The intention of this website is to provide information on all the important bush tracks that walkers use to access the more remote parts of Tasmania. The information provided should be enough to plan bushwalks and be able to located the track in the bush.
There are many walking guides that detail walk suggestions but there are no guides that provide a complete inventory of tracks in a particular area. Topographic maps often don’t show the tracks and general knowledge of tracks amongst walkers is diminishing. As a result tracks are becoming over grown and some have disappeared, restricting access to some remote areas. This website attempts to fill the gap.
If you would like to contribute, update or correct any information on this website, send an email to
More information is required for everything highlighted in yellow.
South West
Name /North East Ridge (Mount Anne)
Purpose / Direct route onto the north east ridge of Mt. AnneLocation / Track begins at a disused quarry 100m east of Scots Peak Road near Gelignite Creek
Grid reference (AGD 66) / Quarry off Scots Peak Road 449300E, 5251100N; North East Ridge 454150E, 5246400N (Determine using 1:25,000 Topo Maps)
Type and condition / Visible Bombardier track across Button Grass plain, taped worn route up ridge
Signage / None
Length
Height difference / 7.5km
750m
Walking time / 5-6 hours
Route description / Track begins at a disused quarry, just south of Gelignite Creek and east of Scots Peak Road. To find start from road, park on south side of Gelignite Creek. From here walk in a southeasterly direction to disused quarry (100m). Locate visible old Bombardier track (usually with two worn pads) on southeastern edge of quarry. Track follows the northern side of the Buttongrass Plain toward the southeast. The track is taped through stands of forests that cross the plain. It eventually enters forest and after a while begins to climb a ridge toward the crest of the north-east ridge of Mt Anne. It is well marked and worn within the forest. Take care near tree-falls to stay on the marked route. The route finishes on the North-East Ridge east of spot height 1100m and only about 50m from the sinkhole of Anne-A-Kananda Cave.
Map reference / Track is not shown on maps. Use Tasmap 1:25,000 Topographic Bowes and Anne.
Further reference / Collins, K. (1990). South-West Tasmania, A Natural History and Visitor’s Guide. Heritage Books, Hobart. pp. 236-238.
Information correct to / November 2009
Supplied by
Name /
Adamsfield Track
Purpose / Track to Adamsfield, an abandoned mining townLocation / Adams Valley, South West
Grid reference (AGD 66) / No.5 Forestry Rd 454850E, 5271700N; Adamsfield 445500E, 5269500N; Clear Hill Road 442700E, 5269700N (Determined using a 1:100000 Topo Map)
Type and condition / The track is clearly marked with tapes, though care should be taken in the centre section where the track wanders because of many tree falls.
Signage / Tape
Length
Height difference / 13km
120m
Walking time / From the east, 1 hour to Timbs Track, 4.5 hours to Adamsfield and 5.5 hours to Clear Hill Rd, Adams Valley at the western end.
Route description / The eastern end of the Adamsfield track starts 1.5 km along “No 5 Road”, west of the Florentine Road. There are two ways to get here: from Maydena or from Wayatinah. Coming from the North West of the state, the Wayatinah route is ~50 km less, following the main forestry thoroughfare between Wayatinah and Maydena. The gravel road is kept in good condition.
From Maydena to start of track (~18.5 km)
- Head west on Gordon River Road for 3 kilometres, cross an overpass (which allows the Styx road to go underneath), and turn north onto the Styx road just beyond the overpass. Take the left fork after 200 metres. This is Florentine Road. It is not signposted. The right fork is the Styx road which loops under the highway.
- Turn west (left) onto “No 5 Road” after 14 kms (42S 42.214, 146E 28.167, 496m, (WGS84)). No 5 Road is near the bottom of a winding descent, a few hundred metres after the Tim Shea turnoff.
- Drive 1.5 km along No 5 Road and park near a gate. The start of the track is 250 m further along the road, on the north side opposite a disused vehicle track (42S 42.268, 146E 26.995, 458m, (WGS84)).
- From the Wayatinah turnoff, drive south on Wayatinah Road (bitumen). The road soon turns to well-formed gravel, and at 2.8 km a salmon farm is passed on the left.
- From the salmon farm, the road heads generally south, paralleling the Derwent River to a bridge over a tributary at 9.6 km.
- After the bridge, keep to the main thoroughfare for about 40 kms. The sign for No 5 Road faces south, as do most other signs. To ensure you don’t miss the turnoff, keep a lookout for two other signs: Tiger Road/Florentine Road and a Give Way sign on the right (12.8 km to go, S42 35.864, E146 27.536 (WGS84)), and Eleven Road on the left (6.3 km to go).
On the return journey north it is easy to go the wrong way when 20.6 km from Tiger Road (S42 28.424, E146 30.394 (WGS84)). There is a fork in the road and a road sign at this point: “Florentine Forest Drive” at the top, and “Wayatinah and Lyell Hwy” underneath. The sign is angled at 45º to the left and the Wayatinah part is easy to miss if you are not concentrating. The right fork (which goes straight ahead and appears to be the main road) takes you into a maze of forestry roads. If you mistakenly take the right fork you will come to a sign on the left after 1.5 km (S42 28.365, E146 31.091 (WGS84)) which says “Through to Wayatinah Road” – a minor logging road that will eventually get you to Wayatinah but in a roundabout way. Backtrack to the fork if you see this sign.
Obviously, many people have taken the wrong fork, so Forest Tasmania decided to put up a sign to stop motorists becoming lost. In summary, the simplest way to stay on the main road after the Tiger Road junction when heading north, is to keep to the left fork if there is a choice.
The western end of the Adamsfield Track is known as Morleys Track and can be accessed from the Clear Hill Rd, north of the Gordon River Rd. The Clear Hill road is locked. A key can be obtained from Forestry Tasmania, in Hobart.
Walking from the eastern end, the track is clearly marked with tapes, though care should be taken in the centre section where the track wanders because of many tree falls. Churchills Hut is 20 minutes from the start. After a bit more than an hour you reach the junction with Timbs track. A handwritten sign gives directions: to the left is the Gordon River Rd (1 hr), to the right is Florentine Creek (20 minutes). The Rasselas Track heads north just west of the Florentine Creek crossing. After approximately another 1.5 hours you meet the juntion with the Bombardier Track, then after another 1.5hours you reach the remains of Adamsfield, then Morleys Mansion west of the Adams River (another 30mins). The track is passable in a vehicle in dry conditions from here to Clear Hill Rd (another 15mins) where there is a locked gate.
Map reference / Tasmap 1:100000 Topo map sheet Wedge and 1:25000 scale Topo map sheet Adamsfield and Tiger
Further reference / Right-Click here to download and save a gpx file of part of the track between the Bombardier Track and the Rasselas Track. File can then be imported into your GPS or opened in Google Earth. Also see the book by Wilkinson, B. (2011) The Abels, Volume Two, TOC, Moonah.
Information correct to / 8/12/13
Supplied by / Guy Burns and MJ Doran
Name /
Timbs Track
Purpose / Original access track into Gordonvale and Vale of Rasselas after the Gordon River Road was built.Location / Florentine Valley
Grid reference (AGD 66) / Gordon River Road 452500E, 5267800N; Adamsfield Track 452000E, 5270600N (Determined using a 1:100000 Topo Map)
Type and condition / Well maintained and marked track
Signage / Small brown sign on the northern side of the Gordon River Road
Length
Height difference / 3.5km
20m
Walking time / 1.5hours
Route description / Starting on the Gordon River Road. Currently there is a long-term forest protest here. . Track starts in tall old growth forest.After a short while exits forest onto an open scrubby plain with nice views of the Saw Back and Tiger Range and forests of the Upper Florentine. The start of the track is approximately 20 km from Maydena, and 4.3 km from a “Welcome to the South West – Heart of Wilderness” sign near the highest point of the road. The actual start is marked by a small brown sign on the north side. On the opposite side is a sign for Mt Mueller. A carpark is 50 metres further west.
Map reference / Tasmap 1:25000 scale Topo map sheet Adamsfield and Tiger. Track can also be viewed on Google Earth if you zoom in far enough. Right-Click here to download and save a gpx file of the track. File can then be imported into your GPS or opened in Google Earth.
Further reference
Information correct to / 8/12/13
Supplied by / Guy Burns
Name /
Rasselas Track (including Richea Creek Track)
Purpose / Original access track into Gordonvale (Ernie Bonds former residence 1934-1952) the Vale of Rasselas and the Denison Range from the Adamsfield Track.Location / Gordon Plains and the Vale of Rasselas
Grid reference (AGD 66) / Adamsfield Track 451300E, 5270900N; Gordon River 449050E, 5278050N; Gordonvale 446750E, 5283250N; Lake Rhona 441500E, 5288600N (Determined using a 1:25000 Topo Map)
Type and condition / Track is disused south of where Richea Creek meets the Gordon River, north of here track is easily followed along the Buttongrass plain until the turnoff to Lake Rhona. Further noth the orginal track is overgrown.
Signage / None
Length
Height difference / 26km
470m
Walking time / From Terry Walch Road, Gordon Range - 7 hours
Route description / From the Adamsfield Track the Rasselas Track starts at Florentine Creek in rainforest but soon enters an open button grass plain. The bridge that once crossed the Gordon River at Gordon Bend (42S 38.797, 146E 22.805 (WGS84)) burnt down in 1950, The river can be forded here at low water across shingle banks and one narrow, deeper section on the southern side. A flying fox (42S 38.814, 146E 22.729 (WGS84)) replaced the bridge but is now abandoned and surrounded by scrub. The wire ropes are still tethered to foundation stumps, and attached to the stumps are a few warning signs from National Parks. Upstream 250 m (42S 38.823, 146E 22.559 (WGS84)) is another crossing suggested by the National Park signs. This is an easy low-water crossing on a weir-type rock formation that extends almost the width of the river. Only a few metres on the south side would have to be waded.
It is best to now access the Vale of Rasselas north of the Gordon River from an alternative access point in the Florentine Valley. The new Richea Creek Track begins on the Gordon Range at the end of Terry Walsh Road. To get to this forestry road from Maydena:
- Head west on Gordon River Road for 3 kilometres, cross an overpass (which allows the Styx road to go underneath), and turn north onto the Styx road just beyond the overpass. Take the left fork after 200 metres. This is Florentine Road. It is not signposted. The right fork is the Styx road which loops under the highway.Travel north for 26km to Tiger Road (42S 35.864, 146E 27.536 (WGS84)). Florentine Road veers east here, Tiger road continues straight on (north).
- Follow Tiger Road for 3.7 km to Range Road (42S 34.527, 146E 26.009 (WGS84)).
- Turn west onto Range Road and follow for 3.5 km to Terry Walsh Road (42S 35.346, 146E 24.380 (WGS84))
- Turn west and around a hair-pin bend and follow Terry Walsh Road south for 3.3 km through encroaching forest. Continue to a car park at the end of the road (42S 36.446, 146E 23.823 (WGS84)). Ignore minor logging tracks along the way.
Map reference / Old Rasselas Track is shown on Tasmap 1:100000 Scale Wedge Ed. 4 mapsheet and on Tasmap 1:25000 Scale Tiger and Gordonvale mapsheets. Richea Creek Track is not shown on maps. Track can also be viewed on Google Earth if you zoom in far enough. Right-Click here to download and save a gpx file of part of the southern most part of the track. File can then be imported into your GPS or opened in Google Earth.
Further reference / Chapman, J. (1998). South West Tasmania: a guidebook for bushwalkers. 4th Ed. John Chapman, Melbourne and Wilkinson, B. (Ed.) (2011) The Abels, Tasmania’s Mountains Over 1100m High, Vol. 2. Tasmanian Outdoors Collection, Moonah.
Information correct to / 8/12/13
Supplied by / Guy Burns
Name /
Bombardier Track
Purpose / Provides access to Gordon River GorgeLocation / Gordon Plains
Grid reference (AGD 66) / Adamsfield Track 448820E, 5270750N; Gordon River Gorge 447800E, 5276350N (Determined using a 1:25000 Topo Map)
Type and condition / The track is mostly in good condition, some scrub usually at creek crossings, some bits are in excellent condition while other bits are quite hard to follow.
Signage
Length
Height difference / 7km
20m
Walking time / 4 hours
Route description / Runs up the eastern side of The Thumbs. Starts at the Adamsfield Track and ends just short of where the Huntley joins the Gordon River
Map reference / Shown on Tasmap 1:250 000 scale South West road map Ed. 2 and Tasmap 1:25 000 scale sheet Tiger.
Further reference / Right-Click here to download and save a gpx file of the track. File can then be imported into your GPS or opened in Google Earth.
Information correct to / 2007
Supplied by / MJ Doran
Name /
Jubilee Range Route
Purpose / To access the Jubilee Range.Location / Styx Valley
Grid reference (AGD 66) / (Determine using 1:25000 map grid)
Type and condition / Tagged route that gets you above the tree line. This is a partially tagged route. Attention needs to be paid to keeping on the route early on. Route gives way to easy off track walking.
Signage / None
Length
Height difference / 1km
200m
Walking time / 1.5 -2 hours
Route description / To access the track, head west on Gordon River Road for 3 kilometres, cross an overpass (which allows the Styx road to go underneath), and turn north onto the Styx road just beyond the overpass. Take the right fork after 200 metres. This is the Styx road which loops south under the highway. Follow the Styx Road for 10km to the Jubilee Road in the Styx Valley. Turn onto Jubilee Rd (there is a gate here, check with Forestry Tas whether gate is locked). The Jubilee Range Route leaves the Jubilee Road where it is closest to Mt. Jubilee, look for a cairn on the left, and some pink tapes indicating the start of the track. It cuts through a mix of button grass, tea tree and bauera until it reaches an obvious button grass ridge. Some new tapes have been put in recently on the early stages of the route, but they peter out in the button grass closer to the summit.Mt. Jubilee is 2-3km from the road, the Jubilee Range High Point is another 2km further along. Allow 1.5-2 hours to get to Mt Jubilee, and a further hour to the high point of the range. A nice little button grass range. On a good day, being so centrally located, the views are great.
Map reference / Not shown on maps. Refer to Tasmap 1:25000 scale SKELETON sheet
Further reference
Information correct to / Dec 2012
Supplied by / Marco D'Alessandro (2011) and Jared Parry
Name /
(Former) Pedder Track
Purpose / Provided access to the old Lake Pedder beach from the Gordon River Road near The Sentinel RangeLocation / Between Gordon River Road and Lake Pedder (original)
Grid reference (AGD 66) / (Now revegetated) Pedder Track Rest Area 435000E, 5253800N; Fake Pedder 433600E, 5245800N. (Determined using a 1:25000 Topo Map)
Type and condition / Slowly disappearing. In 1974 it was a major track and very wide, now it is a narrow foot track to the scrub edge (2km). After this, track is thickly overgrown and impassable until other side of The Sentinel Range. Major bushfire in January 2010. Scrub may be passable now.
Signage / None
Length
Height difference / 9km
300m
Walking time / Overnight trip
Route description / Starts on western edge of the now revegetated Pedder Track Rest Area, as shown on the 1st Edition of the Tasmap 1:25000 scale map sheet McPartlan.
Map reference / Tasmap 1:25000 scale Topo map sheet McPartlan and Solitary and 1:100000 scale Topo map sheet Wedge Ed. 4
Further reference
Information correct to / Jan 2010
Supplied by
Name /
Port Davey Track
Purpose / Built as an exit route for stranded mariners at Port Davey. Now part of South Coast WalkLocation / Between Scotts Peak, Bathurst Harbour and Melaleuca
Grid reference (AGD 66) / (Determined using a 1:25000 Topo Map)
Type and condition / Well used muddy track
Signage / Officially sign posted either end
Length
Height difference / 55km
Walking time / 3-4 days
Route description / See John Chapman, South West Tasmania, Guidebook.
Map reference
Further reference /
Information correct to
Supplied by
Name /
South Coast Track
Purpose / Original access track for tin miners of Melaleuca, now part of South Coast WalkLocation / Between Cockle Creek and Melaleuca
Grid reference (AGD 66) / (Determined using a 1:25000 Topo Map)
Type and condition / Well used with some track hardening and some muddy sections
Signage / Officially signposted either end with track markers
Length
Height difference / 130km
Walking time / 7-10 days
Route description / See John Chapman, South West Tasmania, Guidebook.
Map reference
Further reference /
Information correct to
Supplied by
Name /
Mt Wedge Track