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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The Needles parking area

Nearest Road:Gordon River Rd
Nearest Town:Maydena
Locality:South West
Latitude:S 42° 43′ 29″
Longitude:E 146° 27′ 22″
Elevation:650 m
Fee:Parks Pass
Management:National Park
Road Surface:Sealed
Car Park:Good unsealed
Water:Dry
Toilets:None
Toilet Accessibility:No toilet
Shelter:None
Picnic Table:No table
Comment:The large parking area is on the north side at the high point as the road crosses the Humboldt Divide. The track is on the south side of the road.

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2 walks from The Needles parking area

The Needles short wildflower 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:Bulldozer loop
Grade:Fairly flat
Type:No defined route
One-way distance:500 m
Comment:For those who don't want to climb the hill, the old bulldozer tracks make a good loop to explore the wildflowers in season.

References

Jan Hardy & Bert Elson, More Family Walks around Hobart, Fully revised ed., Hillside Publishing, Page 60, Number 24, 24 - The Needles

“Walk to registration booth, then keep bearing left back to start.”

Melanie Ball, Top Walks in Tasmania, Hardie Grant Travel, Page 371, Number 63, The Needles

“Spring and summer flowering of yellow bush peas, cream mountain richea, mauve honey myrtle…”

Andrew Bain, Walks in Nature - Tasmania, Hardie Grant Travel, Number 15, 15 - The Needles

“Look for a rock cairn on the southern side of the road… follow old tracks.”

TasTrails, TasTrails, Page 5, Number 5, The Needles - 9 Jul 2014

“Do not go uphill beyond the registration booth. Instead, explore the open area nearer the road.”

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The Needles walk

Goal:The Needles
Grade:Long climb
Type:Retrace route
One-way distance:1,200 m
Return distance:2,400 m
Comment:Footpad to top of nearest Needles. At top, stay aware of location of track back down while walking to the summit cairn. Return.

References

Jan Hardy & Bert Elson, More Family Walks around Hobart, Fully revised ed., Hillside Publishing, Page 60, Number 24, 24 - The Needles

2 hours retrace route
“…From here it is just a 5-10 minutes camper up the rocky ridgeline…”

Melanie Ball, Top Walks in Tasmania, Hardie Grant Travel, Page 371, Number 63, The Needles

2 hours retrace route
“Beginning on a fire trail. Find cairn of white rocks and turn right to the registration booth.”

Andrew Bain, Walks in Nature - Tasmania, Hardie Grant Travel, Number 15, 15 - The Needles

“A classic short walk, climbint to a peak studded with jagged pinnacles.”

Pete, Travel with Pete - Walking in Australia and Beyond, The Needles & Mt Sprent

2 hours retrace route
“At first I didn't realise that the track started on the southern side of the road, opposite carpark”

TasTrails, TasTrails, Page 5, Number 5, The Needles - 9 Jul 2014

2 hours retrace route
“… uninterupted panoramic views from rugged mountainous terrain with minimum physical exertion.”

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