Quamby Bluff

Quamby Bluff is a day hike, so you are not packing for an expedition. But the alpine summit and the scrambling sections mean you need to think about what you are wearing more than your average nature walk. Here is what we took, what worked, and what we should have brought.

Footwear

We did the whole hike in Nike runners. Standard road running shoes. They were fine. The trail is not muddy in dry conditions and the grip was adequate on the rock. If you have trail runners, even better. You do not need heavy hiking boots for this walk unless it has been raining recently, in which case the mud on the lower section and the wet rock on the boulder field would make proper trail shoes with aggressive tread a much safer option.

Clothing

Lower body: We wore tights (my wife) and long pants (me). Long legs are the right call. The alpine scrub at the summit is spiky and will scratch bare skin. The trail itself has some overgrown sections where ferns brush against your legs.

Upper body: We both started in t-shirts with jackets. I had a Kathmandu windbreaker and my wife had a Patagonia jacket. We ditched the jackets about halfway up when the climbing warmed us up, then put them back on at the summit where the wind was steady and cool. A packable windbreaker is essential for the summit. Do not skip this even if the car park feels warm.

Sun protection: Hat, sunglasses, sunscreen. The summit is fully exposed with no shade. Even on a partly cloudy day the UV in Tasmania can surprise you.

Water

Pack

A small day pack is all you need. Something in the 15 to 25 litre range that can carry water, jackets, snacks, phone, and a first aid kit. Nothing fancy.

Snacks

Bring something for the summit. The hike burns enough energy that you will want food at the top, and eating lunch with that view is half the experience. We planned to eat at the Raspberry Farm after, but in hindsight a sandwich at the summit would have been the move.

Navigation

Download the AllTrails map before you leave Launceston. Phone reception is patchy near the trailhead and non-existent on the trail. The path is reasonably well marked with red and blue trail markers on trees, but the boulder field section has no markers and you are route-finding by sight. Having the GPS track on your phone is good insurance.

What I Would Change

If I did it again, I would bring water (obviously), a small picnic for the summit, and proper trail runners instead of road shoes. The Nike runners were fine but I was conscious of my footing on the boulders and trail shoes with better grip would have let me move faster with more confidence.

I would also bring gaiters if hiking after rain. The lower trail showed evidence of mud even in our dry conditions, and in winter or after a wet spell it would get boggy.

Full Packing Checklist

Wear:

• Trail runners or sturdy running shoes
• Long pants or leggings
• T-shirt or light long sleeve
• Hat and sunglasses

Carry:

• Packable windbreaker jacket (essential for summit)
• 1-1.5L water per person
• Snacks or a summit picnic
• Sunscreen
• Phone with AllTrails map downloaded offline
• Small first aid kit
• Camera (the photo opportunities are constant)

Optional:

• Trekking poles (useful on the descent, not essential)
• Gaiters (if hiking after rain)
• Macro lens (for the fungi)
• Insect repellent (some reports of horse flies at the summit, though we saw none)

Total Gear Cost

If you already own runners and a jacket, the cost of gear for this hike is essentially zero. A water bottle and a day pack are the only "must-haves" you might not already own. Budget $30 to $60 for both from a camping store or Amazon.