Earlier this year, on a memorable sunny September day, my friend Peter and I embarked on a memorable journey to Mt. Eliza. Set against the backdrop of stunning vistas over Lake Pedder and under a cloudless sky, the adventure was promising from the very start. Mt. Eliza is nestled within the Tasmanian Wilderness World Heritage Area of the South West National Park. It takes a good 2+ hours to reach the car park from Hobart city and it is quite the drive back but definitely feasible in one day if that’s all you got (that’s all we had!).
This majestic peak stands tall at approximately 1619 meters (5312 feet) above sea level, offering a trail that weaves through diverse terrain. The first big section has been renovated after the 2019 bushfires, and it is now made up of (seemingly endless) steps until rocky exposed ridges closer to the summit.
Mount Eliza (Credit: Sara Guerrini)
Our trek, covering around 12-13 kilometres, was a test of endurance and a celebration of Tasmania's natural beauty. The trail is quite exposed, so it’s definitely recommended to choose a beautiful day (not a wet one!). As we ascended, the landscape transformed into alpine terrain, unveiling breathtaking panoramas of the neighbouring mountain ranges and glacial lakes - the colours were incredible. This walk requires a good level of fitness as it has a 900 metre elevation gain and the need to clamber over large boulders to reach the plateau.
At that time of the year, some very small and slippery snow patches were still on the boulders at the top and that made me feel like my rock scrambling abilities weren’t brushed up enough. I did stop 100m shy of the summit as it is important to listen to our bodies and not to overly challenge our fears and limits, while in the mountains. Despite this, my mate Peter (gifted with much longer limbs than I) managed to climb up the top and showed me a photo later on!
I wasn’t too jealous, the views from my seat (pictured above) were incredible and not that different from what can been seen on the plateau. Standing behind it, the tallest peak of Tasmania’s south West – Mt.Anne, looked beautiful but it requires a night spent camping up there and a lot of energy to continue walking the next day!
Tasmania's climate can be unpredictable, and despite the bright sunshine there were plenty of cold windy gusts which emphasized the importance of being well-prepared. As we descended, leaving Mt. Eliza behind, we carried with us not just the exhilaration of the hike, but also a deep appreciation for Tasmania's rich heritage. 10/10 hike for your Tassie bucket list!
Sara Guerrini - Travel Advisor
Tasmanian Travel & Information Centre