Three Capes Track, Tasmania – Day 2

Despite a patchy night’s sleep (Yes, all those loud nocturnal noises from my fellow bunkhouse mates), we were all raring to go the next day. The morning was crystal clear and the bush looked so fresh and inviting, it was impossible to resist the call of the boardwalk snaking across the landscape.

Like frisky racehorses, we shot out of the barriers (well, off the verandas) ready to enjoy Day 2 of the Three Capes Track.

Logistics:

Day: 2

Date: Wednesday, 14 September 2022

From: Surveyors Hut

To: Munro Hut

Official Distance: 11km                 Actual Distance: 11km

Total: 15/48km

Time: 3h55m

Ascent: 409m                                  Descent: 281m

Weather: Sunny, cool and windy

Stayed At: Munro Hut

General Comments:

• Today was one of those days when it felt great to be alive. The sun was sparkling through the tree tops and everything looked bright and fresh in the early morning light. It just felt so ‘right’ to be out walking in Nature.
• The path does lull you into a false sense of security as it wends its way through the bush, alternating between boardwalks and level dirt paths. Soon enough you hit the climb up Arthurs Peak (312m) and the heartrate soars. All of a sudden the ol’ let muscles start to complain and demand the return of the lovely level boardwalks. Needless to say, the climbs reward you with sweeping views over the azure blue waters, back towards Crescent Bay and Safety Cove. Yes, it is time to pause and catch your breath.

• A fabulous feature of today was, not only the constantly changing views, but the constantly changing flora. One minute you are walking through a patch of thick eucalypt forest and the next minute you pop out of the bush into a stretch of blasted coastal heath. The winds here are cold and biting. I definitely would not linger on these heathlands in the middle of Winter – the gale force winds would come straight off Antarctica.
• With the bush being so dense, any wildlife is conveniently hidden from intrusive walkers like us. We did spot a couple of wallabies, but that was about it.

• Magnificent boardwalks stretched across the Ellarwey Valley (as in, “Where the hell are we?”). We grabbed a quick morning snack at a timber bench designed to mimic the undulations of the heath and perhaps the actual waves themselves of the ocean far below. That chilly breeze I mentioned previously, encouraged us to chew quickly and keep moving. Murphy’s Law said that if we had walked another five minutes, we would have arrived at yet another magnificent seat, but this one shielded by thick scrub. Oh well…
• Seats: The strategically placed seats all along the 48km of this walk are a real feature. Called ‘story seats’, each is beautifully designed and links to the landscape it is located in. Their fascinating stories are featured in the 94-page information book you are given when you register at Port Arthur. Don’t worry it is not a big book and is not heavy to carry.

• Boot Cleaning Stations: You are encouraged to clean your boots at various points along the track. They have been installed to control the impact of phylloxera, so please take a few moments to go through the boot cleaning process properly.
• Munro Hut: Our overnight stop, Munro Hut, has beautiful views over Munro Bight. Suspended wooden decking and fixed binoculars help you make out the details of the sheer cliffs and Cape Hauy in the distance.

Even more wonderful are the bucket SHOWERS! We had been told there were showers, but I simply didn’t believe it. I was in two-minds to give them a try, but when I realised you could access a bucket of hot water, there was no holding me back. Yes, it was only one bucket of hot water, but it made me feel like a million dollars. Don’t miss it!

Top Tips for this Section:

• Toilets: There are no toilets along the length of the walk, other than at the huts. If nature calls, they recommend you move at least 50m from the track and dig a hole at least 15cm deep. I don’t know how you would be able to do either of those things as the bush is just so thick.

A word of warning about the toilets at Munro Hut. While they are very clean and toilet paper is plentiful, they are a long way away from the sleeping huts and common area. It is a real commitment to get there and you need to plan ahead, especially at night.

• Head Lamp/Torch: A headlamp or some sort of touch is a must pack item. The sleeping huts are not lit (or heated) at night and you will need some sort of lighting to move about at night and to pack your gear in the early morning.

• Dehydrated Food: You must carry in all your food and dehydrated meals/food is a lightweight option. I found that if I pre-soaked our dinners (chilli con carne and salmon risotto), the result was much tastier. Luckily each of the huts provide saucepans, mixing bowls, gas cook tops etc which makes meal preparation dead easy.

Another glorious day out on the Three capes Track.

Resources:

• Three Capes Track – Read more about it – HERE
• Parks Tasmania – Read more about it – HERE
• Overview of the whole Track – Read more about it – HERE
• Day 1 on the Three Capes Track – Read more about it – HERE

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