Two of Tasmania’s most popular outdoor destinations have received key safety upgrades, aimed at improving visitor access and addressing ageing infrastructure.
The state government has focused on improving tracks as more people flock to the natural parks.
In Cradle Mountain–Lake St Clair National Park, the northern descent of the Mount Rufus Track has been completely rebuilt. This popular 20km intermediate-level walk remains physically demanding and is not recommended for inexperienced hikers, despite the upgrades.
Meanwhile, Ben Lomond has seen the addition of a new 122m village walkway connecting the public shelter to the Ski Sports building. The new path, measuring 2.4m wide, is designed to accommodate two-way pedestrian traffic, particularly during busy periods.
These improvements come as part of the government’s broader effort to upgrade aging infrastructure across Tasmania’s extensive parks network, which spans roughly half the state’s mainland.
Minister for Parks Nick Duigan highlighted the developments as a sign of the government’s commitment to maintaining the natural assets that Tasmanians and visitors value. “This is evidence that the government’s getting on with the job of delivering for the things that people care about,” he said.
The Ben Lomond upgrades are part of a larger $2.8 million project, with plans for a new summit lookout and additional walking tracks expected to go to tender soon. The initiative supports the goal of establishing Ben Lomond as a year-round destination, following its strong performance as Australia’s longest-running ski resort last year.