Want to Hike the Tarkine Forest? Why Not Raise Money for Disaster Hit Families at the Same Time?

Keen to raise money for an important cause? Forget fasting challenges, this organisation is letting you hike takanya / the Tarkine Forest while raising funds for disaster-hit families all around the world. 

We Are Explorers are big fans of epic hikes, but let’s face it, hiking is usually something that we do to satiate a need for connection with the outdoors and grow our own personal sense of achievement. If there was a way to hike for the good of others, we’d be shouting ‘take our money’ from the rooftops. 

Enter ShelterBox, a 23-year-old disaster relief organisation offering hikers, adventure lovers, and philanthropists alike the chance to tackle one of Tassie’s most epic and iconic regions – takanya / the Tarkine – while raising funds to supply emergency shelter and essential aid all around the globe. 

So, who is ShelterBox?

In 2000, members of a Rotary Club in Cornwall, England watched on as hundreds of families were left with nothing after multiple disasters across the world. Wanting to find a way to help, they launched what would become ShelterBox – an organisation that sends aid, clothes, and shelter to regions hit by hurricanes, earthquakes, conflicts, droughts, cyclones, and more.

Cyclone Harold Vanuatu

With an original aim to help out 8-10 families a year, they quickly surpassed their goal and now, 23 years later, have provided emergency shelter and disaster relief to over 2.5 million people in 97 different countries. The 2004 Boxing Day Tsunami, the 2010 Haiti earthquake, and Typhoon Haiyan in the Philippines are just a few of the disasters where they’ve helped provide relief; and more recently, the Turkiye/Syria earthquakes and the ongoing war in Ukraine.

With natural disasters, climate change, and conflicts becoming an ever-growing issue across the world, the need for emergency shelter is more urgent than ever. 

How do they help the affected communities?

After a disaster hits, the rebuilding of lives and communities can seem like an impossible task. After losing everything, including your home, how does one begin to imagine where to start rebuilding – particularly with limited resources? That’s where ShelterBox comes in. 

After assessing the emergency situation and the needs of communities, ShelterBox provides emergency shelter items, such as tents, tarpaulins, and tool kits. It also supports people with essential items like solar lights, blankets, mosquito nets, water filters, and kitchen sets. It provides support in other ways too, providing cash assistance and training, where appropriate. This gives the charity more options to support communities to recover depending on their situation.

Supplying much-needed equipment after Cyclone Harold, Vanuatu

The mission, should you choose to accept it…

By signing up for the takanya / Tarkine Hike this October, you’ll also be committing to raising $3000 to support ShelterBox. 

You’ll have regular support, and fundraising ideas from Inspired Adventures’ fundraising team, who’ll help you make a fundraising plan to meet your target.

The five-day hiking adventure kicks off in Launceston traversing approximately 43km of wild and ancient rainforests, craggy coastlines, and spectacular mountains alongside alongside 10-20 like-minded hikers and supporters. 

Hike some of the most ancient, scenic routes in Tasmania

The hikes are ranked a 3-5 difficulty, so no extensive trekking experience is required but it’s expected that Explorers are relatively fit and willing to train a little before the adventure begins. 

Kicking off from Launceston on Monday, 16th of October 2023, you’ll enjoy a scenic drive to the seaside town of Penguin (ah, cute!) for a little morning tea. The hike kicks off at Hellyer Gorge for a relatively easy 9km hike traversing the stunning takanya / Tarkine, including a stop at Philosophers Falls, before settling into the lodge in Corinna – your home for the next three nights.

From here you’ll experience Whytes River Walk, a boat ride down Pieman River and out onto the spectacular Tarkine Coast, a stay in a former hydro village nestled amidst rugged mountains, and a visit to Montezuma Falls – the highest single drop falls in Tasmania – among many other awe-inspiring mountain hikes. 

Check out the full itinerary for yourself.

The Important Bits

Dates: 16th – 20th October 2023 

Cost: $3,486 AUD paid in instalments to cover accommodation, meals, guides, and transfers

Fundraising goal: $3000 per person 

Includes:

• Transfers as per itinerary
• Lodge-style accommodation (twin-share)
• Meals as per itinerary
• A local guide
• Entrance fees as per itinerary

Doesn’t include:

• Airfares
• Airport transfers
• Travel insurance (highly recommended)
• Personal expenses such as soft drinks and alcoholic beverages
• Tips and gratuities

Can’t do the hike, but still want to help?

If you’re not up to the hike or simply can’t make the dates work, you can still donate – we all know that every cent counts. 

You can choose your own donation or select from up to $1000 to buy a complete Shelter Box or as little as $30 to buy a family a solar light. 

It’s not very often an opportunity arises to hike one of Tasmania’s most iconic and breathtaking regions. It’s even rarer to get the chance to do it while raising funds for those in need. But that’s exactly what ShelterBox offers and honestly, we’re stoked to be shouting their mission from our digital rooftop. 

Images supplied by ShelterBox