2 replies to this topic

[Shane V]

Lake St Clair is in the central Highlands of Tasmania along the A10, also know as the Lyell Highway. It is southern part of the Cradle Mountain Lake St Clair National Park and the World Heritage Area, (WHA). There are many walks, both short and long in this area. The famous Overland Track finishes/starts here.

Lake St Clair looking towards Mt Olympus.

Last weekend we did the short walks here. There are 3 of them; Watersmeet, Platypus Bay and Larmairremener tabelti Aboriginal cultural walk. All the tracks start at one point, behind the visitors centre. The Watersmeet track is a well maintained, wide, gravel track. It was an old road constructed to allow limited logging after bushfires in the area in the 1960's. It is about 1.7 km long and finishes at the junction of the Hugel and Cuvier Rivers. You would be able to get a wheelchair or stroller to the bridge at Watersmeet but no further.

The track

Watersmeet

The Platypus Bay track takes you along the Cuvier River to where it meets the lake. It is a well worn track which can be a little slippery in parts. After about 10 minutes of walking you will come to a hide where you can view, if you are there at the right time, platypuses. The hide has a lot of information about the platypus and has holes so you can see down to the lake side.

View across the lake from Cuvier River

Cuvier River

A little bit further on you will see a beach where there is an old barge from the time that the hydro was constructing in the area. The track then makes its way uphill to meet the Overland and then goes back to Watersmeet.

The Barge

The Larmairremener tabelti Aboriginal cultural walk recognizes the local aboriginal tribe. There are many interpretive signs along the way giving interesting facts about the people, country, plants and animals of the area. You will walk through different vegetation states from eucalypt stands to rainforest. There are many birds in the area and you may be lucky to see some feeding on the bugs on the trees. We saw quite a few different species.

Eucalypt stand

leaves

Going to Lake St Clair and doing these walks are a great way to spend a few hours of a day. I would recommend them to anyone. I am looking forward to going back and doing the walks again and maybe tackling some of the longer walks.

burn out tree

Sign for some of the walks in the area.

[photogra]

Great series of photos Margie. Love the tall trees ones.

[Shane V]

Thanks Wendy it was an awesome walk and I would love to do it again.