Tasmanian Walking Company planning two new luxury huts for Three Capes track

TWO high-end huts for exclusive customers will be built on the Three Capes track under a plan put forward by an award-winning tourism company.

TWO high-end huts for exclusive customers will be built on the Three Capes track under a plan put forward by an award-winning tourism company.

A development application for two private huts in the national park has been lodged with the Tasman Council — a move already drawing flak from conservationists.

The Tasmanian Walking Company, which operates the Bay of Fires Lodge Walk, Cradle Mountain Huts Walk and Wineglass Bay Sail Walk, has lodged the application with the hope of getting tours operating by next October.

TWC general manager Heath Garratt told the Mercury yesterday his company was passionate about the preservation and conservation of Tasmania’s protected wilderness areas.

“Maximising sustainability is ingrained in our thought processes and is a significant part of our company culture,” Mr Garratt said.

MORE: TWC TO OPERATE GUIDED WALKS ON THREE CAPES TRACK

The State Government has come under fire for building the Three Capes Track. Critics, including the Greens, environmentalist Bob Brown, the Tasmanian Conservation Trust and the National Parks Association, have argued the track is privatising Tasmania’s national parks.

But the walk has proved to be enormously successful since opening with bookings exceeding expectations.

Last week the State Government announced gross revenue of $3.3 million from the Three Capes Track Experiences in its first 10 months of operation.

MORE: THREE CAPES WALKERS KICK $3.3M INTO GOVERNMENT COFFERS

Limited numbers of walkers can walk the track for $500 and stay in award-winning huts operated by the Tasmanian Parks and Wildlife Service.

Tasmanian Conservation Trust director Peter McGlone said the proposed new huts would cause additional destruction in the national park.

“It is another example of privatising parts of our national parks,” Mr McGlone said.

“We don’t expect the Tasman Council to refuse the development.

“But they should ask the State Government why there is an exclusive rights being granted to one company.

“No business will ever be able to compete with that company.”

Mr Garratt said his company believed “sensible and sustainable tourism” was a reasonable compromise that afforded the greatest opportunity to grow advocacy for Tasmania’s natural wonders and fund their protection for future generations.

“The Three Capes Track was built by the federal and state governments with an expectation that it should provide sustainable tourism access,” he said.

“Independent walkers already use the track to stay in-park in PWS-built accommodation. TWC is simply offering another differentiated choice for the walking public.”

An artist’s impression of a proposed huts shows a timber, glass and corrugated iron structure.

The huts would be built near the existing Surveyors and Munro Huts and house 14 people.

Unlike the existing Three Capes offering, food would be cooked for walkers, and customers will be allocated a double bed to share and two single beds within the one room.

There will be no ensuite facilities.

Mr Garratt expected food and supplies to be dropped at the huts, about once a month, via helicopter.

MORE: TWC’S REMOTE WILDERNESS LODGE CLOSER TO FRUITION

The track, labelled one of the “World’s hottest new travel experiences for 2015” by travel bible Lonely Planet – a year before it had opened – was the brainchild of former Labor premier Paul Lennon.

It takes in Cape Raoul, Cape Pillar and Cape Hauy as part of a four-day, three-night 46km track across the Tasmania’s Tasman Peninsula.

Details of the new private guided walks by the Tasmanian Walking Company are yet to be released.

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