Southwest National Park

The attraction of walking in the Southwest National Park

Put simply, this magnificent national park delivers some of the world’s most pristine and isolated bush, forest and coastal wilderness. Not many of us venture in, but most of us relish its existence. The French explorers of the late eighteenth century recorded their sense of being at the end of the world and you still feel that way today. Two hundred and twenty years after first European contact, little has changed. So those wishing to experience remote wilderness have a rare opportunity to do so.

The Southwest National Park is huge; it covers over 600,000 hectares and includes the entire south-west corner of Tasmania and most of the south coast. It is Tasmania’s largest national park and forms a substantial component of the Tasmanian Wilderness World Heritage Area. Road access is minimal. The most common entry point is Cockle Creek in the south-east which is two hours’ drive south of Hobart. Access is also possible from the north via the southern shores of Lake Pedder.

The best known track in the Southwest National Park is the South Coast Track which runs between Cockle Creek and Melaleuca, an airstrip on the western side of the Park, south of Bathurst Harbour. The track takes seven to nine days. Melaleuca is the usual starting point which involves flying in from Hobart then walking to Cockle Creek. The walk can be done in the opposite direction but that means finishing in Melaleuca and potentially waiting for a plane if flying/landing conditions are not suitable.

Another well-known track in the Park is the Port Davey Track. This track runs between Melaleuca and Scotts Peak Dam in the north. As with the South Coast Track, it takes about seven days but the track is rougher and is less commonly undertaken.

Change is afoot in the Southwestern National Park, with a private operator recently receiving a green light to build huts along the South Coast Track. When complete, this will allow the operator to provide clients with a more comfortable guided experience with lesser loads during the day and a fixed roof over their heads at night. Click the button below for a description of the South Coast Track.

There are a number of tour operators offering a variety of walking trips in the Southwest National Park, including guided hiking trips covering the South West Track and the Port Davey Track. We can help you choose an operator that best suits your interests and requirements. Click below to learn more.