Summary

A wonderful walk from the southern most road in Australia at Recherche Bay, across button grass plains to the wild South Cape Bay with sensational views of the Southern Ocean.

Description

This fabulous walk in the Southwest National Park – a remote and rugged landscape in the heart of the Tasmanian Wilderness World Heritage – is not for the faint hearted.

The walk starts from the end of Australia’s most southerly road and you walk through woodland and open bush till you reach the cliff above South Cape Bay and back.

Allow 4-5 hours for this 15 Km walk (return), but it may take longer if you want to linger at South Cape and gaze out to sea. In fact, take your lunch and make a good day of it!

It can be quite muddy and rocky in parts so good walking boots are recommended and definitely take water and food and be prepared for changes in the weather (take a coat).

It’s a rare day when the wind isn’t howling and the surf roaring at this breath-taking place. If conditions allow, take the steps down to the beach. There you can wander the sand and cobble beach as far as Lion Rock, and marvel at what the wild ocean has washed up.

There are toilets at the start (Cockle Creek) but no amenities after that, not even seats along the way.

1580 Views

Points of Interest

1. To Recherche Bay

The walk starts at Recherche Bay which is on the fringe of the Tasmanian Wilderness World Heritage Area,

2. Cockle Creek

One of ?Cockle Creek's tranquil coves and sandy beaches.

3. First boardwalk

The first of many boardwalks you will find on the walk.

4. The rocky and muddy path

Not long into the walk and the path becomes a bit muddy and rocky making it a slow going.

5. The bush

The path meanders through some taller trees.

6. Wildflowers

Some of the gorgeous wildflowers that we found when we walked in September.

7. Heath

More wildflowers.

8. Old and new

Lovely to see different stages of a forest's life cycle.

9. Huon Pine

Really nice to find a tiny Huon Pine (we think) but we didn't see any bigger.

10. Out of the trees

Coming out of the trees onto a boardwalk.

11. Boardwalk

The boardwalk look like to might go on forever, but it didn't. Some of the board walk was a little spongy with water underneath.

12. Back into trees

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13. Echidna

Sorry it not a great photo, but lovely to see an Echidna which are quite common in the warmer month.

14. A creek

A smaller creek, possibly a tributary of Cockle Creek?

15. Mud glorious mud

Yes, the track can be. very muddy!

16. South Cape

We could hear the se from quite a long way away but, then it suddenly emerges and is truly spectacular!

17. The beach

Looking up the beach to Lion Rock.

Features

Nature trail

Lake, creek, river