The Tahune Airwalk is unlike most of Tasmania's 60 Great Short Walks. It sits within a commercial operation, which means there is an entry fee, but that fee gives you access to all the walks on site, making it easy to turn this into a full and very enjoyable day out.

This walk is ideal if:

Want a unique, non-hiking way to experience Tasmania's southwest wilderness

Love the idea of being suspended in the forest canopy

Are travelling with children or less experienced walkers

Want to make a full day of it with multiple walks included in one entry fee

Are interested in Huon pines and old-growth river forest

What to Expect at the Tahune Airwalk

The Tahune Airwalk is unlike most of Tasmania's 60 Great Short Walks. It sits within a commercial operation, which means there is an entry fee, but that fee gives you access to all the walks on site, making it easy to turn this into a full and very enjoyable day out.

Expect:

• An elevated walkway 30 metres above the forest floor

• A cantilever viewing platform 50-60 metres above the Picton River

• Some movement underfoot, particularly on the cantilever section

• Views over the confluence of the Huon and Picton Rivers

• Glimpses of the World Heritage wilderness beyond

Best Time to Visit the Tahune Airwalk

The Tahune Airwalk is open year-round (excluding Christmas Day), seven days a week from 10am to 4pm, weather permitting.

Summer is the busiest season, with longer days and warmer temperatures making it a popular stop for visitors travelling through the Huon Valley. Arriving early in the day is a good idea during peak periods to avoid crowds on the walkway.

Autumn and spring offer comfortable temperatures and fewer visitors. This is the most ideal time to visit if you are looking for some peace and quiet.

Winter visits are perfectly possible, but check the weather forecast before you go, as the Airwalk closes in high winds and hazardous conditions. On a clear winter day, the forest and rivers are stunning, and you are likely to have the walkway largely to yourself.

Getting There

Tahune Adventures is approximately 1.5 hours south of Hobart. Head down the Huon Highway toward Geeveston, then follow the signs on Arve Road to the site. The road is fully sealed all the way to Tahune Adventures.

A word of warning: GPS coverage is very limited in this area, and some mapping apps will attempt to route you down unsealed gravel roads. Ignore your GPS from Geeveston onwards and follow the brown road signs instead.

There is currently no public transport to Tahune Adventures. If you are travelling without a car, a number of tour operators run day trips from Hobart.

On the Walkway

The walk begins at the visitor centre, where you will ascend a slope to reach the start of the Airwalk itself.

When you first step onto the elevated walkway, the height doesn't feel particularly dramatic. But as you move further along, the forest floor drops away beneath you and quite suddenly you are suspended among the trees. You are not quite at canopy level, but high enough to look down at the forest floor far below, while still needing to crane your neck to spot the treetops above. The further you walk, the more impressive the perspective becomes.

The Cantilever

The undeniable highlight of the Airwalk is the cantilever viewing platform, which extends out over the Picton River at a height of around 50-60 metres above the water. Looking down from here is beautiful, and for those who are nervous about heights, it will likely be the most challenging section of the walk.

Unlike the rest of the walkway, this section has a noticeable amount of movement underfoot, particularly when other visitors are walking back and forth to the viewing area. It is completely safe and the structure is rated to withstand cyclones, but the sensation takes a little getting used to.

Take your time here. The views over the river, the forest, and the wilderness beyond are glorious.

Explore Some More

Your entry ticket includes access to two additional walks on site, both well worth your time. The Huon Pine Walk is a short, wheelchair-accessible stroll along the riverbank to a stand of ancient Huon Pines, some estimated to be over 2000 years old. The Swinging Bridges Track is the longer of the two, crossing a pair of suspension bridges swaying over the Huon and Picton Rivers, passing the ruins of a convict-era hut, and looping back through the forest with a completely different perspective on the landscape you were just looking down at from the Airwalk. Keep an eye out for pademelons hiding in the ferns along the way. For those after an extra hit of adrenaline, the Eagle Hang Glider is available for an additional fee of $22-$25 per person, sending you 400 metres along a cable over the Huon River.