Three Capes Track Tasmania: Four Days on Australia’s Highest Sea Cliffs

The Three Capes Track runs 48 kilometres along the Tasman Peninsula in south-east Tasmania, from Port Arthur to Fortescue Bay. Walkers cover it over four days and three nights, sleeping in purpose-built cabins each evening. Tasmania Parks and Wildlife Service opened the track in December 2015, and it has since become the country’s most polished multi-day walk.

This is not a wilderness test. Built to a dry-boot standard from timber, stone and gravel, the track measures a metre wide and fits two people walking side by side. Instead of carrying a tent and stove, you carry food and a sleeping bag. In return, you get some of the most exposed coastline in the Southern Hemisphere without the usual weight.

Grade 3 applies, which means some bushwalking experience helps. Even so, the longest day covers 19 kilometres with roughly 650 metres of climbing over six to seven hours.

The Four Days

Day One: Denmans Cove to Surveyors Cove

The walk starts at the Port Arthur Historic Site, where you check in and collect your guidebook. From there, a Pennicott Wilderness Journeys boat runs up to 75 minutes along the coast, past sea caves and the tallest sea cliffs in the Southern Hemisphere, before landing at Denmans Cove.

Walking itself takes little time on day one: 4 kilometres, or one and a half to two hours, through woodland to Surveyors Cove. Because you arrive with the whole afternoon free, the short stage absorbs a late check-in and a slow boat without stress. Denmans Cove has no jetty, so you may need to wade ashore; keep something dry near the top of your pack.

Day Two: Surveyors Cove to Munro

Day two covers 11 kilometres in four to four and a half hours. Climbing over Arthur’s Peak and through the Ellarwey Valley, the track swings between tall eucalypt forest and open coastal heath. Munro cabin sits high above the coast with a deck looking straight across to Cape Pillar and Tasman Island.

Munro also holds the only showers on the track. Two of the three nights have no washing facilities, so plan accordingly.

Day Three: Munro to Retakunna, via Cape Pillar

The big day covers 19 kilometres in about six hours, and it delivers the reason most people come. Leaving your overnight pack at Munro, you walk out along Cape Pillar with a day pack, return for your gear, then continue to Retakunna.

Cape Pillar is where the track earns its reputation. Dolerite columns drop more than 300 metres into the Tasman Sea, and the final spur at The Blade narrows to a knife-edge of rock with Tasman Island offshore. No barriers line the edge, so stay well back and use the constructed viewing points.

Day Four: Retakunna to Fortescue Bay, via Cape Hauy

The hardest day comes last: 14 kilometres in six to seven hours, with more than 2,000 steps by most counts. After climbing Mount Fortescue through tall forest, you detour out to Cape Hauy and then descend to Fortescue Bay, where a bus returns you to Port Arthur.

Cape Hauy looks down on the Totem Pole and the Candlestick, two dolerite sea stacks that climbers travel from Europe to attempt. A swim at Fortescue Bay finishes the walk well if the weather cooperates.

The Cabins

Three cabin sites serve the track: Surveyors, Munro and Retakunna. Each site holds two sleeping cabins linked by a timber deck, with room for 48 walkers across a mix of four-bed and eight-bed rooms. Bunks come with a single mattress, and the sleeping rooms have no heating or lighting, so bring a sleeping bag rated to -5C and a head torch.

The shared hub provides the comfort. Gas cooktops, saucepans, frying pans, kettles, cooking utensils, dining tables, USB charging points and pellet heaters all sit under one roof. Toilets with handwash basins are on site, and rainwater comes from tanks at each cabin. Treat the water before drinking it and carry two litres a day.

A host ranger greets each arrival and allocates rooms, keeping groups together where possible. Expect to share with other walkers, because this is a good hut rather than a private lodge.

What the Fee Covers

One booking covers the whole experience. The adult rate is $650, with concession and child fares at $515, and Parks and Wildlife Service reviews the figures annually against CPI. Note that the service’s two official pages currently list slightly different amounts, so confirm the price at the time of booking.

Included in the fee are three nights of self-catered cabin accommodation, the Pennicott cruise from Port Arthur, the bus from Fortescue Bay, entry to the Port Arthur Historic Site valid for two years, car parking, secure lockers, park entry for the walk plus a day either side, and the “Encounters on the Edge” guidebook.

A winter promotion has run at $485 per person for new bookings departing between 1 July and 31 August. Bookings cannot be transferred into or out of that window.

Two Capes, Not Three

The name promises three capes, and the walk delivers two. Cape Pillar and Cape Hauy both sit on the route. Across Maingon Bay lies Cape Raoul, visible from the boat on day one and from the Surveyors deck, yet the track never reaches it.

Cape Raoul remains a superb day walk from a separate trailhead. Build a spare day into your trip and walk it before or after the four days to complete the set.

When to Walk

Demand peaks between September and April, when summer and long weekends sell out months ahead. Only 48 walkers depart each day, and bookings open roughly 13 months in advance.

Winter brings fewer walkers, dramatic light and a genuine chance of the Aurora Australis. Expect bracing winds, cold nights and rain, and pack a sleeping bag rated to -5C or lower.

The track closes each year for maintenance and fuel-reduction burns. Published dates run from 13 to 26 April in 2026, 5 to 18 April in 2027, 24 April to 7 May in 2028, and 9 to 22 April in 2029. Tasman National Park is a fuel-stove-only area year-round, so campfires are not permitted outside designated sites at Fortescue Bay.

Getting There and Staying Nearby

Port Arthur sits about 90 minutes south-east of Hobart on the Arthur Highway. Check-in happens downstairs in the Port Arthur Historic Site Visitor Centre, and the long-term walker carpark sits roughly 500 metres from the centre.

Most walkers want a night nearby before day one. Stewarts Bay Lodge is minutes from the historic site, which makes the first morning simple and gives you somewhere comfortable to land after the bus drops you back. Browse our Australia accommodation collection for other options on the peninsula and around Hobart.

Why We Recommend It

Few multi-day walks combine this much scenery with this little suffering. The pack stays light, the track stays dry, and the cabins stay warm. Consequently, the walk suits travellers who would never consider carrying a tent but still want to stand on a 300-metre cliff edge.

It also fits neatly into a longer Tasmanian itinerary. Pair four days on the track with the convict history at Port Arthur, the vineyards of the Coal River Valley and a few nights in Hobart. Explore our Australia activities for more ideas, or review our Australia sample itineraries for routing.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long is the Three Capes Track?

The track runs 48 kilometres over four days and three nights, from Port Arthur to Fortescue Bay.

How much does the Three Capes Track cost?

Adult fares sit at $650, with concession and child fares at $515. A winter promotion has run at $485 per person for departures between 1 July and 31 August.

How hard is the Three Capes Track?

It carries a Grade 3 rating. Because the longest day covers 19 kilometres with about 650 metres of elevation gain over six to seven hours, some bushwalking experience helps.

How many people walk each day?

A maximum of 48 walkers depart daily, which keeps the cabins and the track quiet.

Do I need to carry a tent?

No. The fee includes three nights in cabins with mattresses, gas cooktops and cookware. You bring a sleeping bag, a head torch, your food and your own plate, bowl and cutlery.

Are there showers on the track?

Yes, but only at Munro cabin on night two. The other two nights have no shower facilities.

Can I walk the Three Capes Track without a booking?

No. Bookings are essential, and the track is a managed product rather than a day-walk permit.

When does the track close?

It closes annually for maintenance and burns. Upcoming closures run 13 to 26 April 2026, 5 to 18 April 2027, 24 April to 7 May 2028 and 9 to 22 April 2029.

Is the track suitable for children?

Children under 18 must walk with an adult, and the track generally suits children aged five and over. Contact the booking team before booking with an infant.

Plan Your Tasmanian Walk

We can secure your departure, arrange nights at Port Arthur either side of the walk and build the surrounding Tasmanian itinerary around your dates. That includes private transfers from Hobart, winery visits and additional day walks such as Cape Raoul.

Review the official track information for current fees and closures, then browse our Australia destination guide to place the walk in a wider trip.

Enquire Now to start planning your Three Capes Track walk.