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Three Capes Track

Australia🇦🇺 | hikesThree Capes TrackSea cliffs, Cape Pillar, hut comfort, boat start | things to do and best time to go

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Backpacking in Three Capes Track
🏆 Top pickhike ranked #3
By Johan Kruseman 🇳🇱 | Updated October 15, 2026

The big decision is whether to book the Three Capes Track months ahead or gamble on a cancellation, and the answer is book, because only 48 walkers start each day and summer dates vanish early. The track lies on the Tasman Peninsula in southeast Tasmania, Australia, a long drive southeast of Hobart. The good: sea cliffs among the tallest in the country, hut beds with mattresses, and a groomed path with boardwalks. The bad: the fee is pricey, there is no walking it spontaneously, and the boat from Port Arthur is part of the package, so a missed sailing time is a missed start. Public transport to Port Arthur is thin, so arrange a shuttle in advance. Dolerite columns smell of salt, and on Cape Pillar I heard the swell boom into a sea cave far below, a hollow thud every few seconds like a slow, polite knock. Best for walkers who like comfort and cliffs. Not for anyone wanting solitude or a bargain.

Discover everything you want to know in the 📖 Australia Travel Guide.
Best time to go: October - April
Duration: 4 days
Distance: 48 kilometers
Total ascent: 1500 meters


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✨ Why go?
Ranked #3 hike in Australia
What makes this hike worth hiking

Backpackers come for Cape Pillar and the Blade, where dolerite cliffs drop about 300 meters to the Southern Ocean. You get that drama on a track built so well that you can enjoy it with a modest pack, since the huts supply mattresses, gas cookers and water. That makes it a gentle introduction to multi-day hiking in Tasmania, and a good fit if you are building a longer Tasmanian loop that includes Hobart, Freycinet or the Overland Track. The route is also easy to work out: four days, three nights, with a boat ride from Port Arthur at the start and a shuttle bus back from the Fortescue Bay finish. The permit system limits numbers, so even in peak season the huts feel calm and the lookouts are rarely crowded. Add the chance of seeing wallabies, pademelons and whales passing offshore, and the … read more 👉
Backpackers come for Cape Pillar and the Blade, where dolerite cliffs drop about 300 meters to the Southern Ocean. You get that drama on a track built so well that you can enjoy it with a modest pack, since the huts supply mattresses, gas cookers and water. That makes it a gentle introduction to multi-day hiking in Tasmania, and a good fit if you are building a longer Tasmanian loop that includes Hobart, Freycinet or the Overland Track. The route is also easy to work out: four days, three nights, with a boat ride from Port Arthur at the start and a shuttle bus back from the Fortescue Bay finish. The permit system limits numbers, so even in peak season the huts feel calm and the lookouts are rarely crowded. Add the chance of seeing wallabies, pademelons and whales passing offshore, and the cost makes sense for anyone who wants real wilderness without the logistics of carrying a tent.

💡 HighlightsDon't-miss highlights and experiences

  1. Cape Hauy and the Candlestick: This is the sight most people come for. The track ends on a narrow headland where dolerite columns rise from the Tasman Sea, and the tallest pillar is known as the Candlestick. The final stretch is a stepped climb with drops on both sides, so give yourself an hour or so at the end for photos and a snack. Doing the Cape Hauy return walk as a day trip from the Fortescue Bay side is also possible.
  2. Cape Pillar and the Blade: The longest day on the track ends here, at the far tip of the Tasman Peninsula. The cliffs fall away about 300 meters to the water, and the Blade is a knife-edge ridge jutting out toward the open ocean. On a clear day you can see Tasman Island and its lighthouse, and sea eagles ride the updrafts below you. Most walkers take the side trip with
… read more 👉
  1. Cape Hauy and the Candlestick: This is the sight most people come for. The track ends on a narrow headland where dolerite columns rise from the Tasman Sea, and the tallest pillar is known as the Candlestick. The final stretch is a stepped climb with drops on both sides, so give yourself an hour or so at the end for photos and a snack. Doing the Cape Hauy return walk as a day trip from the Fortescue Bay side is also possible.
  2. Cape Pillar and the Blade: The longest day on the track ends here, at the far tip of the Tasman Peninsula. The cliffs fall away about 300 meters to the water, and the Blade is a knife-edge ridge jutting out toward the open ocean. On a clear day you can see Tasman Island and its lighthouse, and sea eagles ride the updrafts below you. Most walkers take the side trip with a light pack once they have dropped their gear at the hut.
  3. Munro Hut and the Tasman Island lookout: The huts are far from basic. Munro sits among the eucalypts near the cliff tops, with bunk rooms, a gas cooker and a deck that is hard to leave once the light turns gold. Sunset over Tasman Island from the nearby lookout is a quiet affair, usually with just a few other hikers and the swell far below.
  4. Cape Raoul viewpoint: The third cape is not on the track: you see it from the boat and the clifftops, or walk it separately as a day hike. The reward is the view of tall dolerite columns running along the coast like organ pipes. The walk passes through open heath and low forest, and the wind up top can be fierce.
  5. Mount Fortescue and Arthurs Peak forest: Between the capes, the track runs through tall eucalypt forest, then drops into coastal heath dotted with banksias and grass trees. Listen for the metallic calls of yellow wattlebirds and the rustle of pademelons in the undergrowth. Echidnas turn up on the path more often than you would expect, and the boardwalk sections keep your boots dry on the wetter days.
Save some energy for Cape Hauy, because it comes on the last day, when the steep steps feel harder on tired legs.
Spotted a mistake or missing something? Contact us.

Things to do near Three Capes Track

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🌤️ When to go?Seasonal considerations and timing

  • Summer (December to February): Days run 8 to 25°C (46 to 77°F) with up to 15 hours of light, and this is when the track is fullest. Book the huts months ahead, since the Three Capes Track is capped at 48 walkers leaving per day and peak dates sell out first.
  • Autumn (March to May): Highs of 14 to 20°C (57 to 68°F), steadier skies and calmer seas than winter. Light fades from about 7:30 pm to 5:30 pm, so start walking early.
  • Winter (June to August): Expect 3 to 13°C (37 to 55°F), short days of around 9 hours, and cold wind on the clifftops. Fewer walkers share the huts, and dates are easier to get.
  • Spring (September to November): Highs of 10 to 18°C (50 to 64°F), with wildflowers along the heath and rain that arrives fast. Whale sightings off the capes are possible from late spring.
Fares and hut … read more 👉
  • Summer (December to February): Days run 8 to 25°C (46 to 77°F) with up to 15 hours of light, and this is when the track is fullest. Book the huts months ahead, since the Three Capes Track is capped at 48 walkers leaving per day and peak dates sell out first.
  • Autumn (March to May): Highs of 14 to 20°C (57 to 68°F), steadier skies and calmer seas than winter. Light fades from about 7:30 pm to 5:30 pm, so start walking early.
  • Winter (June to August): Expect 3 to 13°C (37 to 55°F), short days of around 9 hours, and cold wind on the clifftops. Fewer walkers share the huts, and dates are easier to get.
  • Spring (September to November): Highs of 10 to 18°C (50 to 64°F), with wildflowers along the heath and rain that arrives fast. Whale sightings off the capes are possible from late spring.
Fares and hut fees are fixed across the year, so the only thing that changes is how early you must book. Pick a midweek departure for a quieter track.


source: climatestotravel.comJANJanuary: highly recommended for travelingFEBFebruary: highly recommended for travelingMARMarch: excellent for travelingAPRApril: excellent for travelingMAYMay: fair for travelingJUNJune: below average for travelingJULJuly: below average for travelingAUGAugust: below average for travelingSEPSeptember: fair for travelingOCTOctober: good for travelingNOVNovember: excellent for travelingDECDecember: highly recommended for traveling
Australia - the Three Capes Track

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If you enjoy meeting fellow travelers, consider choosing hostels with high ratings for atmosphere. On the other hand, if you prefer having your own space, a hotel might be a better option.

🥾 Hike detailsEverything you need to know before hiking Three Capes Track

Total Distance: About 48 kilometers one way, split across four days.
Duration: 4 days and 3 nights, with short walking days of roughly 4 to 6 hours.
Difficulty: Moderate. The path is well graded, with boardwalks and steps, but some climbs and side trips are steep, and weather swings fast.
Starting Point: Port Arthur Historic Site, where a boat takes walkers to Denmans Cove. Public transport to Port Arthur is limited, so book a shuttle from Hobart ahead.
Major Landmarks:
  • Surveyors Hut: The first night, set in forest.
  • Munro Hut: Second night, close to Cape Pillar.
  • Retakunna Hut: Third night, in tall forest.
… read more 👉
Total Distance: About 48 kilometers one way, split across four days.
Duration: 4 days and 3 nights, with short walking days of roughly 4 to 6 hours.
Difficulty: Moderate. The path is well graded, with boardwalks and steps, but some climbs and side trips are steep, and weather swings fast.
Starting Point: Port Arthur Historic Site, where a boat takes walkers to Denmans Cove. Public transport to Port Arthur is limited, so book a shuttle from Hobart ahead.
Major Landmarks:
  • Surveyors Hut: The first night, set in forest.
  • Munro Hut: Second night, close to Cape Pillar.
  • Retakunna Hut: Third night, in tall forest.
  • Cape Pillar and Cape Hauy: Optional side trips to the cliffs.
Terrain and Scenery: Boardwalks, packed gravel and stone steps lead through coastal forest, heath and clifftop ridges, with views over the Southern Ocean.
Vegetation: Eucalypt forest, banksia, wet heath and stunted coastal scrub.
Wildlife: Pademelons, wallabies, echidnas, wedge-tailed eagles, sea eagles and, in season, whales offshore.
⚠️ Hiking info can sometimes be outdated or inaccurate. Before you hit the trail, check the latest conditions with locals. If you do spot anything that's off, I'd love to hear from you, so I can update it for fellow travelers.

🛡️ SafetySafety Tips and Common Scams in Three Capes Track

The Three Capes Track is a well-built, well-managed walk, and most problems come from weather and blisters rather than danger. Tasmanian conditions swing quickly, so carry waterproofs, a warm layer and a windproof even in January. The clifftops near Cape Pillar and Cape Hauy are exposed, with drops of up to 300 meters (about 1,000 feet), so keep to the path and stay back from edges in strong wind. Boardwalks and gravel make footing easy, though they turn slick when wet and the climbs up and down Arthur’s Peak and Mount Fortescue are steep. Snakes, mainly tiger snakes, sun themselves on the track in warm weather, so watch your step and give them space. Pademelons and currawongs will raid open food bags, so keep everything zipped inside your pack. Break in your boots beforehand and pack blister … read more 👉
The Three Capes Track is a well-built, well-managed walk, and most problems come from weather and blisters rather than danger. Tasmanian conditions swing quickly, so carry waterproofs, a warm layer and a windproof even in January. The clifftops near Cape Pillar and Cape Hauy are exposed, with drops of up to 300 meters (about 1,000 feet), so keep to the path and stay back from edges in strong wind. Boardwalks and gravel make footing easy, though they turn slick when wet and the climbs up and down Arthur’s Peak and Mount Fortescue are steep. Snakes, mainly tiger snakes, sun themselves on the track in warm weather, so watch your step and give them space. Pademelons and currawongs will raid open food bags, so keep everything zipped inside your pack. Break in your boots beforehand and pack blister tape, because wet feet end more trips than anything else. Carry plenty of water between huts and tell someone your plan.

FAQCommon questions from travelers

The Three Capes Track takes 4 days and 3 nights, covering about 48 kilometers (30 miles) from Port Arthur to Fortescue Bay. The first leg is a short boat cruise from Port Arthur, followed by walking days of roughly 4 to 17 kilometers (2.5 to 10.5 miles) between the huts at Surveyors, Munro and Retakunna. Most people walk 4 to 6 hours a day. A shorter 3-day option does not exist, so plan the full four days.
Expect a moderate walk that suits fit beginners with some hiking experience. Daily distances are short and the track is mostly boardwalk and graded gravel, but there are steady climbs, notably to Arthur’s Peak and Cape Hauy, plus several hundred meters of elevation change on the longest days. You carry a pack of about 10 to 15 kilograms (22 to 33 pounds), since the huts supply mattresses and cooking gas but not food or sleeping bags. Weather is the main variable, with cold wind and rain possible in any month.
No guide is needed, but you must book in advance, because the track runs on a pre-booked, one-way system limited to 48 walkers a day. The booking covers the boat from Port Arthur, the hut beds and the track pass, and prices have been around A$615 to 625 (about US$400 to 410) per adult, so check the current fee before booking. Camping is not allowed and walkers go from Port Arthur toward Fortescue Bay only. Book through the Tasmania Parks and Wildlife Service website, ideally 3 to 6 months ahead for summer.
⚠️ Things can change over time, so always validate details locally before you go.

Other Australian hikes near Three Capes Track

Explore more nearby:

  • Overland Track—65 km, button grass plains, Mount Ossa, permit season, hut-to-hut| 209 km away
  • Cradle Mountain—Dolerite peak, Dove Lake loop, Overland permits, boardwalk rainforest| 230 km away
  • Great Ocean Walk—104 km, Apollo Bay to Apostles, lighthouse, booked campsites| 606 km away

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We 💚 feedbackParting advice and final tips

Go in the clear, stable days of February or March, when the cliffs hold their light until evening. I would book the first slot after a good forecast window opens, and pack a real rain shell anyway, because Cape Pillar wind does not care about forecasts. Expect it to cost more than a regular hut walk.

✈️ When did I visit Australia?
On my trip to New Zealand in 1993, I had a short stop in Australia as well.

✍️ Help improve this page!
The information on this page is based on my own backpacking experience in Australia, supplemented with up-to-date research and feedback from other travelers. Travel details can change, so if you notice anything outdated or incomplete, feel free to let me know.



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