The Bay of Fires Adventure

Accommodation: Hotel Grand Chancellor  or similar 

Then we’re on to Mt William National Park and the white sands of Cape Naturaliste – the most northern point of our four-day ramble. These first few hours are spent entirely on the beach, as each person eases into their own natural walking rhythm and pace. Along the way there are often resident seabirds to observe including oystercatchers and hooded plovers. Your guides will also be able to fill you in on the many types of ocean life that the changing tides wash ashore. We may discover cuttlebones, urchins and even shark eggs.

After pausing for afternoon tea, we head inland to tackle a one-hour return walk to the summit of wukalina/Mt William. This is the highest point in the region at 216 metres. It provides walkers with far-reaching, panoramic views of the area we’ve taken so far, and beyond. In clear weather, the Furneaux Group of Islands stands proud – the lofty remnants of an ancient land bridge that once connected Tasmania to mainland Australia. 

Then it’s back to the bus, heading to our accommodation to unpack and settle in.

Accommodation: Icena Farmhouse

Meals: B,L,D

Trekking distance: 12km, 4.5 hours – easy to moderate 

We soon reach the long sandy stretch of Cod Bay, one of the more remote sections of our walk, before picking up a series of inland tracks cutting across coastal heathland vegetation. These tracks are ablaze with wildflowers and orchids in early spring. For lunch, we find a lovely secluded nook – and maybe an opportunity for a swim – before continuing around a hidden lagoon encircled by open marsupial lawns that are habitats for local animals. Here we keep a sharp eye out for wombats, black swans and Tasmanian native hens.

On arriving at Deep Creek, depending on water levels, we might need to make a shallow wade across a small outlet to reach our designated afternoon tea stop and the completion of our day’s walking. In good weather this is another lovely spot for a quick, refreshing dip. Energy and time permitting, there’s the option of continuing along the next stretch of beach for an additional 20 minutes of idyllic beach walking to the prominent rock formation of Picnic Rocks. Here the bus will meet the group, before returning to our accommodation.

After nibbles, dinner will be a delicious two-course meal prepared by your guides.

Accommodation: Icena Farmhouse

Meals: B,L,D

Trekking distance: 14km, moderate 

Leaving the lighthouse, we break out onto an expansive dune-swept beach, often teeming with birdlife. Here we may observe gulls, terns, albatross and gannets, and occasionally migratory species such as short-tailed shearwaters and ruddy turnstones.

The remainder of the day is spent enjoying seemingly endless coves – each worthy of its own picture-perfect postcard. There are beautiful shelly beaches to inspect, and lovely small bays for swimming. This area also boasts some of the trip’s most interesting rock formations, just waiting to be deciphered by creative imaginations.

Moving across another dune-swept beach, we finish our day at Ansons Bay – wading a narrow channel in the lagoon to reach our afternoon tea spot, before meeting up with the bus to return back to our accommodation. 

Accommodation: Icena Farmhouse

Meals: B,L,D

Trekking distance: 10km, moderate 

Accommodation: Hotel Grand Chancellor or similar 

Meals: B,L

Trekking distance: 10km, 4 hours, easy to moderate 

Meals: B