Day walk hubs share The benefits
Spread the load from the few tracks that are looked after and enhance the walker experience, says Rupert Manners
BUSHWALKING tourism has long been part of Tasmania’s many attractions and the government has spent a lot of time and money developing long-distance walks such as the Three Capes Track.
Developing these tracks is important in that their very existence puts us front of mind as the bushwalking capital of Australia.
However, the bushwalking market is very broad, ranging from those who want to do a short 40-minute walk to Russell Falls to those who are able and want to carry a heavy pack for six days on the South Coast Track or the Overland.
I wonder whether the government would get more bang for its tourism dollar by spending more money on maintaining and developing a better range of day walks.
Mountain biking at Derby and Maydena are excellent examples of what can happen when little sporting hubs are developed. All of the mountain bike tracks are day trips, none are multi-day, so those who go to Derby to take part in mountain bike adventures, stay at Derby, eat at Derby, businesses start to transport bikes, guiding businesses are set up, etc. People are employed in all these businesses, house prices rise (more stamp duty for the government). All in all it is a win-win situation.
Walking hubs could also be set up around Tasmania.
There are some already at Cradle Mountain, Lake St Clair and Mt Field, but these could be developed further and more hubs could be established in other parts of the state. I have walked all over Tasmania and the tracks suitable for day walking hubs already exist but are generally in a woeful condition, even in major tourist attractions such as Cradle Valley. A relatively small amount of money would improve these tracks beyond measure. The other advantage is that it would spread the load from the few tracks that are looked after and generally enhance the walker experience.
Walks in these hubs need to range from the 40-minute walk to the full eight- to 10-hour day walk and even to the one- or two-night overnighter. Businesses would be set up to cater for the needs of these walkers supplying transport, accommodation, meals, guide books, maps and even guides.
The market for day walks is far larger than the market for the long multi-day walk. The long multi-day walk is great advertising that Tasmania is the bushwalking capital of Australia, but the reality is that most people don’t have the time, equipment or fitness to do them.
Some 280,000 people visit Cradle Valley and most of those will do a walk, but only 9000 people do the Overland Track; a mere 3 per cent.
Of course a cost-benefit analysis would need to be
I HAVE WALKED ALL OVER TASMANIA AND THE TRACKS SUITABLE FOR DAY WALKING HUBS ALREADY EXIST BUT ARE GENERALLY IN A WOEFUL CONDITION
done, but I would guess that the cost would be divided between the various levels of government and the benefits would be to all those communities, as well as the state government.
The other benefit is that local bushwalkers who are continually disgruntled over how much money is spent on the big production walks and how little is spent on other tracks would be less disgruntled.
Bushwalking is incredibly popular at the moment and all the tracks seem to be very busy with both tourists and locals. The health benefits of bushwalking are well known and documented. Its popularity should be encouraged and we should ensure that the bushwalker experience is a great one.
It would be a great shame to lose our mantle as the bushwalking capital of Australia to others who put in more effort to maintain and improve our walking infrastructure.
Rupert Manners is a retired businessman, a member and past president of the Hobart Walking Club.