Tarn Shelf Circuit
Track Notes
Mount Field National Park
Enjoy a hike in the Tasmanian Wilderness
The Tarn Shelf circuit, at Mount Field National Park, is one of the best day walks in Australia. It takes walkers on a 14km loop through alpine terrain, with rare and sensitive vegetation, alpine lakes and old huts.
The Shelf itself is a series of small glacial lakes, with water sparkling green and blue in the sun. They are known not only for their own beauty but also for the fagus that grows around them. Fagus is Tasmania’s only winter deciduous species and the annual ‘turning of the fagus’ in April attracts walkers from all over. The lakes are contained by a rocky ridge that boasts wide views to the north and east over Lake Seal and Platypus Tarn.
Hike past bubbling brooks and picturesque glacial lakes surrounded by the autumn tones of fagus
The circuit begins and ends at the Lake Dobson carpark and will be walked counter-clockwise. It is well maintained, meandering through bush, with a gradual climb up onto the Tarn shelf, before flattening out over rocky ridges and eventually descending back into bush.
More on the track
The track starts off on a 4WD road that makes for an easy first kilometre to Eagle Tarn. Teams can spread out and walk four abreast – the first of only two times possible on this walk! A blue sign points right to the Tarn Shelf Circuit, and a single file foot-track begins. It weaves gently through the bush, alternating between sections of boardwalk in the boggier sections or simply mud and rock. Bauera, boronia, gums, button grass, melaleucas and other native flora line the sides while orchids and fungi grow under foot at different times of the year.
After 2.5km the sound of frogs may alert you to the change in terrain – more button grass and a series of little water holes that have pretty reflections on a clear and calm day.
Next
It’s time to descend toward Lake Webster. The track has a few more muddy spots here and if it is a wet day you can expect to get wet feet. Boardwalk takes you around the east and northern side of Lake Webster and you’ll have walked about 4.6km by the time you cross the bridge over the outlet from the lake. By now you’re at the lowest point of the circuit, just under 900m elevation
But that means it’s time to start climbing! Over the next 7km you’ll climb more than 400m. It starts off as steep as it gets and with time becomes increasingly gradual. The light forest provides some relief from the sun early on.
As you climb the trees thin out and the views open up and after 6km of walking you’ll arrive at Twilight Tarn. Feel free to take time to check out the really cute historical hut there. Built in the mid 1920s and used into the 1950s it is now under the care of Parks and Wildlife Services and is full of amazing relics to examine.
Then…
The track is rockier under foot, a sign of what is to come, but there are still plenty of sections of boardwalk as you weave alongside the aptly named Twisted Tarn and arrive at Lake Newdegate. You’re now more than 8km into the walk and well past the halfway mark.
The Tarn Shelf…
The track here is undulating, with some big slabs of rock and the odd scrambly bit, so don’t expect to speed along.
Last leg…