Tasmanian Wilderness

The Tasmanian Wilderness area constitutes one of the last expanses of temperate wilderness in the world, including the renowned South West Wilderness. Also, important prehistoric aboriginal sites were discovered here.

The following National Parks and reserves make up the Tasmanian Wilderness World Heritage Area:
- Cradle Mountain-Lake St Clair National Park
- Franklin-Gordon Wild Rivers National Park
- Hartz Mountains National Park
- Mole Creek Karst National Park
- Southwest National Park
- Walls of Jerusalem National Park
- Central Plateau Conservation and Protected Areas
- Devils Gullet State Reserve

The sites's natural features have been compared to Fiordland, part of Te Wahipounamu (New Zealand) and Los Glaciares (Argentina).

Year	Decision	Comments
1989	Name change	From "Western Tasmania Wilderness National Parks" to "Tasmanian Wilderness"
1989	Extended	To include 2 more national parks (Walls of Jerusalem, Hartz Mountains) and additional areas
1982	Inscribed	Reasons for inscription

Visit April 2011

The Tasmanian Wilderniss WHS occupies a large part of Tasmania. For a daytrip from the Tasman capital of Hobart, Lake St. Clair (part of the Cradle Mountain/Lake St. Clair National Park) is the most accessible option. I rented a car and drove out there in 2.5 hours. It’s a fine drive through the island’s hilly landscape, with plenty of sheep along the road as well as signboards to watch out for kangooroos, wombats or Tasmanian devils.

I arrived at the visitor center at about 11 a.m. There’s a 24 AUS dollar entrance fee (per car) that you have to pay there. And you can take your pick among the many walking tracks in the area. I was looking for a hike of about 3 to 4 hours. The one to Shadow Lake fitted nicely, so it seemed. So after having a quick look at the vast Lake St. Claire, I got going. The track is signposted very well. I did not encounter any other travellers, though there were about 10 cars in the car park. You can do hikes that vary in length from half an hour to 5 days, so it will not get crowded easily in a track.

After walking for about 45 minutes on a small path through the forest, I suddenly realized that I was not enjoying it. There were trees, trees and more trees around me. Most of them Eucalyptus, common in Australia. No colourful birds, no birds at all except for black crowes. And no mammals either. So I easily convinced myself to turn back and go find something else to do here.

On the way out I was already attracted by the sign “Platypus Bay” – the Platypus an animal that I would really like to see. There’s a short circular walk that you can do that brings you to the bay where they are often seen. You just have to sit still and be very quiet, the instruction boards told me. Platypus Bay turned out to be a very fine beach at Lake St. Claire. So I sat down at a dead tree trunk, ate my lunch and stared at the water. Supposedly you have to look for a crocodile kind of movement in the water. Unfortunately, I saw nothing move in the half hour that I sat there.

At the visitor centre of Lake St. Claire they have journals where each visitor can write down his sightings of wildlife. People had seen wallibies, Tasmanian devils, wombats and echidna. And almost every day a Platypus or two at the Bay. I was not so lucky, and returned back to Hobart with only memories of dark forests. You definitely need more time on the ground and an overnight stay to see any wildlife here.

More photos can be found in the Picture Gallery

Reviews

pauline ferguson (australia):
Cradle Mountain is another world!! stunning scenery and wildlife - does not need to change. we went there in winter and had just missed a snowfall but it was still magestic and magical. everyone should go there for peace of mind and to get away from our hectic lifestyles

Date posted: April 2009

Emilia Bautista King (USA):
Never did the Overland Track but friends of mine who've done it said that it was grueling yet exhilirating! I did go to Cradle Mountain, which was beautiful. Tasmania is such a jewel of a place!

Date posted: February 2006

Kang Chong (Malaysia):
Tasmania is beautiful and unspoilt. The natural beauty is breathtaking, but there are too many prisons and gaols. Dont do too much of those prison visits, spend more time trekking around Cradle Mountain area and up the mountain to view Wine Glass Bay. The towns around Tasmania is also worth spending some time and you will be rewarded.

Date posted: October 2005

Sophie (Australia):
I went to tasmania for a school trip and it was good. we saw everything and the heritage was spectacular.

Rob Wilson (UK):
Gorgeous! This must be one of the most beautiful places on the entire planet. The Tasmanians should be very proud of their state. The Overland Track between Cradle Mountain and Lake St. Clair must be one of the finest hikes on Earth. I can't recommend it higher. But, if you do attempt this hike, please be fully prepared. The weather in this part of the world can be absolutely lethal. Oh and also, Tasmania, please STOP THE LOGGING!

Ben Fraser (Australia):
An area of spectacular natural beauty. Easily accessable at Cradle Mountain, and Lake St Claire. The Franklin river is amazing and it is scandelous that there was pressue to flood and destroy it in the 1970's. The flooding of Lake Pedder, which is also part of the World heritage area, was an unbelievable act of government anti environment policy

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In the News

» At least eight bushfires are burning in Tasmania's Wilderness World Heritage Area after an electrical storm crossed the state on New Year's Eve (03-01-2010).
» Tasmania's aboriginal community is angered by a push to expand the state's world heritage area (24-09-2009).
» Tasmania's on-again, off-again multi-million dollar Pumphouse Point development within the World Heritage Area has been approved. (16-04-2008).
» Eighteen people have been evacuated from a national park in south-west Tasmania as wildfires continue to burn out of control in the world heritage area. (24-02-2007).