Bay of Fires (Signature Walk)

Preparing for a big walk is crucial, that is why we start our Bay of Fires Signature Walk the night before at our walker base at the quaint Red Feather Inn.

Spend the afternoon exploring the grounds, taking in the historic sandstone architecture or simply relaxing in your room with a long bath. Later on, you will meet your guides as they take you through what to expect from the next four days and conduct a gear check. After our short briefing, the night of celebration begins – Your Bay of Fires adventure is finally here! Get to know your fellow walkers over a dinner of local fare, cooked for you in-house, served in the formal dining room and paired with local wines.

We ask that guests arrive no later than 5:30pm, giving you enough time to relax and enjoy the inn before our walker briefing at 6pm.

Approximately 4 hours walking

It's time to get your walking boots sandy. Our beach stroll this morning begins at Boulder Point in Mt William National Park. In clear conditions, the Bass Strait islands of Flinders and Cape Barren are visible to the north.

We'll nestle into a protected beach along the coastline for lunch, enjoying the company of native birds, rare shells and marine artefacts. From day one your guides will begin unravelling the Bay of Fires tales; its early inhabitants, visiting explorers and how it came to bear its fiery name.

After about four hours walking, we'll arrive at the Forester Beach Camp, tucked away in secluded dunes. These semi-permanent tents are our home for the night. Relax on the deck with a local wine, take a dip or explore the dune swale location while your guides prepare delicious Tasmanian fare.

Approximately 7 hours walking

Following a relaxed breakfast at the camp we walk south, absorbing the coastline's bold colours and solitude. Along the ridgelines of sand dunes, views extend across heathlands and out to the ocean. We'll visit marsupial lawns, often encountering quiet native animals and the tracks they leave at nightfall.

We will be crossing a tidal creek this morning so be prepared! The creek can vary from very shallow to waist deep.  Our guides will find the best route across and assist with carrying backpacks.

Our lunch spot today is a beach sheltered behind the dunes near Eddystone Point Lighthouse. We'll have time to explore the lighthouse and its long-standing story before we trek far-stretching beaches that lead to the celebrated Bay of Fires Lodge.

Afternoon tea will be waiting, along with spa treatments for those who want to indulge. Pre-bookings are best if you're keen to sink into the outdoor tub or settle in for a luxurious few hours at the spa.

Come evening, venture into the library, cast a line off the beach or have your hosts deliver a cold drop while you dip toes into a foot spa on the back deck. Dinner is a Tasmanian long-table affair, featuring produce from the island matched with fine local beer and wine.

Approximately 6 hours kayaking/walking

Today choose your own adventure. Rise early to the native birds accompanying the dawn, waking to the aroma of a hot-cooked breakfast and freshly brewed coffee. If it's a sunny morning, breakfast on the deck can reward you with whale spotting and dolphins surfing the waves.

Later in the morning, choose to kayak down Ansons River and experience the riparian ecology of this winding waterway. Cross the bird-rich waters of Ansons Bay and conclude with a stroll over the dunes of Abbotsbury Peninsula back to the lodge.

Other options for today include a spa treatment, fishing, snorkelling in the marine nursery, exploring shell coves or enjoying the lodge surrounds. After dinner is when the native wildlife wander out – keep an eye out for wombats, wallabies, Forester kangaroos, possums or even a Tasmanian devil. Don't forget to look up! The night sky from this pristine coastline is an awesome spectacle.

Approximately 1 hour walking

Following a leisurely breakfast at the lodge, there's plenty of time for a morning swim or final spa treatment before we depart the lodge. Unlike our other walking, today we venture through eucalypt forests and coastal heathland. We'll enjoy a forest lunch to the sound of native birds, including the endemic green rosella.

Upon our return to Red Feather Inn there will be time to raise a glass to the four wonderful days spent together.