Wukalina Walk
YOUR EXPERIENCE PROVIDER
Wukalina Walk
Insights into your experience
The Wukalina Walk is a three night, four day Aboriginal owned and operated guided walk based around the magnificent natural landscape of the larapuna (Bay of Fires) and wukalina (Mt William) areas, incorporating the famous Bay of Fires in North East Tasmania, the cultural homeland of the palawa.
The walk is a genuine cultural experience that will deepen your understanding of palawa (Tasmanian Aboriginal) culture and community history as well as immerse you in the natural and rugged beauty of wukalina and larapuna.
This is a small group experience with up to ten guests and two guides. Guests will spend two nights in palawa inspired (domed) huts, within a standing camp in wukalina (Mt William National Park), and one night in the meticulously renovated Lighthouse Keepers Cottage on Aboriginal held land at larapuna (Eddystone Point).
The Walk will provide an opportunity to walk with palawa guides in the footsteps of their traditional people on the cultural homeland of wukalina and larapuna. You will hear first-hand palawa creation stories and participate in cultural practices that have been passed down for hundreds of generations.
Itinerary:
Day One - Launceston to krakani lumi - Mountain and inland journey
Distance - 11km. Difficulty - medium. Walk time - 4.5 hours
- Arrive Tasmanian Elders Centre in Launceston at 8:00am sharp.
- Enjoy morning tea and a cuppa while preparing your walking kits.
- Guests enjoy a scenic drive from Launceston while learning about the Aboriginal and European history of the district
- The cultural walk begins at Stumpy’s Bay in wukalina (Mt William National Park).
- Arrive at a purpose-built base camp krakani lumi at (Cobler Rocks).
Day Two - Coastal journey
Distance - 5km. Difficulty - medium. Walk time - 2 hours
- After breakfast guests will be guided along a traditional coastal pathway.
- Lunch will be served back at the Standing Camp, following which our guides will lead cultural sessions.
- After a traditional dinner including mutton bird, wallaby, and doughboys, guests will enjoy a starlight night walk
- Guests may encounter native wildlife such as wombats (prupilathina), wallabies (payathanima) and kangaroos, as well as possums and many more of Australia’s famous critters in this untouched landscape.
Day Three - krakani lumi to larapuna - Coastal journey
Distance - 17km. Difficulty - medium to difficult. Walk time - 6 hours
- A guided walk south along the pure white sands and rocky headlands, with lunch at Marsupial Lawns.
- Arrive on the Aboriginal held land of larapuna (Eddystone Point lighthouse precinct).
- Experience native wildlife close-up, including wombats and wallabies.
Day Four - larapuna and return to Launceston - Around larapuna
- Opportunity to explore the larapuna precinct and surrounds.
- Exclusive access and tour of Eddystone Lighthouse.
- Participate in cultural activities practiced in the local area for thousands of years.
- Conversation with Aboriginal Elder/respected community member.
- Lunch is served prior to the drive back to Launceston via a ‘quirky café’ stop in Derby
- Arrive back into Launceston at approximately 4:30pm.
Things to know
The Walk departs from Launceston weekly on Sundays, from October to the end of April each year.
Additional departures, generally on a Friday, will be regularly scheduled depending on demand.
All Walks are guaranteed to depart once a minimum of 4 walkers are confirmed. Throughout each season several scheduled departures will be guaranteed to depart with no minimum number requirement.
Cost includes:
- Pick up/return from the designated collection and return points in Launceston
- Transport to wukalina (Mt William National Park) and return.
- Twin/Double share accommodation for three nights.
- All meals and snacks.
- National park passes.
- Use of 40 litre Backpack, Gore-Tex jacket, gaiters, walking poles, travel stool and a water bottle for the duration of walk (if required ie if guests elect not to bring their own)
- Two qualified guides for groups of 6 guests or more or one guide for groups of 5 or less; as well as interaction with Tasmanian Aboriginal Elder/s and/or craftsperson/artist.
- Complimentary Tasmanian wine/mineral water/juice is offered each night. Note: No price reduction is available for guests who choose not to avail themselves of the alcoholic beverages offered.
Single travellers who elect to pay the twin share rate (forced single) will only share with another traveler of the same gender.
Sole use requests must be made at the time of booking.
Arrangements the night prior and last day of Walk:
We recommend that guests arrive the night prior to departure, and that flights are not booked to depart prior to 18:30 on day four of the walk, arrival back into Launceston. All guests need to arrive at the Elders Council no earlier than 08:00 on Day 1 and can expect to arrive back at the Council by 16:30 on Day 4.
Meeting point
Location
Bay of Fires, Mt William National Park.
2.5 hours from Launceston, 5 hours from Hobart.
