Scouting the Tassie Traverse (Video)

Tasmania, or “Tassie,” as it’s known in Australia, is a playground of gravel roads, forestry byways, rail trails, and 4WD tracks, offering endless options for bikepackers keen to explore its wild and varied landscapes. The idea for a new long-distance bikepacking route had been in the back of my mind for a long time. As I rode different parts of the state, I would mentally connect one section to another, imagining how a route might take shape. I wanted to link Tasmania’s two largest cities and take riders past some of the most iconic and beautiful places that Tassie has to offer but make it rideable on a gravel bike and give riders ample places to eat and resupply.

• 
• 
• 

• 
• 

It stayed just an idea until December 2024, when friends Roxy and Tommy (@roxyandtommyontheroad) came to visit. They’d come to ride the Tasmanian Trail and had loads of questions about how to detour and explore other parts of the island. Their curiosity made me realise it was time to bring the idea to life.

Since then, the route has evolved, and it’s still evolving as I map and ride different sections. Some links were straightforward, and others needed trial and error (and a few failures), but with the help of people like Emma Flukes, the line on the map slowly turned into a real trail.

“Scouting the Tassie Traverse” is a six-day ride to test the northern and eastern sections, making sure that what looks good on paper actually works on the ground.

• 
• 

There’ s still a lot of work to be done on the Tassie Traverse before sharing more, but until then, you can follow Mick on YouTube and Instagram to stay in the loop. We’ll share more when it’s ready to ride!

Further Reading

Make sure to dig into these related articles for more info...