The walk to Lady Lake Hut reveals the gorgeous flora and fauna of Tassie’s Great Western Tiers Conservation Area.
I recently enjoyed a bushwalk to Lady Lake during my annual visit to Tasmania to see family. My sister, niece and I drove from Westbury via Deloraine to the Higgs Track trailhead at Westrope Road and Dale Brook Road. The access road was manageable in a 2WD, though rough and rutted in sections.
The walk to Lady Lake Hut, perched at 1130m on the Central Plateau, is 2.6km and takes about two hours. The steep 530m climb passes through a remarkable variety of habitats. After an easy flat section to Dale Brook Bridge, the track became much steeper, with rocky terrain and exposed tree roots. Along the way we passed through forests of myrtle, sassafras and Tasmanian waratah before reaching sub-alpine rainforest and patches of native deciduous beech, or fagus.
The Great Western Tiers and Central Plateau are culturally significant to Aboriginal people, who know the region as Kooparoona Niara, meaning “Mountains of the Spirit”. Traditional tribes once camped and lived in the alpine area.
The original track was cut in the late 1970s by farmers moving cattle and sheep onto alpine grazing land. In 2014 it was restored using traditional Scottish stone-pitching techniques, with wedge-shaped rocks carefully hammered into place. The craftsmanship along the track is impressive.
After a couple of hours we reached the sign marking the World Heritage Area and crossed the plateau towards the charming Lady Lake Hut, passing the lake itself on the way. We ate lunch on the hut verandah and admired views of Mother Cummings Peak and the surrounding alpine landscape. According to local legend, the peak was named after Martha Cummings, a teacher from the Meander area who climbed it in the 1890s after being dared by her students.
Many bushwalkers stay overnight at the hut or camp nearby before exploring further into the Great Western Tiers. My niece Becca had camped there previously and spotted Bennett’s wallabies, paddymelons and wombats feeding near the hut at dusk. She suspected Tasmanian devils and quolls were nearby too.
The current Lady Lake Hut was built in 2002 by around 70 volunteers after the original hut, built by Sydney Higgs and his father, was destroyed by bushfire in 1961.
As the weather turned windy and cold after lunch, we headed back down the mountain. Conditions can change quickly, so walkers should carry warm clothing and rain gear. Gaiters are also useful for protection from snakes.
For anyone visiting Tasmania and looking for a rewarding walk away from the crowds, Lady Lake offers beautiful alpine scenery, rich history and an unforgettable bushwalking experience.
Words and photos_Roz Glazebrook