South Coast Track

A remote, six-to-eight day point-to-point wilderness hike through Tasmania’s far south.

Time to Hike: The Tasmanian Parks & Wildlife Service recommends experienced bushwalkers allow 6-8 days to walk it one-way.

Best Time to Go: Aim for the calmer months of the year when rivers are more manageable and weather windows are longer. Expect fast-changing conditions at any time on Tasmania’s south coast.

Getting there: Most walkers fly into Melaleuca and walk east to Cockle Creek so they are not stuck at Melaleuca waiting for flights in poor weather.

Costs: Budget for transport to the start (often flights to Melaleuca), plus food for the full trip and proper wet-weather gear. Check current park entry and transport prices before you commit.

Difficulty: Hard. This is managed as a wilderness walk with remote terrain, exposed coast, river crossings, and a major range crossing.

The South Coast Track is an 85-kilometre bushwalking track in the South Coast region of Tasmania, traversing remote wilderness in Southwest National Park. The park sits within the Tasmanian Wilderness World Heritage Site, and the track is managed as a wilderness walk.

The route follows the wild southern coastline, only sticking to the shore where beaches make it passable. Elsewhere it cuts inland across open plains behind the coast and crosses two mountain ranges to bypass impassable sections.

Classic named points on the walk include Cox Bight, the Louisa River, the Ironbound Range, Deadmans Bay, Prion Beach (reached via a boat crossing of a narrow ocean inlet), Granite Beach, South Cape Rivulet in South Cape Bay, and the finish at Cockle Creek. The track can also be combined with the Port Davey Track for a longer continuous trek of roughly eight to fourteen days.

• Stage 1: Melaleuca to Cox Bight - Start at the Melaleuca trailhead near the visitor services site, then head south towards the first big sweep of coast at Cox Bight.
• Stage 2: Cox Bight to Louisa River - Continue east across coastal country and open plains behind the shoreline to reach the Louisa River.
• Stage 3: Louisa River to Ironbound Range crossing - The track turns more rugged as you climb towards and over the Ironbound Range to avoid impassable coastline.
• Stage 4: Ironbound Range to Deadmans Bay - Drop out of the range to the coast again, finishing the day at the remote sands of Deadmans Bay.
• Stage 5: Deadmans Bay to Prion Beach (boat crossing) - Work along coastal sections to Prion Beach, which requires a boat crossing of a narrow ocean inlet.
• Stage 6: Prion Beach to Granite Beach - Continue east by south through remote coastal terrain to Granite Beach.
• Stage 7: Granite Beach to South Cape Rivulet and Cockle Creek - Pass South Cape Rivulet within South Cape Bay, then turn east by north to finish at Cockle Creek.

Tasmania’s south coast is exposed and can be wet, windy, and changeable in any month, so pick a period when you can build in flexibility for weather delays. Even in the best months you should expect cold rain and strong winds.

Key hazards to plan for include swollen rivers after heavy rain, rough coastal conditions (especially around the inlet crossing near Prion Beach), and the extra time and effort required for the Ironbound Range crossing.

The western trailhead is at Melaleuca in Tasmania’s far south-west; the eastern terminus is Cockle Creek. Most international visitors route via Hobart (the nearest major city) and then organise onward transport to the start and from the finish.

Many walkers fly into Melaleuca and walk out to Cockle Creek to reduce the risk of being trapped at Melaleuca without food during prolonged bad weather. The opposite direction is possible, but plan conservatively around transport and resupply constraints.

Check current park entry requirements and any track-specific advisories with the Tasmanian Parks & Wildlife Service before you depart. but it lies within Southwest National Park and is managed by the Tasmanian Parks & Wildlife Service. Check current park entry requirements and any track-specific advisories before you depart.

If you are using flights to and from Melaleuca, treat transport bookings as critical trip logistics and build in contingency days for weather-related disruption.

This is a wilderness walk and most parties camp along the route, carrying a tent and several days of food. Camps are typically in coastal or plains locations near the major named areas (for example around Cox Bight and Deadmans Bay), with conditions that can be very exposed.

Because accommodation is generally self-supported, the main “booking” pressure is on transport (especially flights into Melaleuca) rather than beds. Carry gear suitable for prolonged rain and wind, and plan camps so you are not forced to push on in unsafe weather.