Devil’s Advocate
In a bid to save the Tasmanian devil from extinction, a $25m program has been centred on one of the state’s most picturesque islands, a popular destination with walkers and nature-lovers. Travel writer Kendall Hill does some fieldwork on Maria Island, travelling courtesy of the Maria Island Walk. This article appeared in the August inflight magazine for Qantas.
View full article: mariaIslanddevilsstory
Cradle Mountain Huts Walk is celebrating 25 years on the track.
This iconic six-day walk through the World Heritage listed Cradle Mountain – Lake St Clair National Park takes guests along the famous Overland Track in small groups of no more than 10 with two highly experienced guides.
Taking in a diversity of landscapes including sedgeland moors, glacial mountain lakes and craggy peaks, walkers often come face to snout with wombats, echidnas, wallabies and if you are lucky maybe even a Tasmanian Devil. Each evening’s accommodation is in one of the private huts nestled away in this remarkable Park.
Voted the “Best Adventure Tourism” experience by readers of Australian Gourmet Traveller magazine for the past two years, more than 20,000 people have walked the 65km Overland Track with Cradle Mountain Huts over the past 25 years.
This has resulted in an amazing 1.3 million kilometres walked in 25 years and an even more staggering 1.85 billion footsteps. The number of pairs of boots worn in over the past 25 years is anyone’s guess!
The number of combined kilometres walked by our guests is equal to walking across Australia 325 times, not including the number of kilometres walked by the experienced guides.
The guides on the Cradle Mountain Huts Walks also double as chefs, having been trained by well-known Tasmanian chef, Daniel Alps. So having hung up their boots after a day’s walking, our guides have been busy baking more than 20,450 loaves of bread over the past 25 years, resulting in a staggering 245,400 slices – now that’s a lot of jam and vegemite!
For more information on this truly Great Walk of Australia, visit the Cradle Mountain Huts Walk page.
Tasmania’s acclaimed Maria Island Walk, has again been judged the nation’s top Adventure Tourism operation for 2012.
This is the third time, with the walk also awarded the honor at the Qantas Australian Tourism Awards in 2008 and 2011.
The Maria Island Walk is a delightful blend of world heritage history, rare wildlife and tranquil island bliss. Where small groups and two friendly guides enjoy gentle walking by day and gourmet, candlelit dining and elegant accommodation each night.
Maria is also known as Tasmania’s Noah’s Ark and a population of healthy Tasmanian devils was recently released there as insurance against their potential extinction. Ian Johnstone said “Devils are the world’s largest carnivorous marsupial and their introduction adds another fascinating dimension to the island’s attractions”.
The walk which this year celebrates its tenth season, has recently expanded to take groups of ten guests and two guides. Starting and finishing in Hobart the walks departure daily from October to April.
It is a the perfect short break holiday for the discerning guest.
Join renowned journalist and trekker Louise Southerden as she reaffirms her passion for no impact tourism on The Arkaba Walk in Australia’s Flinders Ranges.
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