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

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Ben Lomond car park

Nearest Road:Ben Lomond Rd
Nearest Town:Launceston
Locality:North East
Latitude:S 41° 32′ 2″
Longitude:E 147° 40′ 2″
Elevation:1,440 m
Fee:Parks Pass
Management:National Park
Road Surface:Unsealed
Car Park:Good unsealed
Water:Tap if open
Toilets:Flush
Toilet Accessibility:No access
Shelter:Shelter
Picnic Table:Picnic table
Comment:Park below the public shelter at the ski village. Or in snow season take shuttle bus from car park at foot of Jacobs Ladder.

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8 walks from Ben Lomond car park

Ben Lomond car park down to Carr Villa

Goal:Carr Villa
Grade:Moderate
Type:One way pickup
One-way distance:5,000 m
Return distance:10,000 m
Comment:From car park, over Legges Tor to connect to Summit Pass Track. Continue down to Carr Villa.

References

Parks & Wildlife Service Tasmania, Parks & Wildlife Service Website - Explore our Parks, P&WS, Ben Lomond National Park

3 hours circuit
“In summer,the displays of colourful wildflowers are a delight.”

Stepscape contributors, Cowirrie - report from recent information, Cowirrie, Carr Villa Track

“From Inn follow signs to Legges Tor then down Summit Pass Track to Car Villa Track”

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Big Ben Creek Walk

Goal:View of Coalmine Crag
Grade:Moderate
Type:Retrace route
One-way distance:900 m
Return distance:1,800 m
Comment:From Inn, follow red poleline up creek SW to saddle overlooking Coal Mine Crag. Turn back at round cleared area.

References

Stepscape contributors, Cowirrie - report from recent information, Cowirrie, Big Ben Creek

“Ski poles in straight line from Inn to saddle, but foot pad zig zags. Start on boardwalk to dam.”

Tags

Hamilton Crags Walk

Goal:Hamilton Crags summit
Grade:Moderate
Type:Retrace route
One-way distance:1,000 m
Return distance:2,000 m
Comment:From Ski Village, head east towards the highest of the Hamilton Crags. Find own way over rocks, but please avoid stepping on sensitive vegetation.

References

Mark Dickenson, Chris Howard, Greg Rubock, Day Walks in Tasmania, Envirobook, Page 78, Number 38, 38 - Hamilton Crags

2 hours retrace route
“There is no track but the walking is very easy in this area.”

Louise Fairfax, Naturelover's Walks, Hamilton Crags 1 Feb 2015

40 minutes retrace route
“There are three summit cairns, the middle one being the highest.”

Tags

Little Hell circuit from Ski Village

Goal:Little Hell
Grade:Moderate
Type:Circuit
One-way distance:5,250 m
Comment:Follow road uphill past inn and ski lodge. Continue track circuit to west and south following ski poles to Little Hell. Complete circuit.

References

Parks & Wildlife Service Tasmania, Parks & Wildlife Service Website - Explore our Parks, P&WS, Ben Lomond National Park

1 hour 30 minutes circuit
“… views across the southern part of the plateau to Stacks Bluff.”

Reid Marshall and Marina Santiago, Day Hikes Tasmania, Challenge and Beauty, Page 57, Number 4, #07 Little Hell Circuit

2 hours 30 minutes circuit
“In the summer, a technical and rocky loop around the Ben Lomond Plateau.”

Tags

Normans Folly walk

Goal:Normans Folly cairn
Grade:Moderate
Type:Retrace route
One-way distance:1,400 m
Return distance:2,800 m
Comment:Walk up the Big Ben Creek route to clear circle past saddle, then contour NW to big cairn on Normans Folly. Return

References

Stepscape contributors, Cowirrie - report from recent information, Cowirrie, Big Ben Creek

“The cairn is visible from the clear circle at the end of the Big Ben track, slightly north of west.”

Tags

Surprise Vale Circuit from Ski Village

Goal:Surprise Vale
Grade:Moderate
Type:Circuit
One-way distance:3,600 m
Comment:From Inn, follow pole line west, then uphill left. When poles diverge,follow track east in valley back to start.

References

Parks & Wildlife Service Tasmania, Parks & Wildlife Service Website - Explore our Parks, P&WS, Ben Lomond National Park

1 hour circuit
“There are small boulder fields”

Tags

Turtleback Rocks walk

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:Big turtleback
Grade:Moderate
Type:Retrace route
One-way distance:1,100 m
Return distance:2,200 m
Comment:Walk up the Big Ben Creek route to clear circle past saddle. Work to the SE towards the large mounded bare rocks with hexagonal cracks like a turtle

References

Stepscape contributors, Cowirrie - report from recent information, Cowirrie, Big Ben Creek

“The turtle rocks are visible from the round cleared area at the end of the Big Ben Track.”

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