Embarking on a multi-day hike across Flinders Island offers a profound sense of remoteness, with five nights in a tent, basic pit toilets, and a once-daily bucket shower. There are no luxurious eco-lodges in sight, and that is precisely what makes the Flinders Island Walking Adventure in Comfort so magical. This experience, added to the Great Walks of Australia portfolio in 2024, is one of fifteen walks now available for adventurous souls.
Journey to a Remote Island
After an overnight stay in Launceston, travellers are transported by van to Bridport for a thirty-minute charter flight to Whitemark, a bustling town with a population of just 308. The journey serves as a stark reminder of the perils of Bass Strait, with Flinders Island stretching 75 kilometres long and 40 kilometres wide in its midst.
Adapting to the Elements
Weather conditions can be unpredictable, as evidenced by a wet and windy first day that prompted guide Oscar to alter plans. Instead of hiking, the group visited the historic Wybalenna site, operational from 1833 to 1847, where Tasmanian Aboriginal people were forcibly interned. The brick chapel remains standing, with portraits and stories inside that highlight the resilience and suffering of those who resisted or perished there. This visit underscores the importance of truth-telling for genuine historical reckoning.
Summiting Mount Killiecrankie
On the second day, Oscar outlined the itinerary, starting with a summit of Mount Killiecrankie at 316 metres elevation. The ten-kilometre hike winds through stunning granite boulders and takes around four hours, including stops for lunch and a refreshing swim. As this adventure consists of individual day hikes, guides can flexibly adjust schedules based on weather conditions.
After conquering Killiecrankie, the group of seven descended past remarkable granite formations, such as the Old Man, the Wombat, elephants in various poses, and what resembles a perfect row of giant teeth. The Flinders Island Walking Adventure in Comfort accommodates a maximum of twelve people, supported by up to three guides.
Coastal Highlights and Camp Life
A lunch stop at Stackys Bight provided one of the best swims imaginable, thanks to crystal-clear ocean waters and breathtaking underwater limestone platforms. The day concluded with a walk over giant granite slabs adorned with bright orange caloplaca lichen, followed by a thirty-minute minibus ride to the semi-permanent camp at Leeka Bay.
Overnight, rain, howling winds, and lightning created a dramatic spectacle through the transparent ceilings of the tents. Camp life adheres to a strict schedule: dinner at 6pm, breakfast at 7am, and departure by 8am. With no TV or Wi-Fi, and only spotty phone signals, this hike is ideal for those seeking a six-day digital detox, accompanied by an engrossing book.
Wildlife and Scenic Wonders
The following day featured an eleven-kilometre coastal hike from Stanley Point, involving rock-hopping across granite striped orange and black like a giant backgammon board. Dinner, prepared in a camp kitchen, included wallaby and goat curry pies from a Whitemark bakery, followed by prosciutto-wrapped chicken, green beans, fetta and beetroot salad, and roast potatoes.
A beach meander along the inlet by Patriarch Conservation Area delighted birdwatchers, with sightings of Cape Barren geese, pelicans, and other seabirds. All twelve of Tasmania's endemic bird species can be spotted here, including the endangered 40-spotted pardalote, native hen, and green rosella.
Challenging Ascents and Final Delights
Another wet and windy day led to a minibus excursion to Castle Rock, a fifteen-metre-high formation weathered over 400 million years, standing out starkly among surrounding boulders. The penultimate day involved a challenging grade-four hike to the 756-metre summit of Mount Strzelecki, a difficult six-kilometre trek made hair-raising by ferocious winds.
The final day began with a gentle two-kilometre coastal trail loop, culminating in a chilly swim and a surprise appearance by a pod of friendly dolphins at Trousers Point. A superb lunch at Unavale Vineyard featured Flinders Island cheeses, wallaby terrine, home-baked sourdough bread, Tasmanian salmon, and exotic dips.
Scenic Flight and Reflections
After being dropped at Lady Barron Airport, the adventure concluded with a forty-minute scenic flight back to Bridport over the Furneaux Group's 52 islands. This wobbly take-off in a four-seater plane provided breathtaking views of Tin Kettle Island, Badger Island, and wild beaches, serving as the perfect finale to a rustic escape.
Flinders Island, even more remote than mainland Tasmania, offers a multi-day hike that is authentically rustic. This experience, graded easy to moderate, covers 42 kilometres over six days and operates from October to April, with prices starting from $3595 per person.
