StepScape

What is StepScape?

This site is working towards showing every published Tasmanian day walk on a single map.

StepScape is a work in progress, currently showing 2,212 of an estimated 3,000 published bushwalks in Tasmania.

StepScape is also available as an app for iPhone and iPad.

Read about what the StepScape app does differently from this website.

Caution

This site is a list of walks, not a walking guide. Before undertaking any walk, consult the references provided.

Most of the references made every attempt at accuracy but did not guarantee it. Some are books that are now out of print, so information that was once accurate may not remain so. Changes may include:

  • Land becoming private or reserved
  • Tracks being damaged or rehabilitated
  • Road access being blocked
  • Bad weather or bushfires temporarily making a walk unsafe
Sites to check before you walk How do I get started?

Every pin on the map represents a car park with at least one known walk. Click on the pins for information. Or, click on the Filter tab above to only show the walks that interest you.

Every walk includes a References section listing the books, brochures or websites that mention it. Consult those sources for more information.

What are the latest additions?

Latest car park

Mount Saddleback 4WD parking

Latest walk

Mount Saddleback Track by 4WD

Latest change

Added 2WD and 4WD parking options for Mount Saddleback.

Updated on

2023-07-18

Who made this website?

The StepScape website was created by Cowirrie, a small software development company in Launceston. We take information and present it so it is accessible and useful to people. Our other work includes the SepiaScape guide to historic Tasmania and the PBPhonics app for basic English literacy practice.

We have also taken some of these walks ourselves, and written comprehensive walk reports about them.

Data Entry

Jan Horton

Programming

Michael Horton

Maps

Google Maps JavaScript API

Components

jQuery, used under the MIT License

jQuery CSV, used under the MIT License

jQuery UI, used under the MIT License

jQuery UI Touch Punch, used under the MIT License

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Dove Lake bus stop

Nearest Road:Dove Lake Rd
Nearest Town:Cradle Mountain
Locality:Western Highlands
Latitude:S 41° 39′ 2″
Longitude:E 145° 57′ 41″
Elevation:930 m
Fee:Parks Pass
Management:National Park
Road Surface:Sealed
Car Park:Sealed
Water:Mains tap
Toilets:Flush
Toilet Accessibility:Wheelchair
Shelter:Shelter
Picnic Table:Picnic table
Comment:Bus shuttle service from Cradle Mountain Visitor Centre

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16 walks from Dove Lake bus stop

Boat Shed Walk at Dove Lake

Goal:Boat Shed
Grade:Fairly flat
Type:Retrace route
One-way distance:400 m
Return distance:800 m
Comment:Follow track west and take left fork to boat shed on the shores of Dove Lake. Return same way.

References

Pete, Travel with Pete - Walking in Australia and Beyond, Dove Lake 22 Jul 2018

“… we all made our way to the boat shed… played with the rocks by the shore of the lake”

Tyrone Thomas & Andrew Close, 100 Walks in Tasmania, Explore Australia, Page 291, Number 86, Dove Lake Circuit (Lower)

“… a shingled boat shed by the water, which is particularly photogenic.”

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Cradle Mountain Circuit via Lake Rodway

Goal:Lake Rodway
Grade:Some Very Steep
Type:Circuit
One-way distance:15,200 m
Comment:Over Hanson's Peak to Lake Rodway Track , return via OverlandTrack and down to Dove Lake from Marion's Lookout.

References

Tyrone Thomas & Andrew Close, 100 Walks in Tasmania, Explore Australia, Page 309, Number 91, Cradle Mountain Circuit

8 hours circuit
“The most scenic parts fo the northern end of the National Park”

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Cradle Mountain Summit Circuit

Goal:Cradle Mountain Summit
Grade:Some steep
Type:Circuit
One-way distance:13,000 m
Comment:From Dove Lake to Cradle Summit via Marions Lookout. Return via Face Track and Lake Wilks

References

Parks & Wildlife Service Tasmania, Parks & Wildlife Service Website - Explore our Parks, P&WS, Number 32, Cradle Summit

8 hours retrace route
“… a long, steep and sometimes difficult track to the sumit of a beautifully picturesque mountain.”

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Crater Lake Circuit, returning via Lake Lilla Track

Goal:Crater Lake
Grade:Some steep
Type:Circuit
One-way distance:6,000 m
Comment:Dove Lake to Wombat Pool and Crater Lake, Crater Falls out to Cradle Valley, to return via Lake Lilla Track

References

Parks & Wildlife Service Tasmania, Parks & Wildlife Service Website - Explore our Parks, P&WS, Number 31, Crater Lake Circuit

2 hours circuit
“… a series of delighfully different alpine lakes…”

Jan Hardy & Bert Elson, Family Walks in Northwest Tasmania, Hillside Publishing, Page 66, Number 27, Lake Lilla and Wombat Pool

2 hours 30 minutes circuit retrace
“Particularly pleasant in the early morning with the sun glistening on the cobwebs n the buttongrass”

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Dove Lake Circuit Track

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:Ballroom Forest
Grade:Moderate
Type:Circuit
One-way distance:5,700 m
Comment:Circuit around Dove Lake close to shoreline for most of the way

References

Jan Hardy & Bert Elson, Family Walks in Northwest Tasmania, Hillside Publishing, Page 62, Number 25, Dove Lake Circuit

2 hours 30 minutes circuit
“…a complete circuit of the lake without a hefty climb.”

Parks & Wildlife Service Tasmania, Parks & Wildlife Service Website - Explore our Parks, P&WS, Number 29, Dove Lake Circuit

3 hours circuit
“Please walk in a clockwise direction.”

John and Monica Chapman, Short Walks Northern Tasmania, John Chapman, Page 187, Number 24, 24 Dove Lake Circuit

2 hours circuit
“To get to the start at Ronny Creek, take the shuttle bus.”

Tyrone Thomas & Andrew Close, 100 Walks in Tasmania, Explore Australia, Page 291, Number 86, Dove Lake Circuit (Lower)

2 hours circuit
“… arrows subtly aiming to get everyone moving clockwise to ease congestion on busy summer days”

Pete, Travel with Pete - Walking in Australia and Beyond, The Dove Lake Circuit 21 July 2018

2 hours circuit
“I tried to drive to the lake but was unable to get past boom gate due to high traffic … took shuttle”

John Chapman and Monica Chapman, Day Walks Tasmania, John Chapman, Page 164, Number 36

2 hours circuit
“… an almost level walk around the lake.”

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Dove Lake High-level Circuit

Goal:Kitchen Hut
Grade:Some steep
Type:Circuit
One-way distance:7,000 m
Comment:Dove Lake circuit via Hansons Peak, Face Track, and Marions Lookout

References

Jan Hardy & Bert Elson, Family Walks in Northwest Tasmania, Hillside Publishing, Page 62, Number 25, Dove Lake High-level Circuit

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Dove Lake Upper Circuit

Goal:Lake Wilks
Grade:Some Very Steep
Type:Circuit
One-way distance:7,200 m
Comment:Dove Lake Circuit via Lake Wilks, Face track and Hansons Peak

References

Tyrone Thomas & Andrew Close, 100 Walks in Tasmania, Explore Australia, Page 294, Number 87, Dove Lake Circuit (Upper)

3 hours circuit
“… Lake Wilks, which is a glacier formed, hanging lake.”

Pete, Travel with Pete - Walking in Australia and Beyond, Mt Campbell & Hansons Peak

“… the Face track runs directly along the face of Cradle Mountain.”

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Glacier Rock Walk at Dove Lake

Goal:Glacier Rock
Grade:Moderate
Type:Retrace route
One-way distance:300 m
Return distance:600 m
Comment:Short walk to east of Dove Lake to Glacier Rock and return

References

Tyrone Thomas & Andrew Close, 100 Walks in Tasmania, Explore Australia, Page 291, Number 86, Dove Lake Circuit (Lower)

“A gateway for access as great care needs to be taken if you walk on it.”

Pete, Travel with Pete - Walking in Australia and Beyond, The Dove Lake Circuit 21 July 2018

“… Glacier Rock fenced off for construction/safety purposes”

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Hansons Peak and Twisted Lakes Walk

Goal:Twisted Lakes
Grade:Some Very Steep
Type:Circuit
One-way distance:6,000 m
Comment:Lake Rodway Track over Hansons Peak to Twisted Lakes. Return via Twisted Lakes Track.

References

Jan Hardy & Bert Elson, Family Walks in Northwest Tasmania, Hillside Publishing, Page 64, Number 26, Hansons Peak and Twisted Lakes

3 hours 30 minutes

Pete, Travel with Pete - Walking in Australia and Beyond, Mt Campbell & Hansons Peak

“The final section of the ascent to Hansons Peak is very steep - poles & chains have been installed..”

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Hansons Peak Walk

Goal:Hansons Peak summit
Grade:Some steep
Type:Retrace route
One-way distance:2,000 m
Return distance:4,000 m
Comment:To Hansons Peak on Lake Rodway Track. Return same way.

References

Jan Hardy & Bert Elson, Family Walks in Northwest Tasmania, Hillside Publishing, Page 64, Number 26, Hansons Peak and Twisted Lakes

Pete, Travel with Pete - Walking in Australia and Beyond, Mt Campbell & Hansons Peak

“The final section of the ascent to Hansons Peak is very steep - poles & chains have been installed..”

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Lake Lilla Walk from Dove Lake and return

Goal:Lake Lilla
Grade:Fairly flat
Type:Retrace route
One-way distance:750 m
Return distance:1,500 m
Comment:Dove Lake bus stop to Lake Lilla and return

References

Jan Hardy & Bert Elson, Family Walks in Northwest Tasmania, Hillside Publishing, Page 66, Number 27, Lake Lilla and Wombat Pool

“… the easters side of Lake Lilla through forest featuring King Billy pines.”

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Little Horn Walk via circuit of Dove Lake

Goal:Little Horn summit
Grade:Some steep
Type:Circuit
One-way distance:8,000 m
Comment:Head out over Hansons Peak, along Face Track to Little Horn Track. Return back to Face Track, down Lake Wilks Track and the west side of Dove Lake Ct.

References

Mark Dickenson, Chris Howard, Greg Rubock, Day Walks in Tasmania, Envirobook, Page 26, Number 7, Little Horn

7 hours circuit
“…small cone that is the north-eastern extension of the Cradle Mountain massif.”

website, Bushwalk Australia, Little Horn 30October 2011

“… very steep, slightly overgrown, but easy to follow.”

Tastracks - A comprehensive Guide to Tasmanian walking tracks, Little Horn Track 11 Dec 2011

“This short track is 200 m long and climbs 300m from the Face Track.”

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Marions Lookout Circuit via Wombat Pool

Goal:Marions Lookout
Grade:Some Very Steep
Type:Circuit
One-way distance:4,900 m
Comment:Dove Lake to Marions Lookout via Wombat Pool. Return down Marions Lookout Track to Dove Lake

References

Tyrone Thomas & Andrew Close, 100 Walks in Tasmania, Explore Australia, Page 315, Number 92, Lake Lilla - Wombat Pool

2 hours 30 minutes circuit
“a really special loop walk”

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Mount Campbell Walk

Goal:Mount Campbell summit
Grade:Long climb
Type:Retrace route
One-way distance:2,000 m
Return distance:4,000 m
Comment:Lake Rodway Track from Dove Lake, then Mt Campbell track summit. Return same route

References

Rockmonkey Adventures, Campbell, Little Horn, Emmett (and Cradle again!)

“Campbell summit cairn, and 'lonely huddle' of pines.”

Louise Fairfax, Naturelover's Walks, Gussy Climbs Mt Campbell

“It didn't seem too steep or too demanding or too long…”

Pete, Travel with Pete - Walking in Australia and Beyond, Mt Campbell & Hansons Peak

“… there are a number of obvious paths to the top of Mount Campbell.”

Bill Wilkinson, The Abels - Tasmania's Mountains over 1100m high, 1 ed., The Tasmanian Outdoors Collection, Page 17, Number 1, The North - West

1 hour 30 minutes retrace route
“… summit reveals an expansive view.”

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Truganini Point Walk at Dove Lake

Goal:Truganini Point
Grade:Moderate
Type:Retrace route
One-way distance:1,000 m
Return distance:2,000 m
Comment:Continue Past Glacier Rock to the little beach at Truganini Point. Return.

References

Tyrone Thomas & Andrew Close, 100 Walks in Tasmania, Explore Australia, Page 291, Number 86, Dove Lake Circuit (Lower)

“The vegetation is quite attractive and some rocks have glacial striations”

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Wombat Pool Walk

Goal:Wombat Pool
Grade:Moderate
Type:Retrace route
One-way distance:550 m
Return distance:1,100 m
Comment:From Dove Lake past Lake Lilla to Wombat Pool and return

References

Jan Hardy & Bert Elson, Family Walks in Northwest Tasmania, Hillside Publishing, Page 66, Number 27, Lake Lilla and Wombat Pool

1 hour retrace route
“This small tarn is quite beautiful, with its pencil pines and reflections.”

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