These routes are made for walking
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APRIL 2017 | David Claridge
FOR AROUND thirty years Hagley-based Tasmanian Walking Company has given people the opportunity to experience Tasmania in a completely different way - away from the trappings of technology and a busy lifestyle by getting back to being active around nature.
With three tours available, the Cradle Mountain Huts Walk, Bay of Fires Lodge Walk, and the Wineglass Bay Sails Walk, and the development Three Capes Lodge Walk, the company has recently purchased the Twelve Apostles Lodge Walk in Victoria with further plans to expand their business. Gazette reporter, David Claridge, spoke to General Manager, Heath Garratt, to find out what made the Tasmanian Walking Company the exciting and unique business it is today.
David: How did the business come about?
Heath: We started in 1987, with the opening of the private huts on the Overland Track designed by Ken Latona. It was a pretty big deal at the time, having commercial infrastructure in a National Park which is of course a public asset. Since then wilderness tourism, or eco-tourism has really developed.
David: Why are you interested in eco-tourism?
Heath: I personally think it is an important part of tourism, also, for our wilderness areas that as many people as possible can make a meaningful connection with the wilderness. That’s our driving force, to give people an amazing, meaningful holiday experience. But also to let them connect with our wilderness areas, to see why it’s important that we protect and conserve them.
David: How do you go about employing people?
Heath: The main criteria is two-fold; one is a passion for what we do; and secondly, we only employ people we think our guests are going to want to spend 4-6 days with. They have to be engaging and vibrant. We actually get a lot of people seeking us out.
Adventure and eco tourism in Tasmania is really strong at the moment, and it should be, because we have a lot of great assets. We find lots of mainlanders coming here looking for work. As a result, between the locals and the mainlanders, we find we don’t have to try very hard to recruit.
David: How do your walks appeal to customers?
Heath: There is an adventurous side to what we do. People do, to a degree, need to step out of their comfort zone. The important thing about what we do is we take people into those areas, on bushwalks that provide high levels of comfort and support with things such as three course meals and a glass of wine at the end of the day, hot showers and a comfy mattress.
On the Tasmanian Walking Company’s website, the company’s philosophy is explained; ‘This is your holiday. Spend time reconnecting with friends and family or simply giving yourself some space. This is very important to us, so we make sure the small things are taken care of. From the moment you join us, the adventure begins - no need to worry about a thing - we have it covered’.
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The company was featured in MVG’s December edition, having won the Eco Tourism Award at the Tasmania Tourism Awards.
Now they have another reason to celebrate, recently being awarded gold in the National Tourism Awards.
Photo | Tasmanian Walking Company
