This walk is ideal if:

Are comfortable with a long, variable track

Love coastal scenery with frequent, changing viewpoints

Are interested in geology, specifically Tasmania's iconic dolerite columns

Enjoy wildlife spotting from dramatic cliff edges

Want a walk that feels genuinely remote and wild

What to Expect on the Cape Raoul Walk

Cape Raoul is one of those walks that's hard to describe as a single experience, because the landscape shifts so dramatically from start to finish. The terrain at the trailhead looks nothing like what you'll find halfway along, and the halfway point is vastly different from the views and experience at the cape itself.

Expect:

• A highly varied track, including forest, exposed ridgeline, tea tree scrub, and open clifftops

• Short but steep climbs and descents throughout

• Narrow, sometimes muddy sections requiring care underfoot

• High winds, potentially a lot of it, particularly in the tea tree forest and on the exposed cape

• Breathtaking views of the Tasman Peninsula's coastline opening up as you go

• Towering dolerite columns at the cape that rank among the best examples in the world

• Wildlife including Pacific Gulls, Sea Eagles, and if you're patient (and lucky) you might spot whales and dolphins!

Best Time to Walk to Cape Raoul

Spring and autumn offer the most reliable walking conditions. Temperatures are comfortable, and the track is firmer with fewer muddy sections.

Summer brings more stable weather and longer days, which is useful given the walk's length. It is also the busiest season on the Tasman Peninsula, so expect more people on the track.

Winter walks are possible for well-prepared walkers, but wind on the exposed cape can be fierce. That said, winter is also the best season for whale sightings from the cliff face. You'll have the chance to spot southern right whales, and humpbacks are known to pass through this stretch of coastline.

Whatever the season, always check the forecast, especially for wind warnings, before setting out.

Track Conditions and Things to Be Aware Of

The track is well-defined throughout, but be prepared for it to throw a few things at you.

The first section of the walk winds through tea tree forest, which provides good shelter. On blustery days, the sound of the wind whipping through the canopy is incredible. After the forest, the track opens up onto more exposed and flatter terrain as you approach the cape.

There is no water available on the track, so carry enough for the return journey, at least two litres per person, more in summer.

The track comes quite close to cliff edges in several places near the cape. Take care in windy conditions and keep well back from the edge.

Walking Through the Tea Tree Forest

The first section of the walk takes you through dense tea tree scrub and regrowth forest. It's a very moody and atmospheric stretch, particularly when the wind picks up and moves through the canopy above you.

This part of the track also carries some history. Evidence of past land use can be spotted if you look carefully, though the forest has reclaimed much of what was once here.

As the track progresses, it begins to reveal glimpses of the coastline below, and the mood of the walk starts to feel more coastal, with dramatic sea views opening up.

The First Lookout

One of the early highlights of the walk is the first major lookout, which delivers a view that, if you haven't yet spent a lot of time hiking Tasmania's sea cliffs, will be quite incredible.

Looking left, you can see the full sweep of the terrain between where you're standing and the tip of the cape. It looks almost implausibly far, but despite appearances, the walk out to the cape is very manageable, and less strenuous than it looks from this vantage point.

This lookout is a good place to take stock, have a snack, and snap some great photos of Cape Raoul in the distance.

At Cape Raoul

The cape itself is super rewarding, with multiple distinct lookout points, each offering a different perspective.

The main Cape Lookout faces across to Cape Pillar and Tasman Island, with the east coast of Bruny Island visible on a clear day.

Seal Lookout is arguably the more interesting of the two, as it faces back along Cape Raoul and offers very good views of the dolerite columns rising up out of the ocean.

This is an excellent spot to stop for lunch, explore the different vantage points, and spend some time gazing out over the Tasman Sea.

The Dolerite Columns of Cape Raoul

The towering rock formations visible from Cape Raoul are some of the finest examples of columnar dolerite in the world.

These columns form through a process involving ancient volcanic activity and the slow cooling of rock over millions of years. The result is a series of tall, regular columns that look almost geometric. Similar formations appear at Giant's Causeway in Northern Ireland, Devils Tower in the USA, and Fingal's Cave in Scotland, but the scale of what you see here is among the best anywhere on the planet.

Wildlife at Cape Raoul

Cape Raoul is one of the more rewarding wildlife spots on the Tasman Peninsula, particularly from the cliff edge. This spot is home to many of Tasmania's "blonde" or light-coloured echidnas. Look for freshly disturbed soil along the track edges, as this is a sign that an echidna has been foraging nearby.

Pacific Gulls are a constant presence, swooping and gliding along the cliff faces where they nest in the rock. White-bellied Sea Eagles are also regularly sighted in this area.

From the clifftop, patient observers may spot bottlenose dolphins, humpback whales, southern right whales, and if you are extra lucky, orcas moving through the waters below.

Wildlife at Cape Raoul

Cape Raoul is one of the more rewarding wildlife spots on the Tasman Peninsula, particularly from the cliff edge. This spot is home to many of Tasmania's "blonde" or light-coloured echidnas. Look for freshly disturbed soil along the track edges, as this is a sign that an echidna has been foraging nearby.

Pacific Gulls are a constant presence, swooping and gliding along the cliff faces where they nest in the rock. White-bellied Sea Eagles are also regularly sighted in this area.

From the clifftop, patient observers may spot bottlenose dolphins, humpback whales, southern right whales, and if you are extra lucky, orcas moving through the waters below.