Lake Oberon Explorer Guided Walk, Tasmania - departs November 2011

Tour Details

Operator

Adventure Seekers

Destination

Hobart

Departs From

Hobart

Tour Description

Lake Oberon sits at an elevation of about 800m in the Western Arthur Range of Tasmania.

It is the most photographed and spoken about lake on the range and it is deserved of a visit to see why.

This tour best introduces you to the range without doing the full 10 day traverse or negotiating the rougher and more exposed sections beyond Lake Oberon.

Your walk starts at Scotts Peak Dam and climbs up onto the Western Arthur Range past Lake Cygnus, Mount Hayes and Square Lake to Lake Oberon.

You’ll have the opportunity to do many side trips to numerous summits along your skyline traverse and relax around the many beautiful tannin-stained lakes.

You’ll visit Mt Orion and Mt Pegasus (track goes up through a rock) as day walks, camp beside pristine lakes and be amazed at the geological wonderment of what is part of the “best ridge walk” in Australia.

The Western Arthurs and Lake Oberon is a special place that is never forgotten.

This tour is best suited for reasonably fit people and you will be required to carry a share of the food and equipment.

This walk is over six days and returns back along the same route as our approach. Alternatively if you are interested in the complete traverse along the range, please give us a call to discuss this option.

Itinerary

Day 1: Hobart to Scotts Peak & Lake Cygnus –15.3 km, 8.5 hours

We depart Hobart at 0630am and arrive at Scotts Peak car park @ 0845am.
We follow the Port Davey track through low stands of scrub and button grass plains to Junction Creek where we stop for lunch.

Following lunch we continue across more button grass plains to the track junction of Alpha Moraine and the Port Davey Track. From the junction it is a steady 3 hour climb to the top of the range just below the summit of Mt Hesperus. We are rewarded with excellent views over Lake Pedder, Scotts Peak and Mt Anne.

Once on top of the range it’s easy walking as we pass Lake Fortuna and the amazing rock formations that make up the Capella Crags. The Crags sit in a shallow saddle and Lake Cygnus sits just beyond this.

From the saddle it is a steep descent down to Lake Cygnus and our 1st nights camp.

Day 2: Lake Cygnus to Lake Oberon – 4.2km 4 hours + side trips

We climb back up Lake Cygnus’ access track, climb a minor peak and traverse around Mt Hayes. From the saddle we climb the short distance to the summit of Mt Hayes for expansive views over the South West National Park where Federation Peak is the dominant feature.

The track then descends to a number of saddles then contours around to Square Lake and lunch.

Following lunch the track climbs steeply from Square Lake passing Mount Orion and the turnoff to Epsilon Moraine. The terrain from here sidles under some cliffs followed by some small rocky knolls with low scrub.

Before we drop down to Lake Oberon a small saddle offers us an iconic view of Lake Oberon as seen in many postcards and photographs.

From the saddle we carefully descend down to a plain behind Lake Oberon and our camp.

Day 3 & 4: Lake Oberon – casual day trips

We spend the next 2 days exploring, photographing and just enjoying the surrounds of Lake Oberon. The 2 days at Lake Oberon also allows us a bit of flexibility should the weather be a bit inclement.

We will climb the peaks of Mt Pegasus where the track goes through a hole in the rock near the summit, Mt Pegasus South and also Mount Orion.

Day 5: Lake Oberon to Lake Cygnus - 4.2 km, 4 hours

We retrace our route back to camp at Lake Cygnus.

Day 6: Lake Cygnus to Scotts Peak – 15.3 km, 8 hours.

We descend down Alpha Moraine to Junction Creek and lunch then on to Scotts Peak and our transport back to Hobart.