Lake St Clair - Photo: Garry Moore, with thanks to Tourism Tasmania.
Lake St Clair
Lake St Clair's scenic beauty is characterised by pretty coves and beaches interspersed among moraines formed by glaciers. In total, Cradle Mountain-Lake St Clair National Park covers 161,000 hectares (397,840 acres) of Tasmania's highlands.
The vegetation mix of the area is a legacy of thousands of years of burning by Aboriginal people. Wildlife is prolific, and you are likely to see wallabies and a wide variety of birds at Cynthia Bay. If you're lucky, you'll also catch sight of a platypus, echidna or wombat. In summer, rangers provide walks, talks and slide shows that are a great introduction to the ecology and cultural history of the region.
In addition to offering bushwalks and opportunities for wildlife-watching, Lake St Clair is a popular place to fish for trout. Make sure you have a fishing license and only fish in-season (generally August to April).
Enjoy a tranquil cruise aboard the small ferry Idaclair which travels 13 kilometres (eight miles) to Narcissus Bay to pick up weary trekkers emerging from the Overland Track. If you're feeling energetic, disembark at Narcissus Bay and walk the last section of the Overland Track yourself, back to Cynthia Bay. (During the Overland Track booking period of November to April you are only permitted to walk the track from north to south.)
The drama of the region's geological history is strikingly told in the Visitor Centre at Cynthia Bay, where you can also trace the interaction between humans and the local environment.
With thanks to Discover Tasmania
