ARTHUR RANGE TRAVERSE
There is no easy way to summit Tasmania’s Federation Peak. Its fortress-like form rises from the Eastern Arthurs, deep within the World Heritage wilderness of the Southwest National Park. The tough terrain poses challenges even for experienced bushwalkers. Bad weather thwarts many attempts. There are longer and harder routes but probably the most spectacular is the ridgeline traverse of both the Western and Eastern Arthurs.
For years, photographs of the jagged peaks and alpine lakes of the Arthur Range captivated me. I dreamed of completing the full Arthur Range traverse and standing atop Federation Peak. But it is a serious undertaking. I needed experience. I began overnight hiking and I joined a bushwalking club, Adelaide Bushwalkers. I planned to walk less demanding Tasmanian hikes first, like the Overland Track, the Mount Anne Circuit, and the South Coast Track. Before attempting any of these a friend from the bushwalking club, Trevor Jones, announced that in March he was leading a 14-day Arthur Range traverse. Carrying food and gear over rugged terrain for 14 days, it would be ten days longer than any of my previous walks. Trevor had traversed the Arthur Range before, in the opposite direction, and described it as his “favourite” walk. Promising to be a true adventure and challenge, I sign up.
ROUTE & MAPS
The Arthur Range traverse is approximately 80 kilometres, plus side trips. The low-lying approach from the trailhead at Huon Campground near Scotts Peak Dam is about 11 kilometres before the 37-kilometre Western Arthur Range traverse. The route continues along the Eastern Arthur Range for about 14.5 kilometres before the 17-kilometre walk out to Farmhouse Creek.
Seven TASMAP 1:25,000 series maps cover the walk: Scotts, Crossing, Razorback, Glovers, Federation, Bobs, and Burgess. A new TASMAP 1:50,000 series Western Arthurs map covers the low-lying approach, the entire Western Arthurs and a portion of the Eastern Arthurs. Two TASMAP 1:100,000 maps provide the best overview of the entire walk: Old River and the special South Coast Walks map.
John Chapman’s South West Tasmania (2017, 5th edition) provides invaluable maps and track notes of both the route and side trips including Federation Peak.
ACCESS & WHEN TO GO
The Arthur Range traverse described is a one-way route. The drive from Tasmania’s capital, Hobart, to the trailhead at Huon Campground near Scotts Peak Dam takes 3.5 hours. The drive from the finish at Farmhouse Creek back to Hobart is about two hours. There is no public transport to the start or finish of the walk. Private transport or a taxi is required.
January to March provide the warmest weather with the least rainfall on average. Only the most experienced adventures should consider the walk during winter.
PREPARING AND TRAINING
To prepare, in the months before the walk, I train. I take the stairs to my ninth-floor office. I walk up local hills with a loaded pack as fast as I can. I carefully plan every meal and weigh
