Preparation for all Tasmanian hiking experiences will ensure you enjoy your bushwalking experience. Please make sure you have enough fitness to enjoy this walk. It is, after all, a stunning walk and a wonderful adventure travel opportunity for locals and tourists both.
You should start preparing for any long Tasmanian hiking trip at least 12 weeks before you do the walk, depending on your current level of fitness. Tasmanian hiking over a 7 hour period is a pretty long walk. The walk from Tasman Arch to Fortescue Bay is around 18 km. Do not make the mistake of thinking if you can walk for 18 km in the city, or if you can stand on your feet for 7 hours, that you do not need to train for this bush walk. While it is good to keep the endpoint in mind, sensible training that is progressive in nature will see you thriving on the day and enjoying every step. Tasmanian wilderness can throw enough unexpected variables at you with unpredictable weather that is often both unseasonable and unpredictable. You do not want to have the extra variable of not being fit enough to enjoy your day or complete the bush walk.
My top 10 tips for building your fitness for a Tasmanian hiking experience
Hiking tip 1
Start training 3-4 months prior to the event. Preparation for hiking is everything. As an endurance event your muscles, tendons, and ligaments need time to adapt to a 7 hour bush walk. Remember the endpoint is 7 hours of continuous walking on a rough and uneven path is your ultimate goal. Aim to be at this point within 2 weeks of the event.
Hiking tip 2
Do little, often. Hike several times a week, and by hike, I include street walking. Although not everyone is lucky enough to access bush daily. Start building the habit of regular walking.
Hiking tip 3
Gym sessions count to improve your strength and endurance. Circuit style training is perfect, with emphasis on core fitness, and leg strength.
Hiking tip 4
Take care of your feet. If you need corns removed or orthotics improved do this well in advance of the big walk. Need new shoes? Do not leave this to just before the walk. Get used to them and make sure your shoes are comfortable and do not give your blisters (a light hiking boot or trail shoe is suitable for the Tasman to Fortescue walk, but not sandshoes).
Hiking tip 5
Invest in a great pair of socks – merino wool blends are perfect as they do not rub. Make sure there are no seams to create blisters.
Hiking tip 6
Time poor? Find a hill and get up and down it. Stairs count. 😊
Hiking tip 7
As you get closer to the event date start to carry a backpack. Start with a few kilos and work up to 8 kg. You’ll need to carry at least 3 litres of water.
Hiking tip 8
Meet and hike with your team regularly. Get a sense of where everyone’s fitness is at. Who is strong on hills? Who is slow on the descent? Learn about each other’s abilities and limitations in advance.
Hiking tip 9
Go bush every few weeks. This might be for an hour or four, but plan some bushwalks with similar surfaces. You need to go up and down hills, experience rocky and slippery tracks and become very sure-footed.
Hiking tip 10
Regularly do some kind of restorative exercise like aqua aerobics, Bikram yoga, pilates, swimming, foam rollering session or have a remedial massage
Hiking trails you may see in Tasmania
Here are some photos of a fire trail in Hobart.
Hiking in Tasmania can be very rugged but fortunately, the Tasman Arch to Fortescue Bay bushwalk is on well formed bush trails. Fire trails are a great way to condition yourself for this adventure.
