Trail Fast Facts

Tarn Shelf is a 14km, grade 3 hike in Mount Field National Park, Tasmania. This hike typically takes 6-7 hours to complete.

Length: 14km

Duration: 6-7 hrs

Grade 3 (Moderate)

Style: Circuit

Start: Lake Dobson Carpark

End: Lake Dobson Carpark

Location: Mount Field National Park

State: Tasmania

Nearby town: National Park

From state capital: 88km

Latitude: -42.68520367663362

Longitude: 146.59388065338138

Overview

Map and GPX file

Directions

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Hike Overview

The Tarn Shelf in Mount Field National Park, Tasmania, features a stunning series of small glacial lakes. This area offers a challenging 14-kilometre circuit walk that includes the Tarn Shelf, Lake Newdegate, Twilight Tarn, and Lake Webster. The route traverses the Tarn Shelf and returns via the lower lakes, with the tarns often freezing over in winter. This hike, classified as grade 3, typically takes 6-7 hours to complete.

Along the way, you can pause at the rustic Twilight Tarn hut, a historical site that contains skiing memorabilia from earlier decades. Track work has been done to address muddier sections and to protect the rare and sensitive vegetation in the area.

For a shorter experience, a 3-hour return walk to the Tarn Shelf is accessible via a track starting from the ski fields. This walk passes several small glacial lakes and is particularly vibrant in autumn when the deciduous beech (Nothofagus gunnii) turns golden. You can return to Lake Dobson via the same track.

For more experienced walkers, the Rodway Range-Tarn Shelf circuit walk offers an extended exploration of the area. This route provides striking views from the Rodway Range and the beauty of the Tarn Shelf. The circuit ascends from Rodway Hut through the rocky Lions Den to K Col, then turns north along the Rodway Range before descending via Newdegate Pass to Lake Newdegate, with a return across the Tarn Shelf. This longer route also takes around 6-7 hours and may require skis or snowshoes during winter.

Track Grade

Grade 3 (Moderate) - Walks for Most Fitness Levels: Grade 3 on the AWTGS represents moderate walking tracks. These are ideal for walkers with some fitness who are comfortable with some hills and uneven terrain. While suitable for most ages, some bushwalking experience is recommended to ensure a safe and enjoyable experience. Tracks may have short, steep hill sections, a rough surface, and many steps. The total distance of a Grade 3 walk can be up to 20 kilometers.

Tips

Bushwalking experience recommended: These tracks may include short, steep hill sections, rough surfaces, and numerous steps.
Child supervision advised: Be aware that these tracks are subject to severe weather conditions, which can change rapidly. Snow cover can make navigation difficult, and tracks may become impassable.
Park entry requirement: A valid parks pass is essential for access to all national parks in Tasmania.

Map and GPX file

Tarn Shelf Mount Field (14km)

Total distance: 14248 m
Max elevation: 1268 m
Min elevation: 833 m
Total climbing: 574 m
Total descent: -574 m

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Trailhead

Getting there

Tarn Shelf Mount Field (14km)

To reach the trailhead at Mount Field National Park, start your journey from Hobart, which is just over an hour’s drive away. Follow the A10 or B62 through New Norfolk and Westerway. From Westerway, it's a short, winding drive to the small township of National Park and the entrance to Mount Field National Park. Once inside the park, continue along Lake Dobson Road for 16 kilometres to reach the Lake Dobson carpark, where the walk begins. This section of the road is unsealed and may be closed during snow conditions, so check ahead if you're visiting in winter. Please be mindful of wildlife, especially if driving at night, and take it slow to ensure their safety as well as your own.

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Photo gallery

Main image: Tasmania Parks and Wildlife Service

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About the region

Mount Field National Park, often referred to as "the park for all seasons," showcases a remarkable array of natural landscapes. Located in southern Tasmania, approximately 64 kilometers northwest of Hobart, this park is a convenient day trip from the state capital, offering a diverse range of walks, bushwalks, and hikes suitable for all visitors.

The journey through Mount Field begins with a short, leisurely walk to Russell Falls, one of Tasmania's most iconic waterfalls. The path leads you through towering tree ferns and giant eucalypts, providing a tranquil introduction to the park's natural beauty. As you venture further into the park, the landscape changes dramatically. The road to Lake Dobson offers access to longer day walks and, during winter, the snow-dusted slopes of the Mount Mawson ski field. The Tarn Shelf, particularly stunning in autumn, comes alive with the vibrant colours of the deciduous beech, or fagus, which turns the hillsides gold, orange, and red.

Mount Field National Park covers nearly 163 square kilometers and is renowned for its ecological diversity. The park features towering eucalypt forests, some of the tallest in the world, which give way to unique alpine vegetation at higher altitudes. Glaciated landscapes and alpine tarns provide a dramatic backdrop for bushwalks, while the lower elevations offer easily accessible walking tracks past magnificent waterfalls, including Russell Falls, which is perhaps the most photographed waterfall in Tasmania.

For those interested in more challenging hikes, Lake Dobson serves as the starting point for several longer trails. The Pandani Grove walk, which skirts the edge of Lake Dobson, offers a closer look at the unique flora of the region. The park also provides well-equipped picnic spots, a playground for children, and a visitor centre with a café, making it an ideal destination for family trips.

Whether you're in the mood for a casual walk, an adventurous hike, or simply a day spent exploring Tasmania's diverse landscapes, Mount Field National Park has something to offer. The park’s changing altitudes and weather conditions provide a dynamic experience, showcasing the distinct ecological zones that make Tasmania so unique. During winter, the park even offers opportunities for cross-country skiing on Mount Mawson's slopes.

Want to find the best trails in Mount Field National Park for an adventurous hike, casual walk, or a family trip? Trail Hiking Australia has the best trails for walking, hiking, running, and more.

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Tarn Shelf Mount Field (14km)

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Gear to consider

What you carry in your pack will depend on the weather, terrain, time of year, type of adventure, and personal preferences. Having trouble deciding what gear’s right for you? My free planning, food and packing checklists provide an introduction to things your could consider (as well as the Ten Essentials) on your day, overnight and multi-day adventures. Customise your kit according to your personal needs, always considering safety first.

Explore Safe

While planning your hike, it’s important to check official government sources for updated information, temporary closures and trail access requirements. Before hitting the trail, check local weather and bushfire advice for planned burns and bushfire warnings and let someone know before you go. Plan ahead and hike safely.