Cynthia Bay Visitor Centre car park
| Nearest Road: | Lake St Clair Rd |
|---|---|
| Nearest Town: | Derwent Bridge |
| Locality: | Central Highlands |
| Latitude: | S 42° 7′ 1″ |
| Longitude: | E 146° 10′ 41″ |
| Elevation: | 740 m |
| Fee: | Parks Pass |
| Management: | National Park |
| Road Surface: | Sealed |
| Car Park: | Good unsealed |
| Water: | Tap if open |
| Toilets: | Flush |
| Shelter: | Shelter |
| Picnic Table: | Picnic table |
| Comment: | There is a large parking area at Cynthia Bay. Select a spot suitable for where and how long you are staying. |
15 walks from Cynthia Bay Visitor Centre car park
Cynthia Bay Jetty Walk
| Goal: | Cynthia Bay Jetty |
|---|---|
| Grade: | Fairly flat |
| Type: | Retrace route |
| One-way distance: | 250 m |
| Return distance: | 500 m |
| Comment: | Walk right from the front of the visitor centre to visit the jetty. Return by path, or along the lake. |
References
Parks & Wildlife Service Tasmania, Parks and Wildlife Services Website, P&WS, Lake Walk
“A gentle stroll around the lake shore at Cynthia Bay will suit just about everyone.”
Tags
Forgotten Lake Walk
| Goal: | Forgotten Lake |
|---|---|
| Grade: | Moderate |
| Type: | Retrace route |
| One-way distance: | 6,000 m |
| Return distance: | 12,000 m |
| Comment: | To Forgotten Lake via Watersmeet and Shadow Lake then continue on Little Hugel Track to Forgotten Lake. Return the same way. |
References
Jan Hardy & Bert Elson, 1994, 50 Family Walks in and around Hobart, Hillside Publishing, 326 Murray St, Hobart, 7000, Page 72, Number 30, Shadow Lake and Forgotten Lake
4 hours retrace route
“Excellellent view of Mt Hugel and Mt Rufus loom up beyond the lake.”
Tyrone Thomas & Andrew Close, 2008, 100 Walks in Tasmania, Explore Australia, Page 326, Number 95, Lake St Clair - Forgotten Lake
“A very muddy pad Leads … up Mt Little Hugel, but this is not recommended.”
Parks & Wildlife Service Tasmania, Parks and Wildlife Services Website, P&WS, Shadow and Forgotten Lakes
6 hours retrace route
“… suitable for families as long as suitable clothing is worn.”
Peter Franklin, 2013, Bushwalk Track Notes, Cynthia Bay - Shadow Lake - Little Hugel
4 hours retrace route
“… good boardwalk built over a wet buttongrass plain… that was once an unpleasant section.”
Tags
Forgotten Lake Walk via Shadow Lake Circuit
| Goal: | Forgotten Lake |
|---|---|
| Grade: | Moderate |
| Type: | CircuitRetrace |
| One-way distance: | 15,000 m |
| Comment: | Follow Shadow Lake Circuit. At Shadow Lake, take Little Hugel Track to Forgotten Lake and return. Continue circuit. |
References
2015, Tastrails, TasTrails, Shadow Lake Circuit - July 1, 2014
4 hours 40 minutes circuit
“… a 40 minute return side track along raised board walk takes you to Forgotten Lake…”
Tags
Lake St Clair Lake Walk
| Goal: | Frankland Beaches Pt |
|---|---|
| Grade: | Fairly flat |
| Type: | Retrace route |
| One-way distance: | 1,500 m |
| Return distance: | 3,000 m |
| Comment: | From Visitor Centre, walk to the lake shore. Turn right (east) and walk around the lake shore as far as you wish to explore. |
References
Parks & Wildlife Service Tasmania, Parks and Wildlife Services Website, P&WS, Lake Walk
“Walk as far as you want to go.”
Tags
Lake St Clair Lookout Walk at Visitor Centre
| Goal: | Lake St Clair Lookout |
|---|---|
| Grade: | Fairly flat |
| Type: | Retrace route |
| One-way distance: | 100 m |
| Return distance: | 200 m |
| Comment: | There is a lookout on the short of the lake in front of the visitor centre and clar of the trees. |
References
Parks & Wildlife Service Tasmania, Parks and Wildlife Services Website, P&WS, Lake Walk
“… panoramas of Mount Olympus… and of the Traveller Range and Mounts Rufus and Hugul.”
Tags
Lake St Clair Walk
| Goal: | Platypus Bay |
|---|---|
| Grade: | Moderate |
| Type: | Circuit |
| One-way distance: | 4,700 m |
| Comment: | Figure 8 shape walk via Larmairremener tabelti walk and the Platypus Bay walk. |
References
Parks & Wildlife Service Tasmania, 60 Great Short Walks Tasmania, Website, Number 18, Lake St Clair
1 hour 30 minutes circuit
Tyrone Thomas & Andrew Close, 2008, 100 Walks in Tasmania, Explore Australia, Page 324, Number 94, Watersmeet - Platypus Bay
2 hours circuit
Tags
Larmairremener tabelti Walk
| Goal: | Aboriginal interpretive walk returning via Watersmeet track |
|---|---|
| Grade: | Moderate |
| Type: | Circuit |
| One-way distance: | 2,500 m |
| Comment: | To Watersmeet on Overland Track, return on Larmairremener tabelti Track, Mt Rufus Track. |
References
Parks & Wildlife Service Tasmania, 60 Great Short Walks Tasmania, Website, Number 18, Lake St Clair
Tyrone Thomas & Andrew Close, 2008, 100 Walks in Tasmania, Explore Australia, Page 324, Number 94, Watersmeet - Platypus Bay
“Aboriginal cultural walk”
Parks & Wildlife Service Tasmania, Parks and Wildlife Services Website, P&WS, Platypus Bay and Larmairremener Tabelti - Aboriginal cultural walk
“Continue on from Watersmeet”
Lake St Clair - Pumphouse Point - Tasmania, Lake St Clair - Pumphouse Point - Tasmania, F - Larmairremener tabelti walk
“… creative interpretation panels to introduce the Larmairremener, the indigenous people …”
Tags
Little Hugel Circuit Walk
Caution
This site is a list of walks, not a walking guide. Before undertaking any walk, consult the references below.
For additional information about safe walking in Tasmania, go to the StepScape tab.
| Goal: | Little Hugel |
|---|---|
| Grade: | Some Very Steep |
| Type: | CircuitRetrace |
| One-way distance: | 17,500 m |
| Comment: | Take Shadow Lake Circuit route, but from Forgotten Lake continue on to Little Hugel. Return and continue circuit. |
References
John Chapman and Monica Chapman, 2012, Day Walks Tasmania, 2 ed., John Chapman PO Box 5042, Laburnum, Vic 3130, Page 88, Number 17, 17 - Mt Rufus Circuit
6 hours circuit
“… include the 2.6km side trip to the summit of Little Hugel.”
Tags
Little Hugel Walk
| Goal: | Little Hugel |
|---|---|
| Grade: | Some Very Steep |
| Type: | Retrace route |
| One-way distance: | 9,000 m |
| Return distance: | 18,000 m |
| Comment: | Take track out past Shadow Lake and Forgotten Lake and then on up track to Little Hugel. Return same way. |
References
Lake St Clair - Pumphouse Point - Tasmania, Lake St Clair - Pumphouse Point - Tasmania, I - Little Hugel Walk
4 hours 20 minutes retrace route
“… intermediate walk with some challenging boulder hopping involved…”
Peter Franklin, 2013, Bushwalk Track Notes, Cynthia Bay - Shadow Lake - Little Hugel
5 hours 30 minutes retrace route
“… until the rock scree is reached. It is then a clamber up the rocks to the summit.”
Tags
Mount Rufus Circuit
| Goal: | Mount Rufus Summit |
|---|---|
| Grade: | Long climb |
| Type: | Circuit |
| One-way distance: | 18,000 m |
| Comment: | Mt Rufus Track to summit, return via Mt Rufus Circuit Track and Shadow Lake Track. |
References
Parks & Wildlife Service Tasmania, 60 Great Short Walks Tasmania, Website, Number 19, Mt Rufus
7 hours circuit
Tyrone Thomas & Andrew Close, 2008, 100 Walks in Tasmania, Explore Australia, Page 329, Number 96, Lake St Clair - Mt Rufus
8 hours circuit
“One day, hard”
Parks & Wildlife Service Tasmania, Parks and Wildlife Services Website, P&WS, Mt Rufus Circuit
7 hours circuit
“… a more demanding walk that takes 7 hours.”
Mark Dickenson, Chris Howard, Greg Rubock, Day Walks in Tasmania, Envirobook, The Gloucester Walk, 88 Cumberland St, Sydney, NSW, 2000, Page 58, Number 26, 26 - Mount Rufus
7 hours circuit
“…provides a genuine alpine experience on a well-marked and generally clear track.”
John Chapman and Monica Chapman, 2012, Day Walks Tasmania, 2 ed., John Chapman PO Box 5042, Laburnum, Vic 3130, Page 88, Number 5, 17-Mt Rufus Circuit
7 hours circuit
“An anti-clockwise direction …. so that south-westerly wind come from behind while on summit ridge.”
Wild Tiger - Bushwalking and mountaineering Tasmania. Real people, wild adventures., Wildtiger Blog team, Mount Rufus - April 7, 2006
7 hours circuit
“There were some interesting sandstone rock formations on the lower slopes.”
Peter Franklin, 2013, Bushwalk Track Notes, Shadow Lake - Mt Rufus
5 hours 40 minutes retrace route
“At the summit cairn there is a route east back to Cynthia Bay or south to Rufus Canal Rd.”
Tags
Mount Rufus Walk
| Goal: | Mt Rufus summit |
|---|---|
| Grade: | Long climb |
| Type: | Retrace route |
| One-way distance: | 7,500 m |
| Return distance: | 15,000 m |
| Comment: | Start on Watersmeet Track. Turn left to Mt Rufus track to summit. Return by same route |
References
Tyrone Thomas & Andrew Close, 2008, 100 Walks in Tasmania, Explore Australia, Page 329, Number 96, Lake St Clair - Mt Rufus
Parks & Wildlife Service Tasmania, 60 Great Short Walks Tasmania, Website, Number 19, Mt Rufus
“An easily accessible mountain walk”
Lake St Clair - Pumphouse Point - Tasmania, Lake St Clair - Pumphouse Point - Tasmania, H - Mt Rufus Walk
7 hours retrace route
“… breathtaking panoramic views over the western wilderness…”
Mark Dickenson, Chris Howard, Greg Rubock, Day Walks in Tasmania, Envirobook, The Gloucester Walk, 88 Cumberland St, Sydney, NSW, 2000, Page 58, Number 26, 26 - Mount Rufus
“… you can return via the same route…”
John Chapman and Monica Chapman, 2012, Day Walks Tasmania, 2 ed., John Chapman PO Box 5042, Laburnum, Vic 3130, Page 88, Number 17, 17 - Mt Rufus Circuit
6 hours retrace route
“The summit of Mt Rufus is marked by a large cairn”
Tags
Platypus Bay Circuit
| Goal: | Platypus Bay, added on to Watersmeet walk |
|---|---|
| Grade: | Moderate |
| Type: | CircuitRetrace |
| One-way distance: | 4,000 m |
| Comment: | From Visitors Centre to Watersmeet on Overland Track, then Platypus Bay Circuit and return. |
References
Parks & Wildlife Service Tasmania, 60 Great Short Walks Tasmania, Website, Number 18, Lake St Clair
Tyrone Thomas & Andrew Close, 2008, 100 Walks in Tasmania, Explore Australia, Page 324, Number 94, Watersmeet - Platypus Bay
“The best times to see a platypus would be early and late in the day”
2015, Tastrails, TasTrails, Page 4, Number 4, Platypus Bay
1 hour 30 minutes circuitretrace
“… you may be able to spot the local platypi during twilight hours.”
Parks & Wildlife Service Tasmania, Parks and Wildlife Services Website, P&WS, Platypus Bay and Larmairremener Tabelti - Aboriginal cultural walk
“… wide uninterupted views across the lake to the Traveller Range.”
Tags
Shadow Lake Circuit
| Goal: | Shadow Lake |
|---|---|
| Grade: | Moderate |
| Type: | Circuit |
| One-way distance: | 11,500 m |
| Comment: | To Shadow Lake via Watersmeet and return via Shadow Lake Circuit Track and Mt Rufus Track. Or vice versa. |
References
Parks & Wildlife Service Tasmania, 60 Great Short Walks Tasmania, Website, Number 20, Shadow Lake Circuit
4 hours circuit
Tyrone Thomas & Andrew Close, 2008, 100 Walks in Tasmania, Explore Australia, Page 326, Number 95, Lake St Clair - Forgotten Lake
5 hours circuit
“There are pockets of rainforest in gullies, alpine sedge, button grass plain and sub-alpine woodland”
2015, Tastrails, TasTrails, Page 1, Number 4, Shadow Lake Circuit
4 hours circuit
“Shadow Lake itself is beautiful and provides a picturesque”
John Chapman and Monica Chapman, 2012, Day Walks Tasmania, 2 ed., John Chapman PO Box 5042, Laburnum, Vic 3130, Page 88, Number 17, 17 - Mt Rufus Circuit
5 hours circuit
“Recommended if the summit of Mt Rufus is under cloud.”
2015, Tastrails, TasTrails, Shadow Lake Circuit - July 1, 2014
4 hours circuit
“… a brilliant family walk that highlights just some of the unique and beautiful landscape…”
Peter Franklin, 2013, Bushwalk Track Notes, Shadow Lake - Rufus Track Link
3 hours 40 minutes retrace route
“This (link) traqck is relatively new having been put in somewhere close to year 2000.”
Tags
Shadow Lake Walk
| Goal: | Shadow Lake |
|---|---|
| Grade: | Moderate |
| Type: | Retrace route |
| One-way distance: | 4,500 m |
| Return distance: | 9,000 m |
| Comment: | To Shadow Lake via Watersmeet and return |
References
Jan Hardy & Bert Elson, 1994, 50 Family Walks in and around Hobart, Hillside Publishing, 326 Murray St, Hobart, 7000, Page 72, Number 30, Shadow Lake and Forgotten Lake
“Well-made track, only gently climbing, beautiful lake and mountain views.”
Tyrone Thomas & Andrew Close, 2008, 100 Walks in Tasmania, Explore Australia, Page 326, Number 95, Lake St Clair - Forgotten Lake
“A straightforward 4km walk, basically up a ridge on the Shadow Lake Track.”
Peter Franklin, 2013, Bushwalk Track Notes, Cynthia Bay - Shadow Lake - Little Hugel
3 hours retrace route
“Beaches of brownish gravelly sand are on the northern side.”
Tags
Watersmeet Walk
| Goal: | Hugel Bridge |
|---|---|
| Grade: | Flat |
| Type: | Retrace route |
| One-way distance: | 1,200 m |
| Return distance: | 2,400 m |
| Comment: | Overland Track to Hugel Bridge at Watersmeet and return |
References
Parks & Wildlife Service Tasmania, 60 Great Short Walks Tasmania, Website, Number 18, Lake St Clair
Tyrone Thomas & Andrew Close, 2008, 100 Walks in Tasmania, Explore Australia, Page 324, Number 94, Watersmeet - Platypus Bay
“… the rushing crystal-clear waters of the Hugel River…”
2015, Tastrails, TasTrails, Page 5, Number 4, Watersmeet Nature Trail
45 minutes retrace route
“… ends where the Cuvier and Hugel rivers join before feeding into Lake St Clair.”
Parks & Wildlife Service Tasmania, Parks and Wildlife Services Website, P&WS, Watersmeet
1 hour retrace route
“This easy walk follows the crest of a glacial moraine…”