The Port Davey Observe will not be hiked as usually as its close by neighbour The South Coast Observe.
Most individuals begin at Scotts Peak Dam and hike to Melaleuca Airstrip. From there you possibly can fly again to Hobart. You probably have the time, a greater possibility is to proceed on the South Coast Observe to make a steady 9-13 day hike about 160km in size. To facilitate a better hike you possibly can organise a meals and gasoline drop midway at Melaleuca.
Port Davey Observe Transport
Listed below are your decisions for transport to and from the Port Davey Observe.
Scotts Peak Dam Transport
Attending to the Scotts Peak Dam to entry the mountaineering trails such because the Port Davey Observe and Western Arthurs is tough. There are a number of choices:
- Hitchhiking – Not straightforward however that’s how I obtained there
- Driving – non-public transport or hire a automotive, there’s a giant carpark on the trailhead
- Public Transport – strive Tasmania Wilderness Expertise
Meals and Gasoline Drop at Melaleuca Airstrip
Organise to begin or end at Melaleuca Airstrip. and fly with Par Avion.
If selecting to hike the Port Davey Observe and South Coast Observe you possibly can organise for a meals drop to be delivered to the airstrip at Melaleuca by Par Avion.
They fly there often with meals drops and in addition promote gasoline for all sorts of stoves. I organised a litre of gasoline to be picked up. After I hiked the path I flew in 11kg of meals which included 2 litres of wine and 1kg of fruit cake together with different treats to maintain my mountaineering group motivated.
2025 Edit – The freight/meals worth is $7 per Kg – ($15 for a 230g fuel canister, $8.50 per litre of Shellite or Methylated Spirits)
The meals and gasoline are saved in a rodent-proof field close to the airstrip and hut. Our cardboard field was undamaged after we arrived. After unpacking our meals field a pilot arrived and kindly packed our field out for us, together with our garbage. That was not anticipated however drastically appreciated.
Port Davey Observe Gear Information
A Full Information to Light-weight Gear for the Port Davey Observe.
Attempt to pack light-weight if potential. Listed below are some opinions of the most effective light-weight and ultralight mountaineering gear.
Mountaineering the Port Davey Observe
Here’s a full day by day journal of my time spent mountaineering the Port Davey Observe. It gives you a little bit of an perception into what it’s like mountaineering the Port Davey Observe in Tasmania.
Port Davey Observe Day 1
The hike began with mild rain and drizzle which was solely heavy sufficient to bother somewhat than dampen something. Inside a few hours, it ceased and the Western Arthur Vary got here into view. Most individuals stopped on the campsite at Junction Creek however because it was early so we forded the creek and saved transferring. In heavy rain this is usually a very sketchy crossing so maintain that in thoughts when fording this creek in heavy rain.
They suggested that they’d been mountaineering for about 28 days from Lune River with plenty of aspect journeys. The man began with a pack weight of 40kg and the women began with a pack weight of 30kg, principally cookies. They had been in nice spirits and really optimistic of their angle, even when they appeared like they wanted an excellent feed and every week in beneath a scorching bathe.
19km in 6.5 hours together with all relaxation stops, lunch breaks, picture and/or video stops, siestas and many others
Port Davey Observe Day 2
From Crossing River camp there had been some latest hearth harm that had made apparent modifications to the panorama. It meant that there was straightforward strolling for us as most if not the entire timber and shrubs had been decimated by the fireplace.
The outcomes meant uninhibited views of the encompassing White Monolith Vary and its mountains equivalent to Sculpted Mountain, Wombat Peak, Scrubby Peak and Stonehenge Peak. By lunchtime we reached one other campsite, Watershed Creek, we had been considerably shocked to discover a German bloke, Sven. He was late in leaving camp, looks as if he was taking his time. We took our time over lunch earlier than heading off to the world often called the Misplaced World Plateau.
The monitor was in nice situation with straightforward strolling so we determined that we might attempt to make it to Spring Creek for our in a single day camp. As we obtained nearer the world scarred by the fireplace completed and the monitor took on a extra muddy aspect. We handed Sven who camped at a small campsite close to a flowing creek simply off the Misplaced World Plateau. It was getting late after we reached Spring Creek and we adopted the plain footpaths by the storm-damaged space till the footpaths disappeared.
We backtracked and adopted the subsequent most evident monitor, they too disappeared. Then a 3rd time we noticed the error in our methods and located the monitor. The river crossing was broken by a fallen tree. We made it throughout to seek out that the marked campsite had been destroyed by timber felled from the storm. Again throughout the river once more to the lower than beneficial camp. With optimistic attitudes, we laughed the time off as an extended tiring day which made our minor however irritating errors multiply.
26km 10.5 hours together with all relaxation stops, lunch breaks, picture and/or video stops, siestas and time getting in circles!! and many others
Port Davey Observe Day 3
As soon as once more there was nice climate after we left Crossed Spring Creek once more for the third time as we set our sights on tenting at Bathurst Harbour by the tip of the day. The strolling was nice and we quickly set our websites on climbing Mt Rugby, one of many highest mountains within the space which promised nice views of the environment. As we approached we determined that it will be extra prudent to provide it a miss for now and proceed to Farrell Level on the North Aspect of Bathurst Harbour. The monitor up Mt Rugby appeared non-existent, at the least we couldn’t simply discover it.
We had been there in excellent climate. It was even heat sufficient for me to go for a swim and I hate chilly water. Bathurst Harbour is large. There’s a slim channel that must be crossed by row boat. Nationwide Parks present the boats for hikers. The winds and tidal circulation could make issues fascinating for some teams. We arrived at tides that gave the impression to be operating out by the Bathurst Narrows at about 2 knots. we waited till late afternoon when the tide slowed to cross the 300-meter crossing. There are provided row boats on both aspect of the slim channel which required us to make 3 journeys to make sure there was a ship on both aspect. The campsite on Joan Level was beautiful and the afternoon dinner spent watching the setting solar on one of many remotest harbours in Australia was magical.
13km in 8 hours together with all relaxation stops, lunch breaks, picture and/or video stops, swims, boat journeys and many others
Port Davey Observe Day 4
After we set off this morning the climate was grand. Low fog drifted outwards from the harbour onto the encompassing valleys and low-lying nation. After one other transient geographical error, we arrived close to what gave the impression to be a monitor which indicated that it went to Mt Beattie. We checked with the map and determined to provide it a crack. And I’m so glad we did.
The views from the climb and summit of Mt Beattie had been beautiful. Bathurst Harbour, Mt Rugby, the narrows and Port Davey had been seen as was our final vacation spot for the day, Melaleuca. We lingered on the high for fairly some time taking within the vista. We determined to take a shortcut right down to the remaining sections of the Port Davey monitor. It was shorter each in time and distance.
It was a very popular day and we ran out of water whereas on the high of Mt Beattie. Fortunately the quick minimize took us to a small creek to quench the thirst. We sighted Sven once more who was busy making a cup of espresso for the afternoon. He invited us to partake within the ritual. It supplied the vitality to make it to our vacation spot.
Melaleuca
Melaleuca, our campsite for the evening has a free hut to remain in. Valerie, Sven and I had been the one ones staying within the hut. There have been posters within the hut of Lake Pedder earlier than the dam was constructed. The previous map confirmed the unique Port Davey Observe which crossed the now flooded dam space en path to the small city of Maydeena. Should have been fairly a trek again within the 60s and earlier. Pleasant and useful volunteer rangers greeted us on the hut. Our meals bundle had arrived so we opened the field of wine and fruitcake after dinner. Solely a small quantity of wine and I used to be considerably tipsy, my tolerance when mountaineering was non-existent. Suffice it to say I slept properly.
17km in 7.5 hours together with all relaxation stops, lunch breaks, picture and/or video stops, and many others
The Port Davey Observe is usually neglected as one of many boring tracks of the South West. I loved the entire thing from Scotts Peak Dam to Melaleuca. There’s range and the area round Bathurst Harbour is beautiful. The nice climate on the journey added to the pleasure. Extremely really helpful. Click on on the hyperlink for Half II of the journey to the South Coast Observe.
Complete of 75km in 4 days together with all aspect journeys and many others
Have You Hiked the Port Davey Observe or although of mixing this hike with the South Coast Observe? Obtained a query about mountaineering? Depart me a message within the feedback part beneath.
Subsequent : Mountaineering the South Coast Observe
Extra nice stuff about mountaineering in Tasmania:
Greatest Locations to Purchase Outside Gear in Australia:
Snowys.com.au | Macpac | WildEarth
BikeHikeSafari Gear Assessment Course of
The creator, Brad McCartney from BikeHikeSafari is a small impartial adventurer and out of doors gear tester who owns and runs BikeHikeSafari.com.
BikeHikeSafari will not be half of a big weblog community and is proudly impartial. All opinions on this website are impartial and trustworthy gear opinions of outside merchandise by the creator.
The creator, Brad McCartney is a really skilled triple crown thru-hiker, adventurer, and bike tourer having spent 1000s of nights sleeping in a tent and sleeping bag (Learn extra). He was a supervisor of an out of doors retail retailer and could be very skilled in what’s essential when utilizing and testing gear for opinions like this.
BikeHikeSafari won’t ever obtain any cash for opinions and they don’t settle for sponsored opinions on this web site. All of the feedback concerning the gear opinions are from the creator primarily based on his years of expertise. Hope this impartial assessment was useful for you.
