Mersey Forest Road to Pine Lake — Central Plateau Wilderness Drive
Glacial plateau, 1,000 lakes, and absolute silence.
The Central Plateau Conservation Area sits in the geographic heart of Tasmania and looks like nothing else in Australia. Starting from Lake Rowallan off the Mersey Forest Road, the track climbs onto a dolerite plateau that was glaciated during the last ice age and is still studded with thousands of small lakes and tarns. Pine Lake — one of the larger plateau lakes — is the practical turnaround destination for most 4WD travellers, though the tracks extend further for those prepared. The plateau surface is classic highland buttongrass and snowgrass patterned by polygonal frost cracks, with the strange, flat-topped horizon of a genuinely ancient landscape in every direction.
The Mersey Forest Road is a Hydro Tasmania access road and conditions vary significantly with season and recent maintenance. The plateau itself is exposed, snowbound from late April through to October in a serious year, and prone to sudden weather changes year-round. A standard high-clearance 4WD handles the dry-season track comfortably; the key challenges are the exposed elevation, the cold, and the distance from services rather than pure technical terrain. Fuel up in Deloraine or Miena. The Central Plateau Conservation Area has no entry permit but the Hydro Tasmania road network occasionally has gate access requirements — check current status before committing. This is a place for drivers who understand that the biggest risk is the weather, not the track.
Trail Specs
| Difficulty | Moderate |
|---|---|
| Trail Type | High Clearance, Overland Route, Scenic Drive |
| Surface | Dirt, Gravel, Mixed |
| Features | Camping, High Altitude, Remote, Scenic |
| Length (miles) | 42 mi / 67.6 km |
| Duration | 1-2 days |
| Max elevation (ft) | 4430 ft |
| Best season | November-April |
| Minimum vehicle | High-clearance 4WD |
| Nearest town | Miena, Tasmania |
| Land manager | Tasmania Parks and Wildlife Service / Hydro Tasmania |
| Permit required | No |
| Cell service | None |
| Water crossings | No |
| Dispersed camping | Yes |
| Official sources | parks.tas.gov.au |
| Start coordinates | |
| End coordinates | |
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Location
Trail Conditions
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Frequently asked questions
Can a stock Hilux or Prado handle this route, or do I need a lift?
A stock high-clearance 4WD like a Hilux, Prado, or Patrol handles this fine — no lift required. The track is rough gravel and dirt with some rutted sections, but nothing that demands suspension mods. Locking differentials are useful in wet conditions but not essential.
When does snow close access to the Central Plateau?
The plateau sits above 1,000m and snow can fall any month of the year, but serious closures typically run May through October. Stick to November through April for reliable access — even then, expect frost overnight and ice on the track in early mornings.
Do I need a permit to drive this route or camp on the plateau?
Yes — a Tasmania Parks Pass is required to enter the Central Plateau Conservation Area. Day visitors and campers both need one; purchase online through Parks Tasmania before you go. There are no fee stations out here, so don't assume you can sort it on arrival.
What's the hardest section of the route and what should I actually expect?
The roughest sections are the unmaintained side tracks pushing toward the lake edges — the main Mersey Forest Road corridor is manageable but corrugated and slow going after rain. Budget for 30–40 km/h average speeds, and expect the track surface to deteriorate significantly after wet weather, with soft boggy patches on the plateau flats.
There are supposedly over 1,000 lakes up here — can I actually find a campsite with water access, and is the water drinkable?
Dispersed camping is permitted throughout the area and lake access is genuinely plentiful — you won't struggle to find a flat spot near water. The alpine lakes are generally clean but treat or filter before drinking; platypus and livestock activity near some water bodies makes untreated consumption a risk.
Trail track
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