Working as a team for Tasmanian hike success

Stark landscapes, challenging ascents and unpredictable terrain – the South Coast Track in Tasmania is not for the faint-hearted.

But four Rover Scouts from South Metropolitan Region undertook the challenge in November and came back with incredible stories and lessons learned.

Callum Power, a Rover Scout from the 1st Caringbah Rover Unit, said he chose the South Coast Track for “its reputation of being one of the most challenging tracks in Australia”, as well as one of the most picturesque.

“I wanted something that would have a diverse range of challenges and given its geographical location, the track can see anything from sweltering hot days to snow, even in the summer months, as well as mud, river crossings and even a small boat in one section!” he said.

“I saw this as an exciting experience and something that would make for a great story to share with others.

“Something that also fascinated me was that the start of the track was only accessible via a light aircraft, which picks you up from Hobart airport and drops you right at the start of the trail.”

It was this extra element that caused Callum to apply for a Dick and Pip Smith Leadership Through Adventure Fund grant. The funds covered the transport, including the flight to the start of the track and a shuttle bus at the end, as well as main meals for Callum and the other three members of his Patrol – Campbell Wilson, also from 1st Caringbah Rover Unit; Monique Martin from the Gymea Rover Unit; and Campbell Jones from Georges River Combined Rover Unit.

Find out more about the Leadership Through Adventure Fund

Callum said the hike was both what he was expecting and surprising at the same time.

“The scenery was one thing that was impossible to capture and was breathtaking at each turn,” he said.

“One thing that came as a surprise was the state of the track, which was very overgrown and unmaintained. This was the biggest challenge, as the track would at times be completely inundated with deep bogs, often diverting around the posted track location and with large trees covering many sections of the track. At one stage the water had so deeply eroded the track, it closer resembled a canyon than a hiking track.

“My favourite part of the hike was crossing the Ironbound ranges. This was a challenging up and over with a vertical ascent of more than 1km, however at the top of the range you could see all the way back to where you had started the track, days before. It was really rewarding to see the progress we had made and the different experiences we had at each section of the walk so far.”

But hikes are not always just about the experiences had – they are also about the lessons learned. And there were plenty of lessons that came out of the Rover Scouts’ trip.

The biggest? The importance of good planning.

“Without it, there would have been a few situations where we could have been in danger if not for our action plans,” Callum said.

“Not only did I learn practical skills, but also the cultural history of the track, which was once home to a remote First Nations tribe, before being used as an egress route for lost sailors who found themselves washed ashore, as well as a transport route for various mining and forestry operations that thankfully never stood the test of time.

“Most importantly though, I learnt how important it is to work as a team to help drive the group’s collective success and how rewarding it is looking back at what we achieved.

“But between the bogs as deep as a whole human, rats eating through Campbell’s tent, submersible boardwalks and a spot of canyoning, there are too many interesting encounters to choose from!”

Callum is now straight into planning for the 40th anniversary of Dragon Skin from 18-21 April 2025, where he is the assistant VOC3 activity coordinator.