Blizzard conditions can occur with little warning, at any time of year, so walkers should be prepared for sudden and severe weather changes.
Lake Perry is a short but demanding walk of around 3.2 kilometres in Hartz Mountains National Park in southern Tasmania. While the distance suggests an easy outing, this grade 4 hike typically takes about 1.5 hours and feels far more serious once you leave the main track. It suits experienced hikers who are comfortable with rough terrain, changing conditions, and making navigation decisions as they go.
The walk begins on the well-formed Lake Osborne track, a popular and straightforward stroll that gently introduces the alpine landscape of the Hartz Mountains. Beyond Lake Osborne, the character of the walk changes quickly. The track to Lake Perry branches off and becomes much rougher, narrower, and increasingly overgrown. Footpads can fade without warning, vegetation closes in, and sections may be muddy or waterlogged, particularly after rain. Progress can be slow, and some light bush-bashing is often unavoidable.
Navigation skills are essential on this section, and a GPS is strongly recommended. The route is not consistently obvious, and markers can be easy to miss in thick scrub such as scoparia. Steeper climbs and uneven ground add to the challenge, especially in poor weather when visibility drops and the terrain becomes slippery.
For those prepared for the effort, Lake Perry offers a quiet and rewarding destination. The small alpine lake sits in a remote pocket of the park, away from the crowds that gather at Lake Osborne. Surrounding ridgelines and open sections provide expansive views across rugged mountain country, giving a real sense of remoteness despite the relatively short distance. This is a walk for hikers seeking solitude and a more adventurous experience, rather than a gentle wander, and it rewards good preparation with a memorable taste of Tasmania’s high country.
Grade 4 (Hard) -
Challenging Walks for Experienced Walkers: Grade 4 on the
AWTGS signifies challenging walking tracks. Bushwalking experience is recommended for these tracks, which may be long, rough, and very steep. Directional signage may be limited, requiring a good sense of navigation. These walks are suited for experienced walkers who are comfortable with steeper inclines, rougher terrain, and potentially longer distances.
- Wear sturdy, well-broken-in hiking boots with good grip. The track beyond Lake Osborne is often wet, muddy, and slippery underfoot.
- Carry a GPS device or reliable mapping app with offline maps. The track can fade in places, and navigation becomes challenging in thick scrub or poor visibility.
- Check weather forecasts carefully and be prepared for sudden changes. This exposed alpine area can experience strong winds, cold temperatures, and rapidly shifting conditions at any time of year.
- If you are after a more straightforward walk, remain on the main boardwalks and formed tracks to Lake Osborne, or Hartz Peak.
Total distance: 3181 m
Max elevation: 928 m
Min elevation: 861 m
Total climbing: 118 m
Total descent: -118 m
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Before you go, complete a trip intentions form and share it with a trusted contact. Agree on a Late-Back Time and ask them to call 000 (Police) if you have not checked in. A clear trip plan is one of the simplest and most effective safety steps you can take.
Download the hiking preparation and safety checklists before leaving home to help you think through your plans. They help ensure important considerations are not overlooked and support safer decision-making on the trail.
Getting to the trailhead: Hartz Mountains National Park.
Hartz Mountains National Park is about 1.5 hours south west of Hobart, travelling via Geeveston on the A6. From Geeveston, turn right onto Arve Road (C632) and follow it for approximately 13 kilometres to the clearly signposted turn-off into the park. The final 10.5 kilometres to the trailhead is on an unsealed road.
Road conditions can change quickly, particularly in winter, so it is important to check conditions before you travel. Snow can close the road, and unless your vehicle is fitted with snow chains, you should not continue if snow is present. Getting stuck in alpine conditions can be extremely dangerous, with a real risk of hypothermia, and there are no rangers based in the park to provide immediate assistance.
Where possible, avoid driving through the park at night. These roads pass through important wildlife habitat, and animals are often active after dark. Take your time, drive cautiously, and be prepared to slow down if wildlife is on or near the road.
Need a rental car to get you to the hike? Find one here.
Hartz Mountains National Park rises above the southern Huon Valley and features a rugged mix of mountains, lakes and waterfalls shaped by ancient glaciers. From the higher ridges, layered peaks roll away towards Tasmania’s southern coast, creating a strong sense of scale and isolation. The park lies near Geeveston in southern Tasmania, about 55 kilometres south-west of Hobart, making it a straightforward day trip from the capital.
Glacial ice once covered the dolerite backbone of the range, leaving behind cirques, small lakes and steep escarpments where waterfalls now cascade. These landforms give the park its character across the seasons, with winter snow and ice giving way to alpine plants and spring wildflowers, including the striking Tasmanian waratah.
A wide range of walks makes the park popular with walkers of all abilities. Well-formed tracks pass through forest before climbing into subalpine and alpine terrain. Short bushwalks to Waratah Lookout, Arve Falls and Lake Osborne take less than an hour return and still deliver impressive scenery. Longer hikes to Lake Esperance and Hartz Peak, both part of Tasmania’s 60 Great Short Walks, take two to five hours return and reward prepared walkers with broad mountain views.
Wildlife is common, with echidnas, platypus, wallabies and pademelons often seen, along with frogs and birds such as honeyeaters, eastern spinebills and green rosellas. Facilities include picnic shelters, water and accessible toilets near Waratah Lookout and at the Hartz visitor shelter. A valid parks pass is required for entry to Tasmania’s national parks.
Looking for more walks in or near Hartz Mountains National Park? Try these trails with a similar difficulty grade.
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