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Deadly walk framed as a 'step count' boost in Tourism Australia post

From ABC Australia · () English

Summarized by DistantNews. Read the original for the full story.

At a glance

News Named sources Context piece
  • Tourism Australia promoted a dangerous bushwalk in Tasmania as a way to increase daily step counts.
  • The Western Arthur Range Traverse is a 58-kilometer trek classified as extremely difficult and has resulted in fatalities.
  • Experts warn that social media posts can misrepresent the risks of challenging outdoor activities.

Tourism Australia has faced criticism for promoting a perilous bushwalk in Tasmania as a simple way to boost daily step counts, potentially downplaying its significant dangers.

In Tassie, upping the daily step count could lead you to multi-day wilderness adventures you can't have anywhere else in the world.

· Tourism Australia Instagram postThe caption accompanying a video of the Western Arthur Range Traverse.

The national tourism agency's official Instagram account featured a reel of the Western Arthur Range Traverse, a 58-kilometer trek through remote wilderness. The caption encouraged viewers to visit the trail to "upping the daily step count." Tasmania's own tourism department commented, stating "the climb is real, but the pay-off is unmatched." However, this framing starkly contrasts with the reality of the challenging five- to nine-day hike.

the climb is real, but the pay-off is unmatched

· Tasmania's tourism departmentComment on Tourism Australia's post about the bushwalk.

Classified as Grade 5, the highest and most difficult rating, the Western Arthur Range Traverse requires specialized skills in navigation and emergency first aid. Tasmania's Parks and Wildlife Service warns that bushwalkers attempting the track should "expect steep cliffs, exposed rock, difficult navigation, heavy packs and unpredictable weather." Crucially, the service also states, "Bushwalkers have died attempting this track," with the most recent fatality occurring in 2024. Numerous rescues have also been documented over the years.

this ain't a walk in the park

· CommenterDescribing the difficulty of the Western Arthur Range Traverse.

Experienced bushwalkers are urging travelers to look beyond social media's curated content. Ross Stephens, vice president of Bushwalking Australia, expressed surprise at Tourism Australia's portrayal, calling the traverse one of Australia's most arduous hikes. He noted that the video failed to depict the true nature of the walk, which is largely rocky, uneven, and steep, and is exposed to severe weather conditions at any time of year. Social media posts, he cautioned, often show only a small, idealized portion of such demanding journeys.

Bushwalkers have died attempting this track.

· Tasmania's Parks and Wildlife ServiceA warning about the dangers of the Western Arthur Range Traverse.
About this summary

Originally published by ABC Australia. Summarized and contextualized automatically by DistantNews, with a note on how the source frames the story. Not individually reviewed before publishing. How this works.

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