Favourite Tasmanian camp sites [Multiple photo warning]

Fri 21 Jan, 2011 11:58 am

I have been reminiscing about some trips from years past lately & got to thinking about my all time favourite camp sites.
This could be very hard to narrow down for others, as it was for myself, there have been so many fantastic locations to hang out & from my final 5 there are many, many omissions (particularly around the Labyrinth & Arthur Ranges), but I wanted to keep it down to my top 5. It has often been my friends & luck with the weather that has left the fondest memories from trips past & selecting what is memorable to 1 person / party may be different for others.
I'd love to see / hear from others tho & this may also act as a valuable resource to others looking for great locations in our beautiful wild places.

So, on to my Top 5 camp sites:

1. End of Wilmot Ranges, SW Tasmania.
An amazing place after a long, hot & thirsty days walking.
This site we knicknamed the 'Football Field' - it was massive, dead flat, trimmed lawn with a little creek running through it - beautiful.

: 1. End of the Wilmot Range, SW Tasmania. Coronation Peak (left) & Tribulation Ridge (right) in view.

2. Below Double Peak, Frankland Range, SW Tasmania.
Unexpected clear, warm & utterly windless conditions allowed us camp sites on this range walk that would be wind tunnels for others.
This site was in the middle of a very exposed saddle between the 2 peaks of Double Peak & the views over the impoundment were spectacular.

: 2. Camp on the (normally) exposed saddle between Double Peak, Frankland Range, SW Tasmania.

3. Citadel Shelf camp, Frankland Range, SW Tasmania.
Another from our Frankland Traverse - hard not to choose several from this walk as the conditions were perfect.
Citadel Shelf camp is a beautiful, sheltered terrace on the eastern side of the range with peaks close by & a stream running through it.
After a morning side trip to Remote Peak on the Companion Range & a swim in Croaking Lake we arrived back at camp at lunch time.
My memories of an afternoon of playing cards, drinking scotch & swatting march flies will always bring a smile to my face, so very enjoyable.

: 3. Camp at Citadel Shelf, Frankland Range, SW Tasmania. The lower of the 2 Citadel Peaks in the background.

4. Leonards Tarn, Cradle Mtn - Lake St Clair NP
Such a beautiful little location with amazing views to surrounding peaks, Pelion West dominating the view across the tarn.
We had beautiful conditions here, with side trips to Perrins Bluff & Mt Achilles before moving on to Pelion West.
The feeling or remoteness there was splendid, and only a days walk from the Overland Track.

: 4. Leonards Tarn with Pelion West in the distance (photo credit by others).

5. Pool of Memories (aka Lake Dombrovskis) - Cradle Mtn - Lake St Clair NP
Tho I have never stayed here (always near Lake Elysia as it is far less fragile), this little lake has some of the best views anywhere, surely.
I have on numerous occassions stopped here for lunch & or rest stops as I pass through & have always marvelled at the reflected views of Mt Geryon.
Current Park requests are not to camp here, so maybe this one should come under 'Favourite Lunch locations'...still, I couldn't help but include it.

: 5. Pool of Memories (aka Lake Dombrovskis - MT Geryon dominates the background.

Interested to see what other people select as their favourites.
As mentioned tho, the ommissions are far greater than the selections - such a diverse & beautiful little state we have.

Fri 21 Jan, 2011 2:50 pm

What an awesome thread Stu, nicely done!!
I was lucky enough to be on that Frankland trip, and agree the 1st three spots are the best I have ever stayed at also.
When I have a bit more time I'll add a couple of my own!!

Sun 23 Jan, 2011 12:52 pm

Hi Stu

What awesome camp sites! Those photos are simply stunning. Well done

jenandjen

Sun 23 Jan, 2011 4:57 pm

Nice post Stu,

Not having nearly as many o/nighters under my belt as you my choices are limited.
In general I'd have to say my last campsite was the best as it was my last night in our magnificent wilderness.

This is the pic of that location, an ancient King Billy Pine forest, a spiritual place that will live in my mind forever.

The next has to be my favorite spot, I have pitched on the same spot for 4 nights on 2 seperate trips, this is the view from my tent door - I think everyone knows about the magnificent Lake Rhona just over the sand dune....

...and lastly from my first full range traverse and longest trip thus far, my camp from high on the Stepped Hills in perfect conditions with a great sunset and sunrise. My 3 companions have had many more better campsites than this one, but it was great for me.....

As a sidenote I would have selected Mt Wright but a cold set in and I had a miserable time, everything in context hey..??

Cheers, sbs

Sun 23 Jan, 2011 5:06 pm

Some great campsites there guys, nice photos :wink:

I can relate to the thoughts about Leonards Tarn, beautiful location.
I have a few special places not that far from the OLT and side trips that could be 'anywhere' remote. Probably best not shown though...

Sun 23 Jan, 2011 8:01 pm

Very nice Stu...

I too have a few faves but I think the most recent (from the saddle behind Jukes Mountain) has bumped to the top...

The view of Frenchmans Cap blew me away!...

Cheers, Erin

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Sun 23 Jan, 2011 8:13 pm

Spot on Erin!!
It was an awesome camp on an awesome range. A great little walk up there with one of my faves also!!

Mon 24 Jan, 2011 8:21 am

Great thread. I was lucky enough to be on that Wilmot-Frankland traverse and would put the first two campsites on top of my list. Citadel Shelf was also great but gets competition from some other trips: the North end of Olympus (the real summit); high on the Ducane Range; & Ossa. Bit of a common theme here, being camping high & good weather. The Ossa one was fun: a June long weekend, no snow, very cold, and the valleys in mist that didn't lift all day - haven't got a picture of the campsite so a sunrise shot will have to do. One bonus of winter walking is that the sun comes up later and you don't have to get up so early

.

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: Next to the summit of Olympus

: Close to the top of the Ducane Range

: Sunrise from Ossa

Mon 24 Jan, 2011 11:27 am

Summit of Mt Ossa was my first camp outside of a "designated" tent site. I don't think i've camped anywhere "designated" since!

: Mt Ossa camp.

: Mt Ossa morning.

Mon 24 Jan, 2011 11:34 am

Second pic is a stunner Mike!!!

Mon 24 Jan, 2011 12:15 pm

I understand that pitching on Ossa is discouraged, due to the potential to harm the delicate environment... I don't think this holds when the delicate environment is under a metre of snow.

Mon 24 Jan, 2011 4:56 pm

Again, I was on the Frankland trip, and I'd agree with MJD.

3 others that come to my mind are (Besides anywhere on the Arthurs) The SW cape circuit, Ketchem bay or Windowpane bay (for some reason I didnt take any photos of my tent here) and Lake Rhona.

But I will go with these 3.

: Lake Helious. Gorgeous soft, dry camping above a gorgeous alpine lake with views to die for of Geryon, Hyperion, Ossa... so on so on.

: Mt Massif. Anyone who has been there will know why this is an amazing place.

: Precipitous Bluff. One of the best High camps going. Views from Wellington to the SW cape and more. A truly huge mtn that is hard to rival anywhere.

Mon 24 Jan, 2011 5:02 pm

As Fizzygood said, the weekend gone's spot was also pretty cool.....

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Mon 24 Jan, 2011 5:12 pm

ollster wrote:I understand that pitching on Ossa is discouraged, due to the potential to harm the delicate environment... I don't think this holds when the delicate environment is under a metre of snow.

Probably not but everything left will still be there in summer. Its a mess up there atm fellas, trampled cushion, land mines and even fire pits...
maybe, with respect for many being mountaintops (ie generally 'fragile') a topic best left to pics without the need for names?

Some stunning photos coming out though :wink:

Mon 24 Jan, 2011 5:22 pm

Surely Ossa is now along side Cradle, Hartz, Mt Field... as in it's a sacraficial peak to give to the people in order to save others?? EVERYONE goes up Ossa....

Mon 24 Jan, 2011 7:52 pm

ILUVSWTAS wrote:Surely Ossa is now along side Cradle, Hartz, Mt Field... as in it's a sacraficial peak to give to the people in order to save others?? EVERYONE goes up Ossa....

Interesting perspective. Would be interested to hear Parks opinion of that. Surely if it were the case, the environmental scar can be minimized significantly by some track work and "no-go regen areas" similar to what has been done in other areas.
On that subject, what about that new bridge crossing the creek on the way to Kitchen Hut! Whoa...... I went up to just beyond Kitchen Hut last Thursday with a friend who was doing some food drops, we were walking along chatting then I spotted it and swore mid-sentence...

The pretty pics are great, and as some of us are lucky to have experienced, many of these places are for the realm of the "highly experienced bushwalker only" (quoting the guidebooks).
As such, please consider being mindful of posting exact locations here if you think it prudent. There's no specific rule against it, and we're not trying to make it exclusive or anything, but there are a number of additional factors to consider when camping in some of these locations, not least of which is the sensitivity of the environment. So perhaps a less descriptive name like "on another mountain in central Tas" would suit better?
Ossa is just one example, okay to visit as a day trip if you felt inclined, but definitely not a good enviro for the average overland-trekker to consider as an extra stop!

My list includes a heap, but rather than name them I'll dig out some photos when I next fire up that computer.

Fri 28 Jan, 2011 7:09 pm

tasadam wrote:On that subject, what about that new bridge crossing the creek on the way to Kitchen Hut! Whoa...... I went up to just beyond Kitchen Hut last Thursday with a friend who was doing some food drops, we were walking along chatting then I spotted it and swore mid-sentence....

You swear? Really?

Wish I'd been there.

Fri 28 Jan, 2011 9:23 pm

north-north-west wrote:You swear? Really?

viewtopic.php?p=68988#p68988

tasadam wrote:...yes, I sometimes swear, oh dear ...

Tue 01 Feb, 2011 11:44 am

My favourite camp site is extremly weather dependant and water is scarce and a fair walk away but i think the photos speak for themselves.

i would also agree with others on Helios, Massif isnt to bad either. Dixons kingdom would be in my top 5 as well

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: view to the west

: view to the north

: view to the south

Sat 05 Feb, 2011 8:22 am

Awesome shots frenchy. great thread too.
I'll add a few of mine.

: Cathedral Mt.jpg (256.09 KiB) Viewed 54420 times

Wandering above the cliffs on Cathedral Mt looking down onto the Overland track. And yes, I think that is a coleman 3 man tent haha.

: Lake Oenone.jpg (275.17 KiB) Viewed 54420 times

Walked halfway up Mt Olympus when the fagus was out and camped by Lake Oenone. Cracker day too it was

: Massif bowl camp.jpg (243 KiB) Viewed 54420 times

The Massif bowl on the Du Cane range was pretty special place. As the sun was setting I had to decide which set of panoramic views I should take photos of, as it was a couple hundred metres between the sets of cliffs.

: Mt Innes.jpg (306.9 KiB) Viewed 54420 times

I spent the night on Mt Innes wrapped up in a tarp, but certainly the most remote place I've been to in Tassie. Incredible sense of space.

: Mt Tyndall .jpg (270.01 KiB) Viewed 54420 times

Had a great overnighter on Mt Tyndall, you drive for a few hours, walk another 2-3 and you're in this amazing place 200m above a lake with views over Eldon peak to the OT mountains.

Nick

Sat 05 Feb, 2011 5:11 pm

Nick S wrote:Had a great overnighter on Mt Tyndall, you drive for a few hours, walk another 2-3 and you're in this amazing place 200m above a lake with views over Eldon peak to the OT mountains.

I've been looking at the possibily of a quick visit in there on the way down (or back up). A little overnighter like that sounds brilliant, as long as the weather holds up.

Wed 04 May, 2011 2:58 pm

I just have to add to this thread my absolute favourite campsite ever (so far) on the New Harbour Range, that got me the 2008 "Picture of the Year". A superb campsite is a combination of "location, location, & location," AND WEATHER!

: New Harbour Range high camp.; NHR Campsite.JPG (198.01 KiB) Viewed 53726 times

: Eastern view to Ironbound Range from New Harbour Range high camp.

Wed 04 May, 2011 3:15 pm

I doubt if many people know about this spot. We only found it by accident a couple of years ago and it's been a favourite ever since

: P4080083.JPG (83.32 KiB) Viewed 53716 times

it's a wallaby lawn shelf on the shores of St Clair. Like most of the sites here so far, don't think it would be that pleasant in the crud though

this one from a previous life ain't too bad either

Wed 04 May, 2011 3:20 pm

A second favourite campsite is at Lake Sydney on the manicured alpine grass flats with menadering stream providing running water at your tent front door. This area goes under water occasionally when the sink hole outlet below Lake Sydney blocks up or can't handle the rainfall, but it has a surreal atmosphere to it.

Wed 04 May, 2011 3:25 pm

Agreed with Lake Sydney!!

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Wed 04 May, 2011 3:47 pm

These are fabulous!!
Please, can they still be available, permitted (other than those that are no longer anyway) and accessible to one like me when I do finally get to live there!

Wed 04 May, 2011 4:30 pm

Very inspirational everyone! I agree about Lakes Rhona and Sydney. You do have to beware of sudden water-level rises in that odd karst drainage system at Lk Sydney. Sometimes the pictured campsites are underwater :oops:

I'll include one from Mt Massif - superb when conditions are like this

: A high camp on Mt Massif

Likewise in fair weather, you're spoiled for choice on the Tyndall Range.

: An un-named lake on the Tyndalls

cheers

Peter

Wed 04 May, 2011 6:53 pm

These would be my two favourites.

: High at the head of Pine Valley near lake Helios

: Under Paddys Nut

My next two would be Lake Petrarch and High on Cathedral

Roger

Wed 04 May, 2011 7:03 pm

Wow! What a place you guys live at. I can't wait till I'm in Tasmania in 6 to 10 months time, will be starting my holidays on the overland track, plan to take my time, 5 to 6 nights on the track, than staying at Hobart for a couple of weeks. Would love to pitch my tent in some of those locations myself.

Wed 04 May, 2011 7:03 pm

Wow! What a place you guys live at. I can't wait till I'm in Tasmania in 6 to 10 months time, will be starting my holidays on the overland track, plan to take my time, 5 to 6 nights on the track, than staying at Hobart for a couple of weeks. Would love to pitch my tent in some of those locations myself.

Favourite Tasmanian camp sites [Multiple photo warning]

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