StepScape

What is StepScape?

This site is working towards showing every published Tasmanian day walk on a single map.

StepScape is a work in progress, currently showing 2,212 of an estimated 3,000 published bushwalks in Tasmania.

StepScape is also available as an app for iPhone and iPad.

Read about what the StepScape app does differently from this website.

Caution

This site is a list of walks, not a walking guide. Before undertaking any walk, consult the references provided.

Most of the references made every attempt at accuracy but did not guarantee it. Some are books that are now out of print, so information that was once accurate may not remain so. Changes may include:

  • Land becoming private or reserved
  • Tracks being damaged or rehabilitated
  • Road access being blocked
  • Bad weather or bushfires temporarily making a walk unsafe
Sites to check before you walk How do I get started?

Every pin on the map represents a car park with at least one known walk. Click on the pins for information. Or, click on the Filter tab above to only show the walks that interest you.

Every walk includes a References section listing the books, brochures or websites that mention it. Consult those sources for more information.

What are the latest additions?

Latest car park

Mount Saddleback 4WD parking

Latest walk

Mount Saddleback Track by 4WD

Latest change

Added 2WD and 4WD parking options for Mount Saddleback.

Updated on

2023-07-18

Who made this website?

The StepScape website was created by Cowirrie, a small software development company in Launceston. We take information and present it so it is accessible and useful to people. Our other work includes the SepiaScape guide to historic Tasmania and the PBPhonics app for basic English literacy practice.

We have also taken some of these walks ourselves, and written comprehensive walk reports about them.

Data Entry

Jan Horton

Programming

Michael Horton

Maps

Google Maps JavaScript API

Components

jQuery, used under the MIT License

jQuery CSV, used under the MIT License

jQuery UI, used under the MIT License

jQuery UI Touch Punch, used under the MIT License

Feedback

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Holwell Gorge south parking area

Nearest Road:Kerrisons Rd
Nearest Town:Beaconsfield
Locality:North
Latitude:S 41° 16′ 36″
Longitude:E 146° 46′ 2″
Elevation:310 m
Fee:No charge
Management:P&WS
Road Surface:Unsealed
Car Park:Rough
Water:Stream
Toilets:None
Toilet Accessibility:No toilet
Shelter:None
Picnic Table:No table
Comment:Turn into Kerrisons Rd just south of Holwell Hall. 1km to Reserve sign. Drivable track takes you to a secluded parking area. Walk down wheeltracks to wooden foot bridge. Track follows creek to right.

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4 walks from Holwell Gorge south parking area

Andersons Creek walk in Holwell Gorge from South car park.

Goal:Top Falls Track junction
Grade:Fairly flat
Type:Retrace route
One-way distance:200 m
Return distance:400 m
Comment:The sign says 'for experienced walkers only' but the first section is gentle and pretty by creek. Turn back at junction down to Top Falls (no sign).

References

Jan Hardy & Bert Elson, 50 Family Walks around Launceston & Northeast Tasmania, Hillside Publishing, Page 82, Number 35, 35 - Holwell Gorge

“From the (southern) car park the walk winds through open forest into a ferny gully…”

Jan Hardy & Bert Elson, 50 Family Walks around Launceston & Northeast Tasmania, Hillside Publishing, Page 80, Number 34, 34 - Holwell Gorge

“… a range of vegetation from open forest to riverside manferns.”

Tyrone Thomas & Andrew Close, 100 Walks in Tasmania, Explore Australia, Page 115, Number 35, Holwell Gorge

“Forest and creek gorge”

Stepscape contributors, Cowirrie - report from recent information, Cowirrie, Holwell Gorge 2 April 2018

“Walk down to footbridge. Turn right through grassy area to footpad by creek.”

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Holwell Gorge walk from south carpark to Top Falls

Caution

This site is a list of walks, not a walking guide. Before undertaking any walk, consult the references below.

For additional information about safe walking in Tasmania, go to the StepScape tab.

Goal:Lookout to Top Falls
Grade:Some steep
Type:Retrace route
One-way distance:300 m
Return distance:600 m
Comment:Walk in from Kerrisons Rd to the Top (Southern) falls and return. Track down to falls very rough. Lookout on edge of steep drop.

References

Jan Hardy & Bert Elson, 50 Family Walks around Launceston & Northeast Tasmania, Hillside Publishing, Page 82, Number 35, 35 - Holwell Gorge

Jan Hardy & Bert Elson, 50 Family Walks around Launceston & Northeast Tasmania, Hillside Publishing, Page 80, Number 34, 34 - Holwell Gorge

Tyrone Thomas & Andrew Close, 100 Walks in Tasmania, Explore Australia, Page 115, Number 35, Holwell Gorge

“Forest and creek gorge”

Stepscape contributors, Cowirrie - report from recent information, Cowirrie, Holwell Gorge 2 April 2018

“Pad down to top of falls very overgrown. Do not trust branches as handholds, much of it is rotten”

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Holwell Gorge Walk from south to north

Goal:Holwell Rd car park
Grade:Challenging
Type:One way pickup
One-way distance:4,000 m
Return distance:8,000 m
Comment:One way walk through the Gorge from south car park to north car park. Landslips, flood debris, walk in creek.

References

Waterfalls of Tasmania, Jubec Systems and Design, Holwell Falls Beaconsfield

“The land slippage (in 2013) also caused much damage to the tracks…”

Jan Hardy & Bert Elson, 50 Family Walks around Launceston & Northeast Tasmania, Hillside Publishing, Page 82, Number 35, 35 - Holwell Gorge

“Tricky in mud”

Tyrone Thomas & Andrew Close, 100 Walks in Tasmania, Explore Australia, Page 115, Number 35, Holwell Gorge

3 hours retrace route
“Forest and creek gorge”

Stepscape contributors, Cowirrie - report from recent information, Cowirrie, Holwell Gorge 2 Apr 18

“Access from north end to First Falls has been repaired. Remainder still flood-damaged”

Stepscape contributors, Cowirrie - report from recent information, Cowirrie, Holwell Gorge 2 Apr 18

“Through track only for very experienced bushwalkers”

Waterfalls of Tasmania, Jubec Systems and Design, Holwell Gorge Falls

“Holwell Gorge Falls is thelast waterfall (from the south end).”

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Holwell Gorge walk to Top and Middle Falls

Goal:Holwell Gorge Middle Falls
Grade:Challenging
Type:Retrace route
One-way distance:1,000 m
Return distance:2,000 m
Comment:Walk in to Top Falls and then to the Second Falls from Kerrisons Rd. Return.

References

Jan Hardy & Bert Elson, 50 Family Walks around Launceston & Northeast Tasmania, Hillside Publishing, Page 82, Number 35, 35 - Holwell Gorge

“… arrives at a short branch at the top of the first falls.”

Jan Hardy & Bert Elson, 50 Family Walks around Launceston & Northeast Tasmania, Hillside Publishing, Page 80, Number 34, 34 - Holwell Gorge

“The track here is very old and well dug into the hillside”

Tyrone Thomas & Andrew Close, 100 Walks in Tasmania, Explore Australia, Page 115, Number 35, Holwell Gorge

“Forest and creek gorge”

Stepscape contributors, Cowirrie - report from recent information, Cowirrie, Holwell Gorge 2 April 2018

“Sign indicates for experienced bushwalkers only, and track currently not repaired.”

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