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You can find more information about the the proposed Lake Malbena luxury development – part of the privatisation of the Walls of Jerusalem National Park – check out the Tasmanian National Parks Association.
This is a hiking mecca. Spectacular dolerite walls and glaciated peaks surround you as elevated crystal clear tarns reflect ancient, Gondwana relic pencil pines. Only through hiking into this grand national park can you experience the fantastic ice-aged carvings of ‘the Walls’.
From Wild Dog or Dixons Kingdom campsites, you can base yourself at camp in order to reach many of the key elevated areas, which, on days of fine weather, give views across the entire park – and across to the great lakes in the east, into the Southwest, glimpses of Frenchmans Cap, and the entire ‘path’ and peaks of the Overland region. Whilst birdlife on the plateau is minimal, keep an ear and eye out ’round dusk and in evenings for quolls, tassie devils and one of the two species of owls found in the state – the southern boobook.
The hike up to the plateau is testing, being quite an incline, but once you’re up it’s relatively flat hiking (excepting of course, up to the peaks). Campsites are simple, with some elevated wooden platforms to use. As always, be alert to local wildlife that become too comfortable around hikers and tents, and don’t leave food easily accessible (I hung mine in a tree!). The pencil pine forests have also been hit very hard by fire in recent years – being extremely sensitive to burning. Please keep this in mind and use fuel stoves only.
The Walls of Jerusalem National Park – where these photos were taken – is the traditional lands of the Big River nation. I respectfully acknowledge the Traditional Owners of these lands and waters on which I was able to traverse, learn, and appreciate – and pay respect to the First Nations Peoples and their elders, past, present and future.
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