Date: 13-14th February 2022
Travelled: 145 kms Queenstown to Bradyโs Lake , Tasmania.
Visited: Lake St Clair, Cradle Mountain NP and โThe Wallโ
Stayed: Bradyโs Lake, free, S42.23399, E146.49567 ย
Budget: 17 days @ $0 per day.
After a very quiet evening in Queenstown, we top up the water, fuel and hit the IGA. Other than the odd pub and a free camp there isnโt much for the next couple of hundred kms or two nights maybe three.
It seems a little strange that a state as relatively small as Tasmania, can have large areas with few services. But thatโs south-west Tasmania.
The drive across from Queenstown is scenic but a wrestling match of steep climbs and descents with plenty of hairpin bends once again. But there is little traffic and we have the road to ourselves most of the way.
Arriving in Lake St Clair we go straight to the NP Visitors Centre. We plan a boat ride up the lake and a walk back tomorrow. So we get the necessary information and book two tickets ($42pp) on the 9am departure.
We drive back out to Derwent Bridge and find a spot at the Derwent Bridge Wilderness Hotel. As you can see itโs popular with travellers as the price is right. Mind you a round of drinks in the hotel bar later is a staggering $21, so they make it up on the go round.
Anyway we have a quiet evening and make an early start to be up at the dock at 8.45am. The ferry which is just a big tinnie gets away promptly at 9am with 17 people on board.
Some views from the dock 
I had imagined some vintage huon pine veteran of the lake, but no a tinnie.
The trip up the lake only takes about 10 minutes our so and we are dropped off at Echo Point leaving us an eleven kilometre walk back.
The shelter hut at Echo Point 
Fabulous view across the lake from Echo Point to Mount Spurling.
This walk is the final leg of the Cradle Mountain 6 day walk. Although from what we can gather walkers often catch the ferry back from along the lake rather than walk it. After the first kilometre we can see why.
In brief, the track follows the lake, but not along the shoreline. Mostly itโs inland about 50m or so. The first 6 kms are challenging as most of the time your walking around and over tree roots and fallen logs. Itโs slow and the risk of tripping is constant. The last 5 kms of track is better maintained, wider and easier to walk without falling on your face.
Three hours and thirty minutes later we are done. All in all it was a great walk. From time to time the views across the lake alone make it worthwhile. The forest is amazing, the leatherwoods are in bloom leaving parts of the trail dusted in white petals. Many of the trees are old growth and huge. Not much traffic though, we pass two people going the other way, get passed by a family of 4 going the same way, who we passed an hour later and never saw again.
Some great views 
The end. 
Interesting !
Back in the Jayco we chill, have a coffee and a shower (thatโs why we love motorhoming). No point staying here another night, Pam fears I may drag her back to the pub for another $21 round, but we do pop back to the pub and get a takeaway for dinner tonight. The kitchen is run by a Sri Lankan family and everyone raves about the curry. So we roll out of Derwent Bridge with a fish curry, rice, naan bread, pappadum, chutney and yoghurt.
Five kms past Derwent Bridge, we stop at The Wall. Another place everyone we speak too recommends. The entry is $20pp. Inside a large corrugated iron structure houses a series of timber panels used to create the wall. The carved and sculpture timber panels created by the artist Greg Duncan, catalogue the history of Tasmania. Unfortunately you cannot take photos but the link above will give you a taste.
If you have the opportunity we highly recommend visiting The Wall, the detail of the works is something that will amaze you as it did us.
Back on the road again. Thirty minutes later we turn off the Lyell Hwy to check out a free camp on Bradyโs Lake. Other than there is absolutely no phone/internet signal itโs a beautiful spot.
We set up the Jayco for the evening. Before you can say โdrinksโ twice, we have the chairs out and join our tugger neighbours for a chat and a drink or two.
Michael + Pam
