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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Eddystone Point car parking

Nearest Road:Eddystone Rd
Nearest Town:Gladstone
Locality:North East
Latitude:S 40° 59′ 26″
Longitude:E 148° 20′ 45″
Elevation:5 m
Fee:Parks Pass
Management:National Park
Road Surface:Unsealed
Car Park:Good unsealed
Water:Dry
Toilets:Bush
Toilet Accessibility:No access
Shelter:None
Picnic Table:Picnic table
Comment:Drive out to the end of Eddystone Rd. Park to north of the gates to the old lighthouse area.

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10 walks from Eddystone Point car parking

Abbotsbury Beach Access

Goal:Abbotsbury Beach
Grade:Moderate
Type:Retrace route
One-way distance:800 m
Return distance:1,600 m
Comment:Walk 200m back on road. Follow track south to Eddystone Beach, then west over rocks to Abbotsbury Beach. Return.

References

Marianne Robertson, From Petal Point to Cockle Creek - a Beach Explorers Guide to the East Coast of Tasmania, 1 ed., marianne.robertson@gmail.com, Page 21, Number 1, Bay of Fires Beach

“Five minutes walk over the dunes… and then a further 10 minutes down to the beach itself.”

Parks & Wildlife Service Tasmania, Parks & Wildlife Service Website - Explore our Parks, P&WS, Number 4005, Bay of Fires Conservation Area- Northern Section

“… extends from the northern shore of the Ansons Bay outlet to Eddystone Point.”

Nano Solutions, Beachsafe, Surf Life Saving Australia, Number 51, Bay of Fires Tas

“… curves to the south-west for 1.8km to the sandy foreland in the lee of the Red rocks…”

Parks & Wildlife Service Tasmania, Parks & Wildlife Service Website - Explore our Parks, P&WS, Mt William - Tasmanian Parks and Wildlife Service

“… ample scope for long and varied coastal walks”

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Abbotsbury Beach walk

Goal:South end of Abbotsbury Beach
Grade:Fairly flat
Type:Retrace route
One-way distance:4,000 m
Return distance:8,000 m
Comment:Walk to west end of Eddystone Beach, then over to Abbotsbury Beach. Continue to end of beach (rocky outcrop) and return.

References

Marianne Robertson, From Petal Point to Cockle Creek - a Beach Explorers Guide to the East Coast of Tasmania, 1 ed., marianne.robertson@gmail.com, Page 21, Number 1, Bay of Fires Beach

“Five minutes walk over the dunes… and then a further 10 minutes down to the beach itself.”

Parks & Wildlife Service Tasmania, Parks & Wildlife Service Website - Explore our Parks, P&WS, Number 4005, Bay of Fires Conservation Area- Northern Section

“… extends from the northern shore of the Ansons Bay outlet to Eddystone Point.”

Nano Solutions, Beachsafe, Surf Life Saving Australia, Number 51, Bay of Fires Tas

“… curves to the south-west for 1.8km to the sandy foreland in the lee of the Red rocks…”

Bushwalking in Tasmania, Photodiary of a Nomad, Bay of Fires Walk

“At the end of the long beach, a large shelf of massive slabs and boulders …”

Parks & Wildlife Service Tasmania, Parks & Wildlife Service Website - Explore our Parks, P&WS, Mt William - Tasmanian Parks and Wildlife Service

“… ample scope for long and varied coastal walks”

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Abbotsbury Peninsula walk

Goal:South end of Ansons Bay Spit
Grade:Fairly flat
Type:Retrace route
One-way distance:10,000 m
Return distance:20,000 m
Comment:Walk to west end of Eddystone Beach, then over to Abbotsbury Beach. Continue to end of spit, opposite Policemans Point. Return.

References

Marianne Robertson, From Petal Point to Cockle Creek - a Beach Explorers Guide to the East Coast of Tasmania, 1 ed., marianne.robertson@gmail.com, Page 21, Number 1, Bay of Fires Beach

“A 6-7 km long curved stretch of shoreline south of Eddystone Point down to Poliemans Point…”

Parks & Wildlife Service Tasmania, Parks & Wildlife Service Website - Explore our Parks, P&WS, Number 4005, Bay of Fires Conservation Area- Northern Section

“… extends from the northern shore of the Ansons Bay outlet to Eddystone Point.”

Nano Solutions, Beachsafe, Surf Life Saving Australia, Number 51, Bay of Fires Tas

“This is one of the higher energy east coast beaches…”

Bushwalking in Tasmania, Photodiary of a Nomad, Bay of Fires Walk

“… 4km of wide white sandy beach …”

Parks & Wildlife Service Tasmania, Parks & Wildlife Service Website - Explore our Parks, P&WS, Mt William - Tasmanian Parks and Wildlife Service

“… ample scope for long and varied coastal walks”

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Buckpitt Point Circuit

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:Buckpitt Point
Grade:Moderate
Type:Circuit
One-way distance:700 m
Comment:Follow track towards Larc Beach, but continue on out to the point. Return on rocks along Buckpitt Gulch.

References

Parks & Wildlife Service Tasmania, Parks & Wildlife Service Website - Explore our Parks, P&WS, Number 4005, Bay of Fires Conservation Area- Northern Section

“… extends from the northern shore of the Ansons Bay outlet to Eddystone Point.”

Cowirrie, Walks known to Cowirrie and not yet sourced, not published, Eddystone Point

“Follow footpad from car park out to point to west of Buckpitt Gulch. Return on rocks or on the track”

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Eddystone Beach access track

Goal:Eddystone Beach
Grade:Moderate
Type:Retrace route
One-way distance:525 m
Return distance:1,100 m
Comment:Walk back road about 150 m and take track south to beach. Return

References

Parks & Wildlife Service Tasmania, Parks & Wildlife Service Website - Explore our Parks, P&WS, Number 4005, Bay of Fires Conservation Area- Northern Section

“… extends from the northern shore of the Ansons Bay outlet to Eddystone Point.”

Marianne Robertson, From Petal Point to Cockle Creek - a Beach Explorers Guide to the East Coast of Tasmania, 1 ed., marianne.robertson@gmail.com, Page 21, Number 1, 11 - Eddystone Point Beach

“… it attracts high waves and is not really a safe swimming beach”

Nano Solutions, Beachsafe, Surf Life Saving Australia, Number 50, Eddystone Point Tas

“… bordered by the point to the east and a broken outcrop of rocks to the west.”

Parks & Wildlife Service Tasmania, Parks & Wildlife Service Website - Explore our Parks, P&WS, Mt William - Tasmanian Parks and Wildlife Service

“… ample scope for long and varied coastal walks”

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Eddystone Beach walk

Goal:Eddystone Beach
Grade:Moderate
Type:CircuitRetrace
One-way distance:1,500 m
Comment:Walk back road about 150 m and take track south to beach. Explore beach and return.

References

Parks & Wildlife Service Tasmania, Parks & Wildlife Service Website - Explore our Parks, P&WS, Number 4005, Bay of Fires Conservation Area- Northern Section

“… extends from the northern shore of the Ansons Bay outlet to Eddystone Point.”

Bushwalking in Tasmania, Photodiary of a Nomad, Bay of Fires Walk

“… the sandy foot pad that led down to the small cove…”

Marianne Robertson, From Petal Point to Cockle Creek - a Beach Explorers Guide to the East Coast of Tasmania, 1 ed., marianne.robertson@gmail.com, Page 21, Number 1, 11 - Eddystone Point Beach

“Accessed by foot from…. Near to the car park area…”

Nano Solutions, Beachsafe, Surf Life Saving Australia, Number 50, Eddystone Point Tas

“The winds have blown sand from the beach to blanket the point with now vegetated clifftop dunes.”

Parks & Wildlife Service Tasmania, Parks & Wildlife Service Website - Explore our Parks, P&WS, Mt William - Tasmanian Parks and Wildlife Service

“… ample scope for long and varied coastal walks”

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Eddystone Circuit

Goal:Eddystone Island
Grade:Moderate
Type:Circuit
One-way distance:1,500 m
Comment:Walk up past lighthouse and out to the point. Do not cross onto 'island' unless the tide is low and sea is calm. Return via rocks north to car park.

References

Visit St Helens, Visit St Helens, Ansons Bay, Eddystone Point and Mt William National Park

“Eddystone Point is called Larapuna in the local Aboriginal language.”

Parks & Wildlife Service Tasmania, Parks & Wildlife Service Website - Explore our Parks, P&WS, Number 4005, Bay of Fires Conservation Area- Northern Section

“… extends from the northern shore of the Ansons Bay outlet to Eddystone Point.”

Cowirrie, Walks known to Cowirrie and not yet sourced, not published, Eddystone Point

“Circuit walk up past lighthouse, out to point, then back along rocks to Buckpitt Gulch boat ramp.”

Malcolm S Macdonald, Lighthouses of Australia Inc, Lighthouses of Australia Inc, The Eddystone Point Lighthouse

“This striking pink granite tower is on a point that juts out into the sea.”

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Eddystone Lighthouse Walk

Goal:Eddystone Lighthouse
Grade:Moderate
Type:Retrace route
One-way distance:400 m
Return distance:800 m
Comment:Unless asked not to, you are permitted to walk up to the Lighthouse. There is also a side walk to the Child's Grave but it is quite overgrown.

References

Visit St Helens, Visit St Helens, Ansons Bay, Eddystone Point and Mt William National Park

“Eddystone Point is called Larapuna in the local Aboriginal language.”

Parks & Wildlife Service Tasmania, Parks & Wildlife Service Website - Explore our Parks, P&WS, Number 4005, Bay of Fires Conservation Area- Northern Section

“… extends from the northern shore of the Ansons Bay outlet to Eddystone Point.”

Malcolm S Macdonald, Lighthouses of Australia Inc, Lighthouses of Australia Inc, The Eddystone Point Lighthouse

“This striking pink granite tower is on a point that juts out into the sea.”

Tags

Larc Beach access track

Goal:Larc Beach
Grade:Moderate
Type:Retrace route
One-way distance:300 m
Return distance:600 m
Comment:Take signed track on west side of car park. It veers north out towards Buckpitt Point and then diverges west to beach. Return same way.

References

Parks & Wildlife Service Tasmania, Parks & Wildlife Service Website - Explore our Parks, P&WS, Number 4005, Bay of Fires Conservation Area- Northern Section

“… extends from the northern shore of the Ansons Bay outlet to Eddystone Point.”

Marianne Robertson, From Petal Point to Cockle Creek - a Beach Explorers Guide to the East Coast of Tasmania, 1 ed., marianne.robertson@gmail.com, Page 20, Number 1, 10 - Larc Beach

“Attractive little cove tucked in between thr rocks of the Eddystone Point…”

Nano Solutions, Beachsafe, Surf Life Saving Australia, Number 49, Larc Beach E

“… beaches are composed of fine sand”

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Larc Beach walk

Goal:Larc Beach western end
Grade:Moderate
Type:Retrace route
One-way distance:500 m
Return distance:1,000 m
Comment:Take signed track on west side of car park. It veers north out towards Buckpitt Point and then diverges west to beach. Walk to end of beach and return

References

Parks & Wildlife Service Tasmania, Parks & Wildlife Service Website - Explore our Parks, P&WS, Number 4005, Bay of Fires Conservation Area- Northern Section

“… extends from the northern shore of the Ansons Bay outlet to Eddystone Point.”

Marianne Robertson, From Petal Point to Cockle Creek - a Beach Explorers Guide to the East Coast of Tasmania, 1 ed., marianne.robertson@gmail.com, Page 20, Number 1, 10 - Larc Beach

“Walks north to Picnic Corner and Rocks”

Nano Solutions, Beachsafe, Surf Life Saving Australia, Number 49, Larc Beach E

“… two adjoining pocketsts of north facing sand…”

Nano Solutions, Beachsafe, Surf Life Saving Australia, Number 48, Larc Beach W

“… a 50m long pocket of sand…”

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