After I did the Larapinta hike earlier in 2022, everyone wanted to know the blow by blow of how each day panned out. Seems like so many people are abandoning classic ‘luxury’ holidays in private villas for the adventure of travelling the world up close on foot. As the woman who once took an inner sprung king size mattress and white Saks of Fifth Ave robe (complete with shoulder pads) to a campsite, I reckon I could still do both but for now my focus has been on getaways that involve a stack of play along with big physical and mental challenges.
In October my business besties and I moved our annual business planning meeting from Melbourne to Tassie, where we hiked the epic Three Capes Trail before hitting Hobart to do the actual business work. So now I have the memory of another world famous track in my hiking boots and my mind, and again people have been asking for insider details of the walk.
Things to know upfront: there are a number of ways to do the Three Capes, including the well-known route run by the Tasmania Parks and Wildlife Service that starts with a boat pickup at historic penal site Port Arthur. On that self-catering adventure you carry your own packs for four days and 48kms, ending up at Fortescue Bay. Our group chose something different and booked with a tour company that organises high end lodge accommodation and no-heavy backpack hiking. Think two course dinners, lunches along the route and a great bath to soak your screaming calves in at night.
That suited our group perfectly. We do enough organising of food and warmth for our families at home! This was a getaway from our normal lives so we opted for the ‘please look after us while we enjoy the views and hikes’ door. We wanted to have something in the tank for our business summit. Here’s how it panned out, day by day:
Day one: Hobart to Cape Hauy
Our walk kicked off when we were picked up by private transfer in Hobart about 8am and headed for the Tasman Peninsula. The weather was great—sunny, cool, light winds. The return walk was about 10kms out to the incredible Cape Hauy and 180- million-year-old dolerite cliffs. There were wildflowers, mind blowing scenery and a stack of steps. At the end we had the chance for a swim but had been warned the water temperature was about eight degrees. One of us was brave and went in for the full McCoy, not just the leg dip. I won’t say if it was me but it wasn’t me.
Day Two: Waterfall Bay to Fortescue Bay
This was a vastly different day—no stairs. The walk winds along the coast through rainforests with fantastic views out to seas. We spent much of the day high up in the clouds, loving the variety of the landscape and terrain. Think lots of glimpses of secluded bays with turquoise water and sugar white sand. The 18km walk was challenging in parts but we shared lots of old stories and had plenty of belly laughs.
Day Three: Cape Raoul
It was wet, wet, wet! We walked anyway. Cape Raoul is a favourite among Tasman Peninsula locals and it certainly didn’t disappoint. Lots of other hikers were put off by the sleet (we only saw three others on the track all day) so we enjoyed the stunning views without the crowds. One big takeaway was the stunning power of the Southern Ocean smashing against the cape at what is one of the world’s biggest surf breaks when the seas are right. Not that anyone was surfing it when we were there—perhaps it’s an urban myth? You’d need to be pretty brave. Lots of sharks in this part of the world. And powerful winds. Again, we had plenty of laughs on the 14km hike, which takes up to six hours depending on your pace and how long you linger for lunch.
Day Four: Crescent Bay and Mt Brown
They saved the best ‘til last. I adored this walk. It was totally relaxed and easy on our fatigued legs. We basked in the return of the sunshine and I loved how everywhere you looked, there were waterways. We sat at the (manageable 174m) top of Mt Brown, planning our future adventures and fun. A ripper day.
Whatever your hiking style and level of fitness, the Three Capes can cater. There was definitely a mix of hikers on the trail, from millennials to the occasional kid and a stack of mid-lifers like us. It’s wildly beautiful and worthwhile. No, we saw no snakes or leeches. Yes, we saw sea eagles. No, it didn’t feel crowded. Yes, can recommend—so much that I’m planning to run a program which would include a Three Capes adventure with me. This six month program is designed to get you out of your comfort zone in 2023 and make a step change in one key area of your business or life. If that’s something you’d be interested in (and at this stage it would just be interest!) leave a message in the comments or email me – katrina@katrinamccarter.com.