Port Davy & South Coast Track Extended Walk
Combining the Port Davey Track and the South Coast Track produces a wonderful 2 week remote bushwalk. Port Davey ends at Melaleuca and South Coast starts at Melaleuca.
Melaleuca is a remote disused family mining facility. There is the two old family residences, the Orange Bellied Parrot observation area, and the dirt runway. There are about three huts; one for a ranger in summer and two for bushwalkers. Each hut has bunk type racks for about eight people, a cooking shelf, and table and chairs. There is an excellent campground, a tourist 1km boarded walk, the airfield and a small building at the airfield.
Resupply at Melaleuca. Par Avion airlines fly into the Melaleuca airfield. In peak summer flights are several times per day bringing in/out day trippers and walkers. Bushwalkers needing additional supplies pack up a food box and leave it with Par Avion at their Cambridge airfield site (near Hobart airport) and pilots will deliver it to Melaleuca. Costs about $5 – $6 per kg. They will not bring stove fuel, however they have a shipping container at the airfield and can sell propane gas.
Communications Melaleuca. There is no personal communications (no phone signal or wifi). Flights arrive ad hoc. The summer volunteer Ranger has a radio for emergency use only. If continuing on from the Port Davey Track along the South Coast Track, I ask someone departing to carry my trash out and ask that person to SMS my wife ‘all is ok’, when they arrive in Hobart.
Rest Day. Arriving on the Port Davey track, it is good to have a rest / clean up day at Melaleuca. Dry out, get some calories and rest, and repack with resupply. Or do a day walk up one of the many peaks in the area.
People Joining South Coast Walk. Mostly Par Avion flies tourists in on the morning flights (the pilot is the pilot, guide, boat operator, chef etc for tourists), thus incoming walkers do not arrive until mid to late afternoon. Departing, or not departing that day, on a 3-4 hour walk to the first campsite on the South Coast track; depends on arrival time.
Par Avion Airlines. The airline flies small 6-8 seat passenger aircraft. They are very aware of bushwalkers changing conditions, such as sickness / fitness issues / arriving late or early at Melaleuca, so changing flights depends on available seats on the aircraft. Thus walkers arriving on the Port Davey track can amend their travel (via the pilot). Also walkers wanting to travel into Melaleuca can amend their travel to arrive early if desired.