ banquet. All too quickly our magical four days had ended and we are then transported back to Hobart.

I must add that the guides were so incredibly knowledgeable and endearing that it made the experience even more delightful and ensured lasting memories.

For details of all the other ‘Great Walks’ go to www.greatwalksofaustralia.com.au.

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