The 16km Tarn Shelf Circuit May Be Tasmania’s Most Underrated Day Hike

Taking a vague tip from a hiking friend of a friend, Casey and his mates stumbled across what they now believe is the most unique and stunning day hike in Tasmania – the Tarn Shelf in Mount Field National Park.

We Are Explorers acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of the Country on which this adventure takes place, who have occupied and cared for the lands, waters, and their inhabitants for thousands of years. We pay our respects to them and recognise that sovereignty was never ceded.

Tarn Shelf Quick Facts

Tarn Shelf Circuit

Distance: 16km
Duration: 5 to 6 hours
Elevation gain: 600 metres 

Tarn Shelf Return Hike

Distance: 12km
Duration: 3 to 4 hours
Elevation gain: 600 metres

Tarn Shelf Highlights

• A great combination of rock-hopping, floating boardwalks, cliffs, and open alpine plateau
• Take a hike back in time through untouched native flora and ancient alpine lakes
• Stunning views across lakes, forest, and Mount Field National Park
• Only 1.5 hours’ drive from Hobart

Read more: Remember to leave no trace

Have we mist the view?

What It’s Like to Hike the Tarn Shelf

After reading all the guides and blogs of Tassie’s best day hikes, we decided to take a shot at a trail which was rumoured through hiking friends of friends to be the best they’d done in Tassie. Spoiler alert – the rumours were true.

In classic Tassie style, we headed off in the morning in fair weather, with rain and snow not predicted until close to 3pm. Plenty of time to complete a 16km hike said to take five to six hours, right?

Read more: 7 Tips for Rainy Day Hiking

Getting on the Right Track

Initially, there were no signs for the ‘Tarn Shelf’ itself, so we parked at Lake Dobson car park and followed the Urquhart Track across the edge of the lake and up to Mount Mawson Ski Field. 

From the lodge we followed signs to the right which said ‘Alpine Hikes’, and this is where it started to get really good. Each glance left or right felt like a new experience. 

Large grey rocks stained with different mosses and minerals led us up to the alpine plateau – and while the path wasn’t always obvious at a distance, with each stride the next rocky step seemed to appear obviously under foot.

Get ready for some climbing!

The Misty Boardwalk

The top of the rocky section was also the end of the climb, so we stopped to rest and breathe in some crisp mountain air.

Arriving on the plateau, there were finally signs marked ‘Tarn Shelf Track’ pointing down a long floating boardwalk, the wooden lengths of which were already disappearing behind clouds less than 50 metres ahead.

With the mist also came the cold, southern wind and threat of rain and snow, far earlier than predicted. While the clouds took away some of the distant views, it created a deeper, more moody experience, for our crew of six.

In awe, we headed on, but by the time we reached the end of the first boardwalk the wind had really picked up and the visibility was increasingly getting worse. We made the call to turn back while the path was still clear.

Poor weather moves in quickly in Tassie

Seals Lookout

After completing most of the boardwalk again in reverse, the clouds suddenly cleared, showing views down to Lake Seal from a previously unnoticed rocky point called ‘Seals Lookout’. 

Appreciating the new views, we took the change in weather as a good omen and again turned around, heading for the tarns – ancient lakes formed by the remnants of glaciers.

Seals Lookout

This time around, we saw that small but spectacular tarns could be spotted near the end of the boardwalk, with a short steep descent down to the first tarn in the group. 

As the track meandered along it blended boardwalk and dirt track through unmistakably Australian alpine forest and vast scrubby flats, where the tarns appeared like mystic reflections, portholes into the Earth.

The Tarn Shelf

The water in the tarns was clear to the bottom and as cold as you’d expect at 1,300 metres. But on a sunny day it’d be worth packing your swimmers for a quick refreshing dip.

While there were some quick dares thrown around, we decided to stay dry for as long as we could, as it was clear the rain, and maybe snow, was about to hit. Instead of completing the trail as a circuit, we took the same track back at double-time as the rain started to softly fall on our backs.

Skill Level

Intermediate

Tasmania’s Parks and Wildlife Service rates this as Grade 3, with bushwalking experience recommended. 

The most physically challenging part of the hike is the steep climb from the car park to the ski lodge. I recommend walking the circuit anti-clockwise to enjoy the tarns first. Navigation is generally easy, other than some of the rocky sections.

Essential Gear for Tarn Shelf

• As with any hike in Tasmania, a good waterproof jacket and other wet weather gear
• A good pair of waterproof boots or shoes (there are a lot of bog off the boardwalks)
• A GPS is handy to find the various tracks or a free app like Maps.Me is always useful
• Extra food and water
• Hat and sunscreen

How to Get to Tarn Shelf

Mount Field National Park is just under 1.5 hours’ drive from Hobart, with the trailhead another 25 minutes up a steep mountain road. From Mount Field National Park Information Centre or Campground, follow Lake Dobson Road for about 16km until it ends at the car park.

For the hike, follow signs to ‘Urquhart Track’, then ‘Alpine Hikes’, then take the most obvious path through the rocks to the boardwalk marked ‘Tarn Shelf Hike’.

Return this way or complete the circuit by eventually turning right onto the Lake Newdegate Track and then the Lake Webster Track, which casually descends through the forest on the other side of Lake Seal and back to the Lake Dobson car park.

Where to Stay Near Tarn Shelf

Mount Field National Park Campground is at the bottom of the mountain road that leads up to this trailhead. The beautiful campground has hot showers, a laundry, and other short walks nearby, including Russell Falls and Horseshoe Falls.