BIG DAY OUT
TASMANIA may be famous for its iconic multi-day walks like the Overland Track but as these day walks attest you don’t have to disappear into the bush for multiple days to get a taste of pure Tassie wilderness.
“THE MOST DISTINCTIVE FEATURE OF THE PARK IS THE DEVILS BACKBONE, A DOLERITE”
Hartz Peak 12.5km return/4.5hr/medium-hard
The Hartz Mountains have been a popular bushwalking destination since the early 1900s. The area, which covers 7250 hectares, was set aside as a scenic reserve in 1939 and proclaimed a national park in 1959, before finally being included in the World Heritage Area in 1989 to preserve its significant natural and cultural heritage. The most distinctive feature of the park is the Devils Backbone, a dolerite mountain range that runs north-south and is terminated by Hartz Peak and Mt Snowy at the southern end.
Getting there
From Hobart take the Huon Hwy to Geeveston, then turn right into Arve Rd and follow signage to Hartz Mountains NP, ignoring all logging spurs; park at the end of the road
