Dover to Lune River Limestone Ridge Road — Huon to Ida Bay via Esperance Forest Interior

The Deep South of Tasmania doesn’t just end at Cockle Creek — there’s a whole web of forestry roads threading through the Esperance forest block between Dover and the Lune River limestone country, and most overland travellers never find them. This route pushes south from Dover through working forest coupes and old-growth reserves, tracking the ridgeline above the Esperance River before dropping into the karst terrain around Ida Bay. The limestone country here is genuine — sinkholes, cave entrances, and the occasional collapse feature right beside the track. The Ida Bay Railway historic site near the southern terminus is worth the stop: a narrow-gauge tramway once hauled limestone from the Ida Bay quarry to the coast, and the rails and infrastructure are still mostly intact. The track itself is well-graded in the upper sections and progressively rougher as it descends toward Lune River.

High clearance is enough on a dry run; 4WD low range matters on the steeper descent sections where loose shale meets hardpack clay. The forest roads here are active logging routes — watch for trucks on blind corners during weekday operating hours, and check with Forestry Tasmania for any coupe closures before setting out. Fuel in Dover. No cell service south of the main township. Southern Tasmania’s weather turns fast year-round, but autumn delivers the most reliable windows. Dispersed camping is possible in cleared coupe areas. This is the karst edge of the world — few people come this way and the silence is absolute.