Hartz Mountains National Park

Hartz Mountains National Park can only be accessed via car, although it's not far from the state capital of Hobart. From Hobart, head down the freeway onto A6 Huon Highway up to Kingston. Instead of continuing on the freeway at Kingston, exit onto A6 Huon Highway for about 60 kilometres until Geeveston. At Geeveston, turn right to C632 Arve Road until the very end of the road where you'll have reached the park.

Note that the last 10.5 kilometres of Arve Road is not paved, and the road can be closed in the snow. Unless you're coming in a vehicle on chains, even 4WDs, you likely will not be able to continue or find it difficult.

To enter any national park in Tasmania, you'll need to have a valid park pass to enter the park, which can be found on the Parks Tasmania website. There are numerous passes available, depending on your needs. The fees are up-to-date as of February 2024.

A Daily Pass is usually valid for 24 hours and is usable in all parks, although it does not include access to Cradle Mountain. This is particularly useful if you're going to numerous nearby parks. A pass for your vehicle covers up to 8 occupants; you only need the per-person pass if you arrive outside a vehicle.

• Per vehicle: $44.75.
• Per person (≥5 years): $22.35.

If you stay in Tasmania for a few weeks and want to visit several national parks, the Holiday Pass is valid for up to two months. This also includes Cradle Mountain.

• Per vehicle: $89.50.
• Per person (≥5 years): $44.75.

There is also the Annual Park Pass, which is valid in all parks, including Cradle Mountain.

• $95.30 in general.
• $76.25 for concession holders.
• $38.10 for seniors.

If you only plan to frequently revisit one park for 12 months, it costs $48.70 for a regular adult and $38.95 for concession holders. This excludes Cradle Mountain.

Passes can either be purchased through passes.parks.tas.gov.au, in any national park visitor centre, some travel information centres, onboard Spirit of Tasmania vessels, and Service Tasmania centres.

The only bit of road in the park (which is unpaved), goes from the park's entrance to the day use shelter and toilets, and apart from that, the to get to the rest of the park, you will need to walk. Nevertheless, some of the easier to access parts of the park don't divert too far off the road, and so it'll be an easy walk.

• 🌍 Arve Falls, Arve Falls Track, Southwest. It takes about twenty minutes from Hartz Road, and about one kilometre, making it suitable for most people. But the drop of the waterfall is just one of things that make this place so unique and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. (updated Nov 2021)
• 🌍 Hartz Peak. It's the roof of the park and is accessible via a somewhat difficult trail (see details under #Do). (updated Nov 2021)
• 🌍 Lake Esperance. One of the easiest and accessible glacial lakes to get to in Tasmania, this lake was initially formed as ice, but snow later built up around the mountains surrounding the lake. If you're doing the Hartz Peak track, it's a very short diversion to get to this unique lake. (updated Nov 2021)
• 🌍 Lake Osborne, Lake Osborne Track, Southwest. Another very easily accessible glacial lake, this lake gives more an insight into the alpine and subalpine vegetation of the park surrounded by ancient King Billy pines. The vegetation seen at this lake is very uncommon to see in Australia, hence why this spot is somewhat popular. (updated Nov 2021)
• 🌍 Waratah Lookout, Waratah Lookout Track, Southwest. A lookout overlooking the Huon Valley, a valley with dense thick forests that was present near the entrance of the park, which, to get to this lookout, you'd have passed to get to this lookout. If you come to this lookout in either December of January, you may as well see the Tasmanian waratah bloom in bright red, taking over the already alluring scene. (updated Nov 2021)

• The Hartz Pass is a 6 km return trail and takes 3.5 hours return to do. The track is reasonably well marked, passing through a range of different environments and surfaces, including boardwalks, rocky paths and just the surface at times. Be particularly careful if you're heading in the winter months, as the boardwalk can come very slippery. Nevertheless, there's probably never a better trail to experience the park's glacial and alpine landscapes.
• If you're looking for more of a challenge than Hartz Pass, Hartz Peak goes to the peak of the park, and takes 3-5 hours return, and about 7.4 km (4.6 mi) to do, climbing 400 metres in elevation. The views are even more rewarding, especially when you get to the top, seeing a true glimpse of what a "wilderness" is.
• The boardwalk around Lake Esperance allows you to experience most of the beauties of Lake Esperance on a well constructed boardwalk, and sometimes with snow on the sides, but it can even cover the boardwalk in winter.
• For those wanting a shorter walk, and one more family friendly, Lake Osborne walk is a 2 km walk, with 45 minutes return, although there's no boardwalk on this one. Most of the walk is just either a gentle uphill or a gentle downhill, with some rocky surfaces, but apart from that, the main thing about the walk is the lake and some of the jaw dropping views surrounding it

There are no shops, cafes, kiosks, restaurants, bars etc. in the park, and so you will need to bring everything with you. The only facilities that are in the park are toilets, the day use area and picnic areas.

There are no camping facilities in the park, and there are also no lodging facilities in the park too. Campfires are also not permitted in the park, in order to protect the vegetation in the park. However, given that the park is just an hour away from Hobart or just half an hour from Huonville, the accommodation in those towns give much more of a variety than in neighbouring towns.

If you're coming in winter, make sure to bring chains or else you could be stuck for hours on end, even if you're coming in a 4WD. None of the roads in the park are paved, but nevertheless, it's a decent gravel road.

There are no rangers in the park, and follow all local advice as given. However, there are a sizable number of tourists who visit this park, especially during the holiday season that you won't be on your own.

Avoid driving at night, as there are wildlife that could cross without you noticing. If you absolutely have to, make sure to drive slowly.

Finally, bring some extra layers with you, as the park gets particularly cold, and often comparable to that of the Canadian Prairies.

• Southwest National Park borders directly to the west, but requires a 1-hour drive via car around the Tasmanian Wilderness