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A
walk in the Tarkine is absolutely distinct from any walking trip
you'll do anywhere in Tasmania, Australia and to our knowledge the
world. It's a bold statement, but an accurate one. In fact, for
transparency sake, we've listed the other Tasmanian walking operators
and illustrated our "difference" to make your choice easier, click here to see this information.
We've highlighted the word difference as in no way are we claiming
to be better than these businesses or what they offer. Yet in terms
of the experience we offer, we do claim to be very distinct, and
that's important for you to know. So what's so unique about the
Tarkine?
Three
main things.
1. The
path less travelled.
2. The temperate rain forest experience
3. Walking toward World Heritage
1. The
path less travelled
Remote and famous = crowds
When it
comes time for people to choose their walking holiday in Tasmania,
most think of the famous destinations, the Overland track, the South
Coast track and the Walls of Jerusalem. What many people don't realise,
is that regardless of how remote these places are, fame equals crowds.
Each year 8,500 people walk the famous Overland track and there's
60 people at each camp site, even the remote South Coast track has
1000 people walking it each year. Some people don't mind the crowds,
but for many people, the entire reason for them joining a walk is
to get away from people and to experience wild places for their
wildness.
Undiscovered
and remote = no crowds
- Most maps make no mention of the Tarkine and it is practically
invisible to the mainstream of tourists due to its isolation and
lack of infrastructure.
- Our walks
are brand new and can't be found on any touring maps.
- Talk to tourist
information centers and you'll find very little, if anything at
all about the Tarkine and most Tasmanians have no idea where the
area is.
In
short, all of this equates to it being a rare occasion to see anyone
on our walks. We've never seen another person on the Rain Forest
Track. On the coast walk, we've only seen unauthorised 4WD vehicles
that have travelled many miles down the remote coast line. On the
Explorer trip, we'll likely never see anyone at our forest camp,
as its located in a very remote location unknown to most people.
During the coastal part of this itinerary, we only ever see a two
or three of the locals at Pieman Heads (remote shack ville on the
southern side of the Pieman River) setting cray pots north of our
camp. Nor have we ever seen people on the Philosophers Falls or
Mt Donaldson walks. Being long term walkers in Tasmania, we know
how unique this experience is, but don't take our word for it, read
our participants thoughts on this by following this link, testimonials.
2. The
temperate rain forest experience
Global Significance of the Tarkine
The 447,000 hectare Tarkine Wilderness Area is located in the north-west
of Australia's only island state, Tasmania. The region hosts the
largest tract of temperate rain forest in the southern hemisphere
and an astonishing variety of other cultural, biological, geological,
and landscape values.
Temperate rain forests and the significance of our walks.
The
rain forests of the Tarkine, some 177 000 hectares, are recognised
as being one of the most significant tracts of temperate rain forest
on earth. Globally, temperate rain forest only remains in fragments
in New Zealand, Chile, Western Canada, Alaska and the US. Temperate
rain forests are extremely rare, covering about 0.2 per cent of
the Earth's land area. The largest single tract of temperate rain
forest in the world is located in the Tongass Forests of Alaska.
The second largest tract is located in Tasmania's Tarkine. Since
Europeans arrived in Tasmania, over 85% of the tall callidendrous
(cathedral like) rain forests growing on deep basalt soils, have
been logged, burnt or converted to farmland. Hence, to walk in the
Tarkine is to experience something that is very unique. To our knowledge,
the Tarkine Rain Forest Track
is the only six day temperate rain forest walk in the world, where
almost the entire walk is beneath the rain forest canopy. Our Tarkine
Explorer tour includes the wonderful experience of base camping
beneath these forests for two nights and embarking on a remote walk
to one of Tasmania's truly wild rivers, the Huskisson.
Links
to Gondwana
To walk in the ancient Tarkine rain forest is to walk back through
time some 60 million years to the age of the dinosaurs. Tasmanian
rain forest contains some of the most ancient species of Australia's
flora. Many of their ancestors once grew in Antarctica, Africa,
South America and New Zealand, when these continents were joined
together as a landmass called Gondwana.
Animals
and Plants
The Tarkine contains 54 species of flora and fauna which are listed
as either threatened or endangered including the Tasmanian Wedge
Tailed Eagle, the Spotted Quoll and the Giant Freshwater Crayfish.
Aboriginal
Cultural Heritage
Aboriginals inhabited Tasmania for at least 37 000 years. The Australian
Heritage Commission describes the Tarkine as "one of the world's
great archaeological regions" due to the number and significance
of these aboriginal sites, many of which pre-date the pyramids.
The word 'Tarkine' comes from one of a number of bands of Aboriginals
that lived in the North-West Region. The 'Tarkiner' were a group
who were based at Sandy Cape (Tarkine Coast).Our Tarkine coast walk
walks from the mouth of the Pieman river and finishes at Sandy cape. Wild Tarkine Coast
World
Heritage Listing
The Tarkine was first put forward for listing on UNESCO's world
heritage list by IUCN (international union for the conservation
of nature) in the early 1990s. This was followed by a formal proposal
by The Wilderness Society (TWS) in the early 1990s also. Groups
that support World Heritage listing for the Tarkine include; IUCN,
Australian Conservation Foundation, The Wilderness Society, World
Wildlife Fund, Tasmanian Conservation Trust, Launceston Environment
Centre and the Tarkine National Coalition. The Tarkine satisfies
the entire cultural and natural heritage criterion which makes a
property suitable for inclusion on the world heritage list.
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3.Walking
toward world heritage
In the summer of 2001 we guided our first trek into the heart of
the Tarkines resplendent old growth rain forest. In that six days,
years of hard work and creativity paid off as we finally got to
share the place that had captured our hearts and imagination. Its
ancient charms, wildness and perhaps more than anything, its isolation
from the world, had us spellbound from the beginning and sharing
it in this way with others was very rewarding.
Our
business was born of a campaign to prevent a road development entering
the heart of the Tarkines wildness in the mid 1990s. In practical
terms, the campaign failed and the infamous "road to know-where"
was eventually opened in the face of heated local debate. But just
as the cut of the ribbon had announced the opening of the road,
the controversy that had surrounded its creation had launched the
Tarkine into the public mind.
Walking
away from that experience, we realised that the degree to which
people valued a place, ultimately determines its fate. With this
in mind, we created Tarkine Trails. Our intent was simple, provide
logistical support to enable people to meet the Tarkine face to
face, knowing that they would be blown away by the experience. Secondly,
we knew the value they gained from their experience would equate
to a much needed economic value for the Tarkine as a unique eco-tourism
destination.
And that is where you come in! By Joining a Tarkine Trails walk,
you are a supporting a business that was specifically designed to
economically justify the Tarkines launch to National Park-World
Heritage status. It's you that will carry the memory of its rich
green forest and rolling button grass plains and you that will share
your photos and stories with your friends and family. Our wish is
simply that you are touched by its beauty and wildness and that
you walk away feeling refreshed by the experience. We take pride
in standing for a positive and pragmatic transition toward the Tarkines
full protection. We intend that one day many years from now, that
people can walk through its grand forests, swim in its wild rivers
and savor the Tarkines richness and beauty, knowing that it's safe
from harm. Beyond your personal experience of the Tarkine, your
holiday powerfully assists the region to fulfill its potential as
a world heritage area and an international rain forest icon. So
join us for a walk in the Tarkine and together we can contribute
to this wish becoming reality.
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Enquire
here
Tent
based walking tours
Tasmanian
Wilderness Experiences
A large variety of guided walks and activities through-out Tasmania.
www.twe.travel
Tasmanian
Expeditions
A large variety of guided walks and activities through-out Tasmania.
www.tas-ex.com
Accommodated
walks
Maria
island walk- four days
A four day accommodated walk on Maria island, Tasmanians east coast.
www.mariaislandwalk.com.au
Freycinet
experience
A four day walk throughout the famous freycinet peninsula
www.freycinet.com.au
Cradle
huts- six days
A hut based walk along the famous Overland track.
www.cradlehuts.com.au
Bay
of fires walk - four days
A four day accommodated walk in Tasmania's north east.
www.bayoffires.com.au
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