Glacial Lakes and Karst Country at Vale of Belvoir

Overview

Vale of Belvoir Conservation Area sits in north-western Tasmania beside the edge of the Tasmanian Wilderness World Heritage Area, close to Cradle Mountain. It covers a little over 4,270 hectares and protects a high, open landscape where alpine grasslands, sedgelands, forest and wetland meet. The area is also known for its long scientific value, particularly in studies of alpine grasslands, forest-grassland boundaries and how these environments respond to fire and grazing.

What makes this place stand out is the way broad subalpine plains sit over limestone shaped by both karst processes and glaciation. That combination gives the reserve a distinctive feel compared with the heavier forest nearby, and helps explain why the country around Lake Lea and the open vale has such a different character from much of the Cradle Mountain district.

Highlights

The scenery here is defined by open subalpine country, shallow basins, wet flats and a strong sense of space. Around the vale, limestone plains are marked by sinkholes and sinkhole ponds, while glacial sediments and old ice-age landforms add another layer to the landscape. Lake Lea is one of the best-known natural features, a glacio-karstic lake set within this high plain.

There is also a clear contrast between the exposed grass and sedge country of the vale and the older forested country toward Mt Cripps. Together they form part of a broader glacio-karst landscape that is considered one of Tasmania’s most important and extensive examples of its kind outside the World Heritage boundary.

Best Time to Visit

The warmer months are usually the easiest time to appreciate the open country here, when the subalpine plains are more accessible and the contrast between grassland, wetland and surrounding ranges is easiest to read. In summer and early autumn, wildflowers and the varied textures of the moorland and grassland tend to be at their most noticeable.

At any time of year, this is a high, exposed place with a climate closer to the mountains than the lowlands. Even when nearby areas feel mild, Vale of Belvoir can still feel cool, changeable and distinctly alpine in character.

Plants and Animals

Vale of Belvoir is important for its mix of alpine and subalpine vegetation, especially grasslands, sedgelands and peatland. Within the conservation area are habitats including Highland Poa grassland and sphagnum peatland, along with forest and wetland communities that support a wide spread of native species.

The reserve also has recorded habitat for several threatened mammals, including spotted-tailed quoll, eastern quoll and Tasmanian devil, and at least one threatened plant has been found within the area. Its vegetation has been closely studied for years, which reflects just how valuable this landscape is as both habitat and a reference point for understanding environmental change in Tasmania’s high country.