Tasman Peninsula
A few years ago Jude went on a hiking trip with Jo, Kim, Chan, Lorna, Erica and Mingyuan on the Three Capes. Jon was keen to see the capes as well, so Jude returned to the Tasman Peninsula to hike the trails again. As we were doing it ourselves, we couldn’t start with the boat trip from Port Arthur. We drove to Fortescue Bay, the end location of the Three Capes hike. From there we could hop on the Old Cape Pillar track which lead us to the junction with the Three Capes track.
our hike on the Tasman Peninsula. Day 1 we hiked from Fortescue Bay to Cape Pillar and stayed at Bare Knoll campsite (27.5km in 10 hours). Day 2 we hiked from Bare Knoll campsite to Cape Huay and back to Fortescue Bay (15.9km in 7 hours).
After a few hours we reached the junction. To our right was the trail coming from the first hut (Surveyors), to our left the track continued to the last hut (Retakunna) of the Three Capes circuit, but we were first heading to the Bare Knoll campsite. It was located only 10 minutes from the junction. We walked in and found an empty tent platform at the end. We pitched our tent and left most of our stuff there and continued our hike to Cape Pillar.
registering for the walk in Fortescue Bay
Jude on the Old Cape Pillar track
we pitch our tent at Bare Knoll campsite before walking to the Blade and Cape Pillar
We walked straight through the second hut of the Three Capes track (Munro), filling up our bladders with water there as the campsite tanks had been contaminated. It’s a decent hike to the Blade and we had lunch along the way. People hiking the Three Capes track were already coming back as we got closer to the Blade, an impressive narrow rocky outcrop overlooking the ocean and we had the place all to ourselves.
Jon at the second hut overlooking the Munro Bight
Jude on the way to the Blade and Cape Pillar
Jon at one of the ‘seats’ of the Three Capes walk
Jon on Cape Pillar, overlooking Tasman Island
Jon with some of the stunning cliffs of the Three Capes area
Jon and Jude on the Tasman Peninsula
After taking some photos and enjoying a snack we continued all alone again to Cape Pillar, before retracing our steps all the way back to the Bare Knoll campsite. Filling up our water bladders again on the way through the hut. There were some other people in the campsite, but it wasn’t busy. We demolished our dinner, it had been a long day (27km in 10 hours).
Jude making dessert at the Bare Knoll campsite
From the Bare Knoll campsite we walked back to the junction, but instead of hiking back on the Old Cape Pillar track, we followed the Three Capes boardwalks all the way through the third hut and on to Cape Huay (15km in 6.5 hours). It was another glorious sunny day and we marveled at the stunning vistas. The lookout at the end of Cape Huay was our lunch spot. Jon finally got to see the Totem Pole and we spotted a seal swimming in the ocean beneath us.
Jon enjoying the view from the Retakunna hut
Jude on day 2 of the hike, on the way to Cape Huay
Jon on another seat of the Three Capes track
Jon and Jude on the Three Capes track, Munro Bight in the background
can you find Jon on the track to Cape Huay?
the totem pole at Cape Huay
we spot a seal at Cape Huay
After walking back to Fortescue Bay where we had left Lara, we also went for a swim. It was a great way to end a stunning walk. One day Jon will have to do the day walk to Cape Raoul to complete the ‘Three Capes’, but we had really enjoyed doing the Three Capes circuit for free, in just 2 days. A great alternative if you can’t get a booking or don’t want to spend the money to walk the ‘official’ Three Capes route.
Jude enjoying a swim in Fortescue Bay both before and after the hike
we made pizza in our oven for the first time on the Tasman Peninsula