Frenchman's Cap Tasmania Guided Walk- departs November 2011 through to April 2012

Tour Details

Operator

Adventure Seekers

Destination

Hobart

Departs From

Hobart

Tour Description

Your destination, the magnificent white quartzite dome of Frenchman’s Cap rises 1443 metres over the Franklin – Gordon Wild Rivers National Park and is approximately 200km north west of Hobart.

From its summit it is possible to see Tasmania’s highest peak (Mt Ossa), Cradle Mountain and Mt Jerusalem.

Your journey begins by crossing the Franklin River; over button grass plains and through dense rainforest to the beautiful Lake Tahune nestled below the Caps towering 450 metre south east face.

From here it’s an uphill walk with a scramble or two and we are rewarded by spectacular summit views.

Also included in this tour is a day trip down to the Irenabyss on the Franklin River. A great place for lunch it’s a beautiful and relaxing place.
On day four we retrace our steps back to the hut at Lake Vera for the night then on to the Franklin River and our coach journey home the next day.

Itinerary

Frenchman’s Cap Franklin – Gordon Wild Rivers National Park

Trek Duration: 4 nights / 5 days Track Grading: Medium to hard, a good level of fitness is required. Total Distance: 50km

Our destination, the magnificent white quartzite dome of Frenchman’s Cap rise’s 1443 metres over the Franklin – Gordon Wild Rivers National Park.

The park is a World Heritage Area and it has a rich diversity of vegetation, geology and animal life.

This trek is a unique, fascinating and challenging walking experience. Its majestic beauty will leave an indelible impression in your mind forever.

Day 1: Hobart to Lake Vera – 16.5km (6 hrs)

Our bus journey to Artist Hill on the Lyell Highway, the starting point for our trek arrives a little before midday. We cross the Franklin River swing bridge then climb from the river valley to the flanks of Mount Mullens where we get our first glimpses of the magnificent Frenchman’s Cap.

We pass through patches of rainforest and button grass, then a patch of thicker vegetation as we descend to the Loddon River. After a late lunch and a rest we continue through more plains of button grass before we climb through deep lush rainforest to Lake Vera and our first nights camp.

Day 2: Lake Vera to Lake Tahune – 5.7km (4 hrs)

We follow the northern shoreline of Lake Vera walking through lush, dense rainforest which shades the beautiful colours of the mosses and lichens. At the lakes western shore the track climbs steeply to Barron Pass, a small saddle between towering rock spires of quartzite. The Cap’s massive 450m south east face dominates the landscape and is clearly seen in good weather. From Barron Pass the track traverses small hills and over a swamp area of pineapple grass known as Artichoke Valley until Lake Tahune and its hut is reached. After lunch, weather dependant we will make a summit bid on the Cap. It is a 2 hour return trip to the summit and the views are truly rewarding.

Day 3 Lake Tahune to Irenabyss: - 10.8 km (9 -10 hrs return)

It is an early start today as we undertake a long day walk to the Irenabyss, its name by definition means”bottomless chasm of peace”. It is a steep descent to the Franklin River whose upper reaches we had crossed on day one. At the Franklin we are rewarded by the beautiful and peaceful chasm of water of the Irenabyss. A refreshing swim then lunch at a river rafting campsite precedes our return to Lake Tahune.
Day 4: Lake Tahune to Lake Vera: - 5.7k (4 hrs)

Today we retrace our steps back to Lake Vera but not before an early morning opportunity to summit the Frenchman again; weather permitting. We walk back through Artichoke Valley and over Barron Pass where we pause for our last close up view of Frenchman’s Cap and any photo opportunities before we descend to Lake Vera and a hearty dinner.

Day 5: Lake Vera to Hobart

The journey back to the Lyell Highway is just as spectacular as the walk in. We encounter the button grass of the Loddon Plains again and cross the swing bridges of the Loddon and Franklin Rivers where we meet our bus back to Hobart.