Mount Amos — Attraction in Freycinet

If you are just a casual hiker, I would describe this hike as "difficult," if you are experienced and recently came from Mt Anne, it's actually quite short and moderate. The day we went to Mt Amos, a Park Ranger stopped us and warned us about the walk; the Ranger advised the trail would be slippery "like glass." Of course, having a thirst for adventuring, we decided to give it a try anyway.

The walk is about 6 - 7km return with quite a hefty Elevation. Even if you are an experienced hiker, you'll be on all fours for sections of this trail. We hiked the day after a lot of rain, and when the slope is wet, the traction around the lower to mid section is quite poor. The next section mid-way toward the top of the summit is a bit of a rock scramble that may require you to have three points of contact in the rock crevasses due to the steepness.

Despite having a bit of a cardiovascular workout as you navigate the slope up, turn around and you are rewarded with absolutely breath-taking views of the bay behind you. When you get to the top, you are rewarded with possibly the most amazing views Freycinet has to offer. The main walking track that leads to the popular tourist lookout is about 200m Elevation BELOW you. This is the moment you realise that your efforts having given you an experience most casual walkers just won't ever understand.

The walk down is more like a "slide" in sections. Be prepared for this by wearing hiking pants that are hard-wearing or exercise pants you don't care about.

I'd recommend steering clear of trail runners and wearing hiking shoes for this one. The surfaces are very rocky and you'll feel like your trail runners...

The Mt Amos climb is a hard yet rewarding hike. The majority of the climb is a rock scramble up rock faces that are slippery when dry, do not attempt when raining, it will be impossible.

You will be using all four limbs to summit the mountain, and it has sections that will not suit those afraid of heights, i witness a number of panic attacks on the way up and down presumably from hikers who had not researched prior.

If you come prepared with good grippy hiking shoes, and at least 2 litres of water you can expect: 2 hours up, 2 hours down from the Wineglass Bay carpark. Unrivalled views from the top in all directions. Several rock scrambles and slippery rock face climbs on very steep sections. You will need to be on hands and feet to get up these. The track is marked by yellow arrows fixed to the rocks, these are easy to follow. Don't forget to admire the view, its easy to forget about it as you're focusing on not slipping off the cliff.

Don't let this put you off, it is an amazing climb and very rewarding. If you go slow and have the right shoes with moderate fitness you can do it!

Don't forget to visit the nearby lighthouse before/after for a really nice flat...

The climb itself (I wouldn’t call it a hike as such!) is difficult. They’re not kidding when they say you’ll be on your hands and knees going up and your butt coming back down!

It IS slippery even when dry, you’ll need good walking boots to support your feet and ankles because twisting your ankle is a very big probability.

The view from the top is incredible, honestly one of the best hikes I’ve done in Australia so far.

Things that were said during the climb “My god, how did we get up here, there’s no way we a get back down”

“I’m going down that on my Butt for sure”

“Jesus Christ that’s slippery”

“Shit, think I twisted my ankle”

“Shit that’s steep”

“No seriously, how the heck did we get up here?!”

“Okay there’s no way I can go down that, I know I came up it but I can’t go back down”

“Someone call the helicopter to...