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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Don Heads West parking

Nearest Road:Don Heads Rd
Nearest Town:Devonport
Locality:NW Coast
Latitude:S 41° 9′ 35″
Longitude:E 146° 19′ 57″
Elevation:5 m
Fee:No charge
Road Surface:Unsealed
Car Park:Good unsealed
Water:Dry
Toilets:None
Toilet Accessibility:No toilet
Shelter:None
Picnic Table:No table
Comment:Follow West coast of Don River to the coast. Best visited at low tide.

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6 walks from Don Heads West parking

Don Head Sea Cave walk

Goal:Don Head sea cave
Grade:Moderate
Type:Retrace route
One-way distance:500 m
Return distance:1,000 m
Comment:Best at low tide and with calm seas. Walk around the rocks heading west from the parking area. The gulch into the sea cave blocks access further west.

References

Cowirrie, Walks known to Cowirrie and not yet sourced, not published, Don Heads Sea Cave

“There are a fascinating array of geological formations in this area, but requires a lot of rock hops”

Peter S. Manchester, Created From Chaos - a geological trail of 100 sites in Tasmania, 1 ed., Peter S. Manchester, Page 203, … The Don Heads … "hot lava sea platforms"

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Don Head 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:Don Head Summit
Grade:Moderate
Type:Retrace route
One-way distance:250 m
Return distance:500 m
Comment:Take footpad west up to the crest of Don Bluff. Respect the private property and stay outside fences. Return same way.

References

Cowirrie, Walks known to Cowirrie and not yet sourced, not published, Don Head

“Take track up past sign between foreshore and Nature Trail.”

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Don Head Walk to Lillico Beach

Goal:Lillico Beach Penguin Observatory
Grade:Moderate
Type:One way pickup
One-way distance:4,000 m
Return distance:8,000 m
Comment:At low tide and with calm seas, walk around coast from Don Head to Lillico Beach. Do not cross gulch (500m in) unless safe to do so as it is dangerous

References

Cowirrie, Walks known to Cowirrie and not yet sourced, not published, Don Heads

“At about 500m from start there is a gulch with sea cave. Do not try to cross this unless sea is low.”

Peter S. Manchester, Created From Chaos - a geological trail of 100 sites in Tasmania, 1 ed., Peter S. Manchester, Page 203, … The Don Heads … "hot lava sea platforms"

2 hours
“Allow several hours to explore and investicate, "rock hopping" towards Lillico's Coast Beach.”

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Don Heads Nature Trail

Goal:Circuit of lake
Grade:Fairly flat
Type:Circuit
One-way distance:600 m
Comment:Follow walking track around the lake and back to car park.

References

Nano Solutions, Beachsafe, Surf Life Saving Australia, Don Heads (W)

“… a 2 ha wetland, which is encircled by the Don Heads Nature Trail.”

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Don Heads Sea Platforms

Goal:Don Heads Sea Stack
Grade:Fairly flat
Type:Retrace route
One-way distance:250 m
Return distance:500 m
Comment:Depending on the tide, explore the sea platform. The sea stack is 250m to the west.

References

Jesse Aherne, Rotary Club of Devonport South East - pamphlet, Rotary Club of Devonport South East, Number 2, Don Heads

“… sea stacks, Columnar and polygonal joining, sea potholes, and rare xenolith boulders.”

Peter S. Manchester, Created From Chaos - a geological trail of 100 sites in Tasmania, 1 ed., Peter S. Manchester, Page 203, … The Don Heads … "hot lava sea platforms"

“There are two geological and geomorphological features of interest.”

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Don Heads West Beach Access

Goal:Don Heads West Beach
Grade:Flat
Type:No defined route
One-way distance:50 m
Comment:The tiny beach is enclosed by the sandspit but only has water at high tide. Child friendly.

References

Nano Solutions, Beachsafe, Surf Life Saving Australia, Don Heads (W)

“The western Don Heads beach is a cobble recurved spit…”

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