Lake St Clair National Park

Lake St Clair, Australia’s deepest natural freshwater lake, lies at the southern end of the iconic Overland Track in Tasmania’s Central Highlands. Carved by ancient glaciers, this wild, moody landscape of silent forests, tannin-stained creeks and dramatic dolerite peaks feels like the edge of the world. It’s a place for walkers, paddlers and anyone craving pure, raw wilderness without the crowds of Cradle Mountain.

Highlights & What to See

• Waterside Walks: The gentle 6 km return Watersmeet Walk traces the lake’s edge through myrtle beech and sassafras rainforest, with boardwalks over button grass plains and views across the lake to Mount Olympus.
• Lake St Clair Cruise: A scenic ferry (the Idaho) crosses the lake to Narcissus Bay, dropping walkers for the Overland Track or simply offering a serene hour-long journey past sheer cliffs and silent coves.
• Shadow Lake Circuit: A 10 km loop rising through alpine heath to a tarn-ringed plateau with panoramic views of the Du Cane Range – less crowded than the Overland Track but equally stunning.
• Paddling the Lake: Kayak or canoe on the mirror-still water; hire gear from the visitor centre and glide past ancient pencil pines reflected in the dark surface.
• Wildlife Watching: Spot platypus at dawn near the visitor centre, wombats grazing on the lawns, and if you’re lucky, a glimpse of the shy Tasmanian devil.

Suggested Time to Spend

Most visitors spend a full day – enough for a morning walk (say, Watersmeet and part of the Shadow Lake Circuit) and the afternoon cruise. If you’re a keen walker, stay two nights: day one for the lake and short walks, day two for a longer hike up Mount Rufus or a paddle across to Narcissus Bay. The park is also the end point of the 6-day Overland Track, so hikers often spend a night at the lodge before heading out.

Nearby Areas Worth Combining

• Cradle Mountain-Lake St Clair National Park: The northern half of the same national park – drive the 2.5-hour scenic route via Mole Creek to experience both ends of the Overland Track.
• Derwent Bridge: The tiny settlement at the park entrance; stop for a pub meal at the Derwent Bridge Hotel or a coffee at the Wilderness Gallery.
• Walls of Jerusalem National Park: A 1.5-hour drive north, this lesser-known park offers wild alpine walking among dolerite ‘walls’ and ancient pencil pine forests.
• Mount Field National Park: 1.5 hours southeast, famous for Russell Falls and the alpine walk to the Tarn Shelf – a perfect contrast to Lake St Clair’s deep lake and rainforest.
• Strahan & Macquarie Harbour: 2 hours west via the Lyell Highway, where you can cruise the Gordon River and explore the remote west coast.

Please check official sources for current details.