Full Transcript for Three Capes Track: Practical Tips

as the Tasmanian Walking Company. 00:02:44.000 --> 00:02:48.080 Now, either way you go, they're pretty much walking the same track. 00:02:48.240 --> 00:03:00.159 It just really comes down to the quality of the experience in terms of whether you want to be self-guided and a bit more rough and ready, or whether you want that sort of luxury experience. 00:03:00.400 --> 00:03:07.919 As I said, I did the Tasmania Parks and Wildlife one, which is a four-day and three-night experience. 00:03:08.080 --> 00:03:12.319 The standard cost is, I think, very affordable at$625. 00:03:13.039 --> 00:03:15.840 This includes the boat and accommodation. 00:03:16.240 --> 00:03:21.680 The coach service from Hobart to Port Arthur is extra, and I'll talk about that in a minute. 00:03:21.919 --> 00:03:26.879 There are also discounts for concessions and also for off-season periods. 00:03:26.960 --> 00:03:35.120 Like at the moment, you can book for winter, and I think you knock about$100,$100 or maybe a little bit more off the price to do it in winter. 00:03:35.439 --> 00:03:54.719 If you want to go in that peak holiday period, which is generally the Christmas New Year's school holiday, you will need to book well in advance, which is why I'm doing this episode now because we're in May, and the booking for that period for 2026-27 will be opening by the end of winter. 00:03:54.960 --> 00:04:01.120 You book via the Parks of Wildlife Service website, and I've put a link in the notes for you to go straight to that. 00:04:01.280 --> 00:04:09.360 And like I said, dates are released in booking windows, so you're looking out in the next couple of months for summer becoming available. 00:04:09.439 --> 00:04:11.759 At the moment, you can only book winter. 00:04:12.159 --> 00:04:15.280 Spots fill up really quickly, as you can imagine. 00:04:15.439 --> 00:04:18.480 There are only 48 spots per day. 00:04:18.800 --> 00:04:28.079 And if your preferred date isn't available on your first check, it is worth going back and having a looking because people do cancel and change dates. 00:04:28.319 --> 00:04:34.720 But you should check the terms and conditions if you book another date and make sure that you're able to do this if you want to change. 00:04:37.360 --> 00:04:58.720 Firstly, as I said, you need to get to Port Arthur, and there's an option to book one of two coach services from downtown Hobart or the airport, but they are limited in that they generally go early in the morning, so you need a flight that matches the coach pickup time, or you need to stay overnight in Hobart the night before your trip. 00:04:58.879 --> 00:05:02.560 I would recommend doing this as it gives you a chance to buy food items. 00:05:02.639 --> 00:05:15.199 So with quarantine, you're not going to be able to take some of the fresh food items that you might have wanted to, particularly if you're coming from Brisbane, and it's going to be really tough to get a first thing in the morning flight down as well. 00:05:16.240 --> 00:05:25.360 There is also a public bus that goes to Port Arthur in the afternoon from Hobart, and it you know that's a great option as well. 00:05:25.439 --> 00:05:44.000 It doesn't take that much longer, and you get to um you know, you're taking exactly the same route as the private coach, but what it would mean is that you need to stay overnight in Port Arthur because the two boats starting out with the trip leave um sort of lunchtime-ish and then sort of mid-afternoon. 00:05:44.800 --> 00:05:51.759 Um, I'd recommend if you want to explore more of the Tasman Peninsula and/or do a ghost trip at Port Arthur. 00:05:51.920 --> 00:05:53.360 This is really something worth considering. 00:05:53.439 --> 00:06:01.040 I'll put a link to the motel where I stayed at, which I thought was fabulous, right next to the Port Arthur site, if this is something that interests you. 00:06:01.279 --> 00:06:08.959 You can also drive to Port Arthur yourself, and long-term parking is available to leave your car or van there while you're out on the track. 00:06:09.199 --> 00:06:15.360 Now, your ticket from Tasmania Parks and Wildlife includes entry into the Port Arthur site. 00:06:15.519 --> 00:06:19.040 So that's one of the ideas with getting the bus early from Hobart. 00:06:19.600 --> 00:06:42.079 Um, you can put your you can leave your pack, including both the pack that you're taking on the track and any other excess excess luggage that you might want to store while you're away in the office in the Port Arthur site, and it allows you to go and visit the site, and there's just a fantastic array of walking tours and other events at Port Arthur to choose. 00:06:42.480 --> 00:06:47.680 So make sure you have a look at their website, which I'll put in the links, and try and plan your morning around it. 00:06:47.839 --> 00:06:59.360 I think you'll quickly see that you could spend much more than a morning at Port Arthur, and that's where you might think about do I do an overnight either at the start of the trip or the end of the trip. 00:07:00.319 --> 00:07:08.800 Um, there a word of caution though, you do need to book your coach and boat service well in advance if you want to guarantee the times that you want. 00:07:08.879 --> 00:07:11.759 Um, so why might you want to take the earlier boat? 00:07:11.839 --> 00:07:19.920 Uh, just because if you're worried about that first day walk-in not having any time pressure on you, um, it will cut off your time at Port Arthur, though. 00:07:20.000 --> 00:07:21.680 So that's the that's what you've got to think about. 00:07:21.759 --> 00:07:23.519 Do I want more time at Port Arthur? 00:07:23.839 --> 00:07:31.600 Happy to take the later boat or the earlier boat because I've already been at Port Arthur a while and I want to spend more time on the track. 00:07:31.759 --> 00:07:37.680 And then you have to line up your coach service if that's how um if that's how you get into Port Arthur with that. 00:07:38.560 --> 00:07:44.160

The boat trip over to start the track leaves from the dock within the Port Arthur site. 00:07:44.319 --> 00:07:53.600 It's run by Penicott Wilderness Journeys, and they take you on a bit of a tour around the inlet before you cross over to the other side to start your walk. 00:07:53.839 --> 00:07:55.680 And this is a beautiful area. 00:07:55.759 --> 00:07:59.199 The um the inlet area, dramatic coastal cliffs. 00:07:59.279 --> 00:08:10.480 I'm you know, it is heading straight out to the ocean, you won't go that far, but depending on the day, you might see, apart from the fantastic scenery, seals and dolphins frolicking around the water. 00:08:10.560 --> 00:08:16.160 So you'll get a bit of a boat trip, um, you know, up to about an hour before you head over to the other side. 00:08:16.399 --> 00:08:22.240 When you get over to Denman's Cove, this is where you're dropped off to start the track. 00:08:22.480 --> 00:08:36.639 Now, the guidebooks will tell you that your feet will get wet as you are getting off the boat into water and in sort of wading in in a fairly shallow water to get to the beach before you start the track. 00:08:36.879 --> 00:08:44.799 Now, I had a day with really choppy seas, and um, I wouldn't have called it just um a shallow entry into the water. 00:08:44.879 --> 00:08:51.519 We were about thigh deep, so you have to be prepared to get wet, so that might affect what you wear. 00:08:51.679 --> 00:08:54.559 Definitely some trousers or shorts so you can roll them right up. 00:08:54.639 --> 00:08:59.120 Um, obviously, you've got to take your boots off, work out how to carry them if they don't fit into your pack. 00:08:59.200 --> 00:09:04.480 So you need to get prepared, put them around your neck with the shoelaces tied, uh, whatever you decide to do. 00:09:04.720 --> 00:09:12.000 And obviously, you want your backpack either on your back or in a way that you can carry it overhead as you wade into the shore. 00:09:12.320 --> 00:09:17.919 And then when you get there, you're going to want a small towel just to try off your feet before you put your shoes and socks on. 00:09:18.159 --> 00:09:22.320 And look, you really don't have to hurry away from Denmons Cove. 00:09:22.399 --> 00:09:28.799 It is a less than two-hour walk, only about four kilometres to the first cabin, which is your stop for the night. 00:09:28.960 --> 00:09:32.399 There is a bit of uphill, but nothing too taxing. 00:09:32.559 --> 00:09:35.200 So you can go at your own pace in the summer. 00:09:35.279 --> 00:09:41.759 If it's a nice day, you know, people actually swim at Denmons Cove before heading out on the first walk. 00:09:42.159 --> 00:10:03.440 When you get to the lodge, you'll likely be greeted by the ranger who resides there, and a list of rooms and their occupants will be posted on the notice board at the central cabin, and you'll stay in these groups so you will find out who you're bunking down with for the next few nights and stay in it for those whole three nights. 00:10:03.679 --> 00:10:05.519 Let's talk about the rooms themselves. 00:10:05.679 --> 00:10:14.960 I found the beds really comfortable, they were memory foam mattresses with a vinyl cover on wooden bunks, up to eight people in a room. 00:10:15.279 --> 00:10:19.360 You may get one that has got a smaller number of beds, two or four. 00:10:19.519 --> 00:10:21.519 You may not have a full room. 00:10:21.600 --> 00:10:26.639 Um, so but you've got to be prepared that you might be in a bunk room with up to eight people. 00:10:27.120 --> 00:10:41.279 They the bunk beds themselves do allow for some privacy, and that you can drape a towel or something like a sarong over the side or the back of the bunk if that's important to you when you're sleeping or if you know getting changed, whatever it may be. 00:10:41.519 --> 00:10:55.840 The cabins aren't heated, um, but the fact that you're in a room with other people, you have a reasonably thick mattress for some insulation, and the louver windows windows can be sealed shut, provides some sort of protection against the cold. 00:10:56.399 --> 00:10:58.799 The main challenges are noise. 00:10:59.120 --> 00:11:10.799 Uh, yep, you're going to get some snorers, and also just that proximity to other people that you literally have just met, particularly if you're in one of those eight-bed bunk rooms. 00:11:11.120 --> 00:11:15.039 There is plenty of room in the cabins to store bags and hang things up. 00:11:15.200 --> 00:11:19.039 There's um the shelves and and hooks all over one wall. 00:11:19.200 --> 00:11:32.159 There's also a balcony outside which people sort of leave their boots and their socks out to dry overnight, but it's it's undercover, so um you know you're not shoved in there with no room to um spread your gear out. 00:11:32.720 --> 00:11:38.240 There is only one location or one of the three cabins that has a shower. 00:11:38.960 --> 00:11:44.240 There's limited washing facilities, but there are sinks around, including in the kitchen. 00:11:44.480 --> 00:11:52.639 There are at least a couple of toilets at every location, and obviously sinks for things like brushing teeth, freshening up in the morning. 00:11:52.799 --> 00:11:56.799 It's basic accommodation, but it is comfortable. 00:11:56.960 --> 00:12:10.480 Um, and there is a fantastic central hut at each of the three locations, and this provides not only for cooking, quite big sort of commercial grade type kitchens, but also long tables for eating and relaxing. 00:12:10.559 --> 00:12:19.200 And at each location, you might find deck chairs, yoga mats, board games, or just books, mostly wildlife books to read. 00:12:19.360 --> 00:12:32.399 There's also plenty of USB A, I will say A, not C unless they've upgraded, charging points for phones and other devices like your camera, but no real electrical powerpoints. 00:12:32.480 --> 00:12:37.039 It's all it's all about bringing a USB charging cable. 00:12:37.440 --> 00:12:43.519 Outside the cabins, there's

also huge decks to relax on, and some of them have sensational views. 00:12:43.759 --> 00:12:46.000 I found the cooking facilities really great. 00:12:46.080 --> 00:12:48.559 You can easily boil water for drinking and cooking. 00:12:48.639 --> 00:12:54.799 In fact, there were plenty of utensils, dishes, places to wash up, places to prepare your food. 00:12:55.200 --> 00:12:59.840 The packing list will tell you to bring your own everything for cooking. 00:12:59.919 --> 00:13:06.000 Um, but if you were sort of in a pinch, uh there is most items in the kitchens. 00:13:06.159 --> 00:13:11.600 Um if you were just bringing generally packaging to do your food prep and eating from. 00:13:11.840 --> 00:13:15.759 The communal areas are also heated, some with an open fire. 00:13:15.840 --> 00:13:32.240 So if it is a bit cool and in a Tasmania that could just as easily be the middle of summer, it's the best place to sort of hang out in the afternoons when you've finished your walk for dinner and socialization after dinner because your cabins aren't really designed for that. 00:13:32.639 --> 00:13:39.759 Each night you'll also get a talk from the ranger on what to expect for the next day, and they'll answer any questions you have. 00:13:40.320 --> 00:13:52.559 If you're lucky, and I think you're lucky most of the time, you can spot some of the local wildlife around the cabins, particularly at night, and this can include echidnas, wombats, wallabies, etc. 00:13:52.720 --> 00:13:58.399 Um, so it's really cool sitting on the deck and and watching the wildlife come out as the sun goes down. 00:13:59.360 --> 00:14:02.240 Alright, so day one, you've arrived at your cabin. 00:14:02.399 --> 00:14:17.440 Um, hopefully get a good night's sleep, and day two, uh, you can get up and you can leave whatever time you like, as long as it's sort of I think by like about mid-morning, um, because they've obviously got to clean the cabins and welcome the next lot of guests for the next day. 00:14:17.679 --> 00:14:33.360 It's a pretty relaxed day, it's 11 kilometres, which might sound as though um that's a bit of a walk for people who aren't used to doing um longer distances, but in reality it's um mostly flat through beautiful wooded forests and heathlands. 00:14:33.519 --> 00:14:46.159 There's a short climb up to Arthur's Peak, which gives some lovely views out over the coast, but it's it's not strenuous at all, it's a really nice, relaxed way to get into um walking the track. 00:14:46.480 --> 00:14:50.399 The hut on night two is the location of the shower. 00:14:50.559 --> 00:14:54.639 But before you get too excited, it is a cold water bucket shower. 00:14:54.799 --> 00:14:57.279 It is a great experience, um, it's a bit of fun. 00:14:57.440 --> 00:15:02.960 I was lucky to be there in summer and it was a hot day, so I actually found it really refreshing to have a bucket shower. 00:15:03.120 --> 00:15:11.600 Um, if it's the cooler months you want to brace yourself, but you'll probably still do it anyway because you've been keen knowing that's your only shower for the next couple of days. 00:15:11.919 --> 00:15:16.320 Day three is a really big one, but also really spectacular. 00:15:16.559 --> 00:15:26.879 Uh, it's 19 kilometers in total, but the good news is that you get to leave your pack in a shed while you do the 16km out and back to Cape Pillar. 00:15:27.600 --> 00:15:29.440 It is fantastic this day. 00:15:29.519 --> 00:15:33.279 The coastal views are just stunning all the way along the track. 00:15:33.360 --> 00:15:38.080 Um, when you get out there, there's a really fun challenge jumping over the gap out to the blade. 00:15:38.159 --> 00:15:40.960 Um, you've got to do it still yourself and get a photo. 00:15:41.120 --> 00:15:44.559 Um, take your time, soak up the spectacular scenery. 00:15:44.799 --> 00:15:50.159 Today is really probably the most scenic day of the track. 00:15:50.480 --> 00:15:57.360 When you get back to hut two, you pick up your pack, and then it's just a few short kilometres through the forest to hut three. 00:15:57.519 --> 00:16:01.519 Um, it's flat almost the whole way in there, it's it's not much of a walk. 00:16:01.679 --> 00:16:15.039 And when you get to hut three, this is where you'll find yoga mats so and a really big, lovely deck to get on and stretch um your legs out because day four is a pretty big walk as well. 00:16:15.679 --> 00:16:37.759 And day four is really where um most people would tell you to do some hills training for um the three capes track, and I definitely suggest that um get on a stair climber or something like that because not long after leaving um your hut after the third night, so on the fourth morning, you start walking out and you hit Mount Fortescue. 00:16:38.559 --> 00:16:50.080 In terms of a climb on its own, it's probably not that big a deal, but when you're taking your pack and you're not used to that, it is a bit of a climb up Mount Fortescue. 00:16:50.559 --> 00:16:54.320 You just need to take it slow and steady because the track is pretty good. 00:16:54.639 --> 00:17:08.319 Um, the good news is that most of your food's gone because it's day four, so you'll your pack is definitely lighter than when you started out, but you will need to take a full supply of water that day because it's quite exposed when you get out to that third cape. 00:17:08.960 --> 00:17:11.599 Um, if you take your time, it's not that bad. 00:17:11.759 --> 00:17:14.160 Um, but there's quite a bit ahead of you. 00:17:14.240 --> 00:17:16.160 So you get to the top of that, think it's over. 00:17:16.319 --> 00:17:18.000 Well, no, bit to go. 00:17:18.160 --> 00:17:37.279 You keep you you walk a few kilometres across the top, um, and again you get to drop your pack in a designated area so you can tackle Cape Way pack free, and you will want to be able to drop your pack because this is you know quite um quite an adventure to get out to Cape Way. 00:17:37.680 --> 00:17:44.240 It is spectacular,

it is more challenging than the two capes you've done previously. 00:17:44.480 --> 00:17:47.920 There are a lot of stone stairs up and down. 00:17:48.000 --> 00:17:49.119 I mean a lot. 00:17:49.279 --> 00:17:58.799 Um, you just need to take your time, um, enjoy your lunch when you get out on the Cape because I think the walk back is probably harder than the walk out to the Cape. 00:17:58.960 --> 00:18:07.039 Um, and from there you go back, you pick up your pack, and the guidebook will say it's a breezy few kilometers down to Fortescue Bay. 00:18:07.200 --> 00:18:13.359 I don't agree, I actually thought this was it was a very hot day the day that I did this, but I felt like this was the longest part of the walk. 00:18:13.440 --> 00:18:16.400 I just because mentally you think I've only got a few K's. 00:18:16.799 --> 00:18:25.680 Um, but remembering you've already done 11 kilometres, including some reasonable climbing in the morning, and it's not all downhill to Fortescue Bay. 00:18:25.759 --> 00:18:35.200 So I'd rather be honest with you and say, yes, it's a short walk into Fortescue Bay, but it feels longer because it just you just feel as though you know, when am I going to get there? 00:18:35.359 --> 00:18:41.680 But then when you see the bay, um you're pretty close to finishing when you actually see the bay and start descending into it. 00:18:41.920 --> 00:18:43.599 It definitely feels worthwhile. 00:18:43.759 --> 00:18:48.240 It's such a beautiful horseshoe bay with just gorgeous blue water. 00:18:48.400 --> 00:18:53.599 Um, you know, it's take a moment to go, wow, look what I've done for the last four days. 00:18:53.839 --> 00:18:58.000 Now I'm going to suggest you need to go for a swim here at Fortescue Bay. 00:18:58.079 --> 00:19:09.680 Um, yes, the water is freezing, um, even in the middle of summer, uh, and you really need to get your willpower just to push through the cold, dive in if you're good. 00:19:09.759 --> 00:19:17.599 I I need to wait in, but um, it's so much part of the experience to go swimming in the Tasmanian sea. 00:19:17.680 --> 00:19:26.480 Um, and the cold water is just such a tonic for sore and tired muscles, washing away the sweat, like it's a little bit of a celebration. 00:19:26.559 --> 00:19:28.160 So, do go in. 00:19:28.400 --> 00:19:38.799 You don't have to have a swimsuit, a lot of people just jumped in with t-shirts, and you know, I just wore a pair of bike shorts under my um hiking pants and jumped in with those. 00:19:38.960 --> 00:19:42.640 Um, and look, you don't need to rush to get back to Hobart either. 00:19:42.799 --> 00:19:49.839 Some people um prefer to because they want to get back to their accommodation in Hobart and and clean up, and maybe they're flying out that night. 00:19:50.000 --> 00:19:50.559 That's fine. 00:19:50.640 --> 00:19:54.079 There are two buses which you have to nominate at the start of the walk. 00:19:54.160 --> 00:20:02.640 Um, if you can spend the time and get the later bus back

to Port Arthur because there are hot showers at the campgrounds here at Fortescue Bay. 00:20:02.720 --> 00:20:13.359 And if you leave um your towel, some toiletries, and maybe a clean t-shirt and um underwear, you'll be grateful you did because you'll be cleaned up by the time you get on the bus. 00:20:13.519 --> 00:20:19.599 Remember, you've got that 90 minutes or so bus trip back to Hobart if that's where you're going. 00:20:19.839 --> 00:20:23.519 You will stop on the way at um at Port Arthur. 00:20:23.599 --> 00:20:31.920 So sorry, you're getting the the um Tasmania Parks and Wildlife Service bus to Port Arthur and then the 90-minute trap trip back to Hobart. 00:20:32.319 --> 00:20:38.079 Um, because obviously, getting to Port Arthur, um, you need to pick up your bag if you left it. 00:20:38.240 --> 00:20:47.200 Last chance to um you can grab some food at the Port Arthur cafeteria, but fairly quickly you'll be getting back on that bus to Hobart. 00:20:47.440 --> 00:20:53.039 Now I did opt to stay the night in one of the local motels, and I thought that was great. 00:20:53.119 --> 00:20:59.519 Rather than getting back and doing 90 minutes on a bus, um, I could just wander over there, have a really long hot shower. 00:20:59.599 --> 00:21:03.599 Um, I had my pack again, so I could do a change of clean clothes. 00:21:03.839 --> 00:21:16.640 I had a great dinner and a glass of wine in the restaurant, and then I headed out with a couple of um people I met on um on the track, and we all did the ghost tour, which was great fun. 00:21:16.720 --> 00:21:19.519 I highly recommend at Port Arthur itself. 00:21:20.160 --> 00:21:27.440 The only issue with doing it this way is that um you have to wait until the afternoon the next day to go back to Hobart. 00:21:27.839 --> 00:21:39.279 Um, the public bus also goes at 6am in the morning, so you either have to get up at the Crack and Dawn to get on that, or you're waiting for the private bus tour to get back to Hobart. 00:21:39.519 --> 00:21:44.160 But that's okay because there are other things to do around the Tasman Peninsula. 00:21:44.480 --> 00:21:47.599 You just need to get transport out to them. 00:21:48.400 --> 00:21:55.279 On the parks website, they provide a great packing list for you to follow as to what you need to take on the track. 00:21:55.440 --> 00:21:59.759 I'm going to add a few things from my own experience that might be helpful. 00:22:00.319 --> 00:22:04.240 The first is, and it will say this, but do take it seriously. 00:22:04.480 --> 00:22:06.400 Pack for all weather conditions. 00:22:06.640 --> 00:22:09.279 I went in that Christmas to New Year period. 00:22:09.440 --> 00:22:13.440 We had rain on the first day and those choppy seas that I talked about. 00:22:14.160 --> 00:22:15.200 And it was cold. 00:22:15.359 --> 00:22:17.599 That first night was like really, really cold. 00:22:17.759 --> 00:22:25.039 I was throwing things on from my pack because I was cold in the cabin, although we discovered later that the louvers were open, that probably wouldn't have helped. 00:22:25.200 --> 00:22:29.599 But you have to be prepared that you might get wet and cold weather. 00:22:29.759 --> 00:22:34.880 But then on the last day, like I said, it was super hot and um you know, and I got sunbirds. 00:22:35.039 --> 00:22:47.440 So take it seriously about bringing things like sunscreen and a good hat because the Tasmanian sun is you know pretty tough on your skin if you get a really hot day. 00:22:47.680 --> 00:22:51.039 Um, make sure you have dry bags and a good pack liner. 00:22:51.200 --> 00:22:57.039 So um, you know, even if it's a garbage bag, line your pack with that and put everything in there. 00:22:57.200 --> 00:22:59.759 You definitely want to protect your sleeping bag. 00:22:59.920 --> 00:23:10.799 Um, one of our unlucky guests, their sleeping bag fell in the water because they didn't have a grip on their pack when they jumped out into that choppy sea, and crikey, that would be miserable. 00:23:10.880 --> 00:23:20.640 Um, from memory, I think the ranger helped out with a blanket, but it's not the way to start your hike, so make sure you have a good dry bag and a pack liner. 00:23:21.359 --> 00:23:30.960 All I took for rain was a hooded poncho, and that was enough because you can throw it all over uh the back of you know, you can throw it with your pack under it as well. 00:23:31.279 --> 00:23:34.640 Um, and we were lucky because it was fairly light rain. 00:23:34.720 --> 00:23:42.079 Um, it's up to you how much of the sort of heavy gear you want to take, rain gear, um, checking the weather out before you go. 00:23:42.960 --> 00:23:57.359 Also, like I said, that first night was really cold, so um, even in the middle of summer, I ended up putting my beanie on when I was sleeping, and on the first day, because we'd got wet in the water, I actually put my gloves on as I started the walk-up as well. 00:23:57.519 --> 00:24:00.000 You might want thermals for night time. 00:24:00.720 --> 00:24:07.599 If you don't have a super cold rated sleeping bag, um, Parks suggests a rating to minus five degrees. 00:24:07.759 --> 00:24:22.640 You might consider a thermal liner to help increase the warmth in your bag if you are going in that winter or even sort of autumn-spring temperatures, you're going to need a decent sleeping bag or a bag with a good liner in it. 00:24:23.279 --> 00:24:28.319 Also, you want to have they do suggest this, but I can't um emphasize this enough enough. 00:24:28.480 --> 00:24:38.880 You need a day pack, and obviously, weight is important because you're carrying it for four days, so you can buy these like pocket-sized ones, and it's all you need. 00:24:38.960 --> 00:24:48.160 Um, pop it open because you're just literally taking your lunch and um you know, your lunch and water for the day, maybe maybe a rain jacket. 00:24:48.240 --> 00:25:02.319 A couple of people did get caught out because they didn't bring things like rain

jackets or beanies or hats or whatever or sunscreen, and then of course it was the weather went against them, but you you're not carrying anything heavy duty in there, so those pocket-sized ones will do the job. 00:25:02.640 --> 00:25:07.279 Hiking poles honestly weren't really needed for most of the track. 00:25:07.359 --> 00:25:15.519 In fact, they were a hindrance on the boardwalks because the boardwalks have this sort of chicken wire covering over them, so the poles will get would get stuck in that. 00:25:15.920 --> 00:25:25.200 But if you have a lightweight fold-up set, the heels on day three and four, it would have been helpful or was helpful. 00:25:25.279 --> 00:25:32.559 I did take hiking poles to have those, um, particularly on day four, getting up, there's quite sort of big stone steps to get up. 00:25:32.960 --> 00:25:35.759 I don't think you need special hiking boots. 00:25:35.920 --> 00:25:46.559 Um, that this is so individual, obviously, but it is a really it's called a dry dry track, and unless it's been raining a lot, you know, might get the odd puddle. 00:25:46.799 --> 00:26:03.279 But a dry track means well-graded, well maintained, um, no water crossings, um, and so trail shoes are obviously going to be the most comfortable option, particularly if you're not used to walking long distances. 00:26:03.359 --> 00:26:09.759 Um, so that would be what I would opt for because you're unlikely to get blisters. 00:26:09.839 --> 00:26:15.279 Just remember that advice to go up one size and a wide toe box on the shoe. 00:26:15.599 --> 00:26:18.640 They do mention a torch or a headlamp. 00:26:18.799 --> 00:26:24.160 You do need this at night, it's pretty dark around the cabins if you need to get up and go to the toilet. 00:26:24.319 --> 00:26:37.279 Um, one thing that I had a little bit of envy about was that I didn't have toe socks at the time that I did this walk, and watching people walk around at night with their toe socks and thongs because it was a little bit cool. 00:26:37.440 --> 00:26:45.839 Um, yes, definitely had envy about that because thongs is probably the only other thing you're going to carry, maybe Crocs as a second pair of shoes on this trail. 00:26:46.960 --> 00:26:52.880 Uh, look, my cabin mates who I shared with washed their underwear and t-shirts every night. 00:26:52.960 --> 00:26:55.680 They only carried one set, they wore the same set every day. 00:26:55.920 --> 00:27:02.079 You absolutely can do this because there's an area to wash and there's an area to hang it on the balcony to dry. 00:27:02.160 --> 00:27:05.359 I think only one day they had to wear them slightly damp. 00:27:05.519 --> 00:27:10.640 Um, so you don't need to carry a huge amount of clothes with you. 00:27:10.799 --> 00:27:17.359 You really can get away, especially if you get something like merino or natural fiber where it's not going to smell as much. 00:27:17.920 --> 00:27:20.480 Um, like I said, noise is a problem in the cabins. 00:27:20.559 --> 00:27:28.480 You'll need earplugs, good earplugs, and maybe an eye mask that lights to go off at night, but there's one outside that stays on. 00:27:28.640 --> 00:27:45.759 Um, I wouldn't bring anything but the barest minimum of toiletries, given there aren't really any showering facilities, um, you know, and a little travel toothbrush and toothpaste, a travel soap is probably really all you'll need until you get back to Port Arthur. 00:27:46.000 --> 00:27:57.519 Um, don't forget rubbish bags, it's on the list, but I want to really highlight to you because they don't really emphasize this enough, you need to take all your food rubbish out with you. 00:27:57.680 --> 00:28:12.160 Um, you you've got to carry it while you're on the track, but also at night when you've made your dinner, there are no rubbish bins, you've got to carry that um that uh food packaging out, and this is also a really important consideration of what food and water to bring. 00:28:12.480 --> 00:28:16.400 For example, you don't want to have glass or tins or anything like that. 00:28:16.960 --> 00:28:20.079 And lastly, just have some basic first aid. 00:28:20.160 --> 00:28:28.160 Uh, the rangers can't administer pain medication unless it's really serious, but you also just probably want to have something while you're on the track. 00:28:28.400 --> 00:28:38.319 There apparently is one venomous snake in the area, and I did see it, but it's scuttled away at 100 miles an hour over the boardwalk or under the boardwalk as we approached. 00:28:38.400 --> 00:29:02.720 Um, and the good news is that you're on a boardwalk for a lot of the track, which means that you're sort of above the forested areas, but you just want some of that basic first aid because in between cabins, um, and you might have like that 11, 14, 19 case, you want something basic if from if you fall over, or you know, whatever it may be, you get dehydrated and you want some hydrolytes, etc. 00:29:03.039 --> 00:29:03.599 etc. 00:29:04.240 --> 00:29:07.359 Uh, the last aspect I'm going to tackle is food and drink. 00:29:07.440 --> 00:29:14.720 Um, firstly, you have to carry two litres of water a day, and even though it's Tasmania, you really will need it. 00:29:14.960 --> 00:29:16.720 Um, I like to use a bladder. 00:29:16.880 --> 00:29:21.920 Other people will take kind of those one litre water bottles in each side of their packs. 00:29:22.000 --> 00:29:33.279 Um, just remembering though, if you're the days that you only take the little pack, you've got to be able to carry them, and it won't work as well if they don't if you don't have side pockets on those. 00:29:33.359 --> 00:29:40.160 Um, this is one day's worth, so you need at least two litres for every day plus what you want to drink at night. 00:29:40.319 --> 00:29:45.119 Um, you can fill up and drink the rain water at the cabins every day. 00:29:45.359 --> 00:29:49.839 It's up to you whether you treat it with a filter or you boil it. 00:29:50.000 --> 00:29:55.599 If

you boil it, obviously you're going to have to do it the night before so that it's cool when you start off the next morning. 00:29:55.839 --> 00:30:05.759 You're probably going to want two containers either way, even if it's just sort of a cup or a lightweight bottle for that boiled water rather than putting it straight into your bladder. 00:30:06.559 --> 00:30:10.240 Um, the one thing I did enjoy, and I was glad that I took it in. 00:30:10.480 --> 00:30:20.319 Friends told me I took a uh some Pinot Noir in a flexible wine um sack that I got off you know Amazon or something like that. 00:30:20.400 --> 00:30:24.400 Um, it is a bit of extra weight, it was drunk by the first two nights. 00:30:24.559 --> 00:30:34.000 Um, because you're sitting around socializing, it was great to be able to pour a glass of wine, and a few other people did the same thing, so that's up to you. 00:30:34.160 --> 00:30:36.720 You obviously don't want to carry bottles in or anything like that. 00:30:36.799 --> 00:30:41.920 There's no fridges, so you can't keep them cold, which is why I went for a red rather than a white. 00:30:42.240 --> 00:30:53.599 Um, I don't think anything beats dehydrated meals for this type of trip, and the reason being is because you're basically cooking and preparing them in the packet, and then you can eat straight out of the packet. 00:30:53.680 --> 00:30:57.279 So, no washing up, you've got to carry that packaging out anyway. 00:30:57.519 --> 00:31:06.480 Um, if you do do that, you want a really long spork or spoon or fork, whatever you choose, you just want a long-handled one if you're eating out of a dehydrated meal package. 00:31:06.799 --> 00:31:11.599 There were quite a few people on my trip cooking full-on meals, particularly on the first night. 00:31:11.680 --> 00:31:15.599 It's only that short walk to carry it in, and there's a barbecue at the first hut. 00:31:15.920 --> 00:31:22.000 Um, the first night we were there, it was sort of rainy and windy, so not such a great idea because the barbecue's on the deck. 00:31:22.160 --> 00:31:30.799 Um, but yeah, whatever you decide to take for your main meals, just remembering again that after that first night that it needs to be non-perishable. 00:31:31.839 --> 00:31:35.039 One option is to buy prepared meals. 00:31:35.200 --> 00:31:43.759 There's a number of companies in Tassie that offer this service, and generally they'll deliver them to your Hobart hotel, so you order them and then they'll drop them off. 00:31:43.839 --> 00:31:45.440 So when you get to the hotel. 00:31:45.920 --> 00:31:54.720 And I've the reason I mentioned this is because if this is what you're thinking of doing, and quite a lot of people on my trip did this, you need to have them delivered somewhere. 00:31:54.880 --> 00:32:00.880 So if you're thinking I'll fly in, I'll jump on the coach, they generally don't deliver to Port Arthur. 00:32:01.039 --> 00:32:05.759 So you need somewhere for them to be delivered to if that's an option for you. 00:32:06.079 --> 00:32:20.160 Um, apart from dehydrated meals, uh, the I'll give you some ideas of some of the other things I took for the meals, and some of these are on the packing list, but breakfast most everyone did porridge sachets. 00:32:20.480 --> 00:32:26.480 Um, something I took that was extra to this, though, is I took three UHD like little small cartons of milk. 00:32:26.640 --> 00:32:38.640 I'd put um most of it in my porridge so it wasn't I wasn't just mixing it in with water, and then I would have a cup of tea or two to get me by in the morning because I don't like black tea. 00:32:38.720 --> 00:32:40.720 So that's one thing you can think about taking. 00:32:40.880 --> 00:32:50.400 Um, snacks, what I found worked really well is those little baby bell or laughing cow cheeses, cherry tomatoes and baby carrots, they lasted the whole trip. 00:32:50.640 --> 00:32:56.319 Um, and it was great just to have some fresh um uh fruit and veggies on the way out. 00:32:56.559 --> 00:32:58.720 Um, salami sticks. 00:32:58.799 --> 00:33:06.160 If you're getting crackers, think of the really hard crackers like a Vita Wheat type cracker because they will get crushed in your pack. 00:33:06.240 --> 00:33:10.880 Um, tuna and salmon, see if you can get it in the foil pouches rather than the tins. 00:33:11.200 --> 00:33:17.279 Obviously, nuts, um, you might want to pack it down to small sizes, muesley bars, protein balls. 00:33:17.440 --> 00:33:22.799 Um, I took a tube of vegibide, which was great for the morning because I took some wraps as well. 00:33:23.119 --> 00:33:25.680 Um, just some ideas for snacks there. 00:33:26.000 --> 00:33:37.039 I also took instant soups and hot chocolate sachets because when you came in in the afternoon, it was great just to have something like that to eat straight away if you'd had a hard day of walking. 00:33:37.200 --> 00:33:50.319 Um, and then you've almost got a three-course meal because you have a soup, then you have your dehydrated meal, then you have a hot chocolate, and some people are taking those little um instant pudding type desserts too, which I thought looked really good. 00:33:50.400 --> 00:33:55.359 People were raving about that, and obviously a bit of chocolate, but you're gonna have to worry about it melting. 00:33:55.599 --> 00:34:16.239 The main thing I'd stress is you know, as I said, you need to be light on packaging, um, even plastic containers can get bulky, so you're probably better off with those small ziplop bags because they can also double up, putting all your rubbish, rubbish, and leftovers in, um, and you really want to ziplop them up well because you don't want all that rubbish to smell in your pack. 00:34:16.400 --> 00:34:23.519 Um, in fact, you might think about putting the rubbish in the top um compartment of your pack, um, for example. 00:34:23.679 --> 00:34:41.840 Um, and the last thing I thought I'd mention is your three capes track pass can give you access to some other parks in Tasmania, so definitely check that out, depending if you're um intending to stay longer and find out which other ones you can visit without buying another Parks and Wildlife ticket. 00:34:42.320 --> 00:34:44.559 I loved the Three Capes track. 00:34:44.800 --> 00:34:47.440 I reckon it's one for people of all ages. 00:34:47.519 --> 00:34:54.800 In the group behind us, there was a three-generational family and the uh parents were in their 70s. 00:34:54.880 --> 00:35:02.239 Um, I think it's like I said, good for beginners who've done a bit of training and want to try multi-day um hikes. 00:35:02.400 --> 00:35:04.800 Um, people of all fitness levels, yeah. 00:35:04.960 --> 00:35:10.239 We had some people who just took it really slowly and had frequent stops along the way. 00:35:10.400 --> 00:35:17.199 So I think it's a great introduction to multi-day hiking, sensational um landscape to walk through. 00:35:17.360 --> 00:35:25.920 And if you're not hooked by the end of this trip, something went wrong on doing more of it and exploring more of Tasmania. 00:35:26.400 --> 00:35:31.119 So um enjoy um and until next time, happy hiking.