My backyard on the Tasman Peninsula holds three of Tasmania's most magical, and accessible hikes, the Three Capes. Cape Hauy, Cape Raoul and Cape Pillar have been a training ground for me for every expedition. Alot of people don't realise you can do them all for free! The luxurious version of the Three Capes can cost you upwards of $500 per person, so below I've put together our favourite way to do the famous walks on a budget, and in your own time frame.
Overview:
· Location — Tasman Peninsula
· Best season — November - April, although you can access the trails year round
· Length — Cape Raoul: 15km, Cape Pillar: 29km, Cape Hauy: 9km
· Average time — 3-4 days
· Cost — National Parks Pass required ($44.75 AUD for two months) Fortescue Campground is $13 per night per tent
· Registration - No registration is needed for the trails themselves. Although Fortescue Bay Campground does get busy during summer months so it's best to reserve your spot here
· Start locations — Cape Raoul, Cape Pillar, Cape Hauy
· End location — All the trails are 'out and backs' and finish where they start.
· Facilities — Cape Raoul trailhead has toilets and a water tank. Fortescue Bay has great toilets, gas BBQs and camping sites for tents and campervans/caravans (no fires permitted in National Parks)
· Difficulty — Grade 3, moderate fitness required
Helpful hints:
I recommend doing the capes in this order:
1. Cape Raoul - 14km
2. Cape Pillar - 29km
3. Cape Hauy - 9km
As you can see on the map above, Cape Hauy and Pillar start in the same location in Fortescue Bay Campground. Cape Raoul is around a 45 minute drive from Fortescue.
Weather - This part of Tasmania has its own eco system and receives 3 times the rain that Hobart does. There's really no telling what the weather will do, so be prepared for rain and wind at all times, and if you get blue skies it's a bonus.
Trails - The tracks are constantly being upgraded and are wide and extremely user friendly in terms of navigation and terrain.
Getting there - The Peninsula is a 1 hour 20 minute drive from Hobart. There is 2km of unsealed, though well maintained, road getting to the Cape Raoul trailhead. There is 12km of unsealed road heading to Fortescue campground (Joiners Link Road).
Reception - There is no or limited phone reception at Fortescue Bay. You will get it intermittently on the trails though.
CAPE RAOUL - 15km
(Optional Shipsterns Bluff)
The paid Three Capes trips don't get the pleasure of walking Cape Raoul– it is only viewed from a boat. This is a great loss, because it has some incredible cliff features that are not to be missed.
A recent upgrade means there is plenty of parking at the trail head, as well as toliets and a water tank. Make sure to sign the book at the entry before you start, and give your boots a scrub at the station.
The Shipsterns Bluff turnoff appears around 15 minutes into the trail; another epic walk that you can tack on if you like. However if you don't have time, you will see the famous big wave surf break along the Cape Raoul trail anyway.
It is an 'out and back' trail, with two viewing points at the end, the cape and seal rocks.
After Cape Raoul you can either:
Splash out on a lush cabin or Airbnb in Port Arthur.
OR
Head straight to Fortescue Bay to camp for the night.
Things to know about Fortescue Bay Campground:
You can find lots of information at the Parks and Wildlife website.
You must have a National Parks Pass for Fortescue Bay. A 2 month pass is $44.75 per person or $89.50 for a car of up to 8 people.
From November to April you should book your camp spot, it does get busy on summer weekends. It's $13 for 2 people and a tent, then $5 for every extra person. You pay onsite so bring cash for the registration booth. The site is only manned 10am-4pm in summer and not at all between May and October.
CAPE PILLAR - 29km
The Cape Pillar return hike is a long day so start early. Throw your head torch in just incase. The trailhead begins about 300m back down the road from the campground office (you pass it on the drive in). The first half of this track is slightly less maintained than the others until you meet up with where the paid trips join the trail at Tornado Ridge. Cape is the flattest of the trails, so you can keep a comfortable pace.
Approximately 8 kilometres into the hike you will come across Bare Knoll campsite. This is a free camp spot with a toilet, water and tent platforms with chains. Not long after this is is a toilet block and Munro Hut. This is a good spot for a snack and gives you a glimpse of the luxury version of the Three Capes that the paid hikers stay in for a night. You can fill your bottles here, meaning you won't need to carry more than 1 litre from the start of the day.
There are long boardwalk stretches that lead you out to 'The Blade'. This 5 minute detour from the trail up steep rock is definitely worth the scramble. The views of Tasman Island and the coast are incredible.
Cape Pillar Lookout is just around the corner from the Blade. Take a break here before retracing your steps back to Fortescue Bay Campground for a well deserved feed and sleep.
CAPE HAUY - 9km
Enjoy a sleep-in today as Cape Hauy is your shortest hike of the three. Your final day begins from the boat ramp at Fortescue Bay and quickly ascends to a view back over your campground. This is the most popular of the hikes so is extremely well maintained, with regular rest stops along the way.
You will break through the bush onto Cape Hauy Headland and see the trail cut through the mountain to the end. Close to the final view point there are many exposed cliffs so keep to the track. Once you hit the end you can peer over the edge and see the famous rock climb 'The Totem Pole' jutting out of the water, and if you're lucky you might spot a whale or two.
Have some water and a snack and start your journey back to the campground.
And that's THE THREE CAPES, for free!
If you are short on time, you can do one or two of these hikes, or even add a rest day in the middle. For the 'camping experience' Fortescue is one of the most user friendly campsites you will find in the world.
Bare Knoll Campsite option:
As I mentioned there is an option to stay at Bare Knoll Campsite which is the free site with elevated tent platforms and toliets 8 km into the Cape Pillar Track. There is then a cut through that allows you to link up with Cape Hauy instead of going back to Fortescue. If you took this option your trip would look like this:
Day 1: Start Fortescue Bay - Bare Knoll (dump excess gear or sleep if you have an extra day or not enough light) - Cape Pillar - Sleep Bare Knoll
Day 2: Start Bare Knoll - Cape Hauy - Fortescue Bay
Bare Knoll does attract mosquitoes and leeches, especially in the wetter months but it will cut down that big nearly 30km day of Cape Pillar. It's also located close to Munro Hut which you can use for toilets and reliable water refills.
Gear:
Good hiking boots and socks
First aid (bandaids for blisters)
Comfortable day pack (or backpack if you are taking the Bare Knoll option)
Warm sleeping bag - especially if it's winter as it can get down to 0°C overnight
Refillable water bottles - 2 litres worth
Tent and sleeping mat
Trekking poles - not 100% necessary but can help on that big Cape Pillar day
Warm jacket and rain proof jacket, weather proof pants if the weather looks iffy
Long pants
Gas cooking device (or you can use the gas BBQ's at Fortescue) and utensils
Head torch, hat, sunscreen (+ the usual essentials)
Swimwear - if you are really keen for a dip at the beach
Food - there is a general store at Port Arthur with limited supplies. An IGA near the Cape Raoul turn off is a better option. Your best bet though, is stopping at Sorell Woolworths or Coles and stocking up on your way to the Peninsula.
This trip is the most enjoyable and scenic introduction into camping and hiking you will find in Australia. Enjoy planning your self guided Three Capes Hike, and if you have any questions about planning your trip please reach out.
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