Lake Gairdner Road — Upper Derwent Valley to Florentine Plateau via Westerway Forestry Spine
Button grass and bog above the Derwent.
West of Westerway, the sealed road gives way fast and the forestry network climbs hard into country that sees more logging trucks than tourists. The Lake Gairdner Road punches up through the wet sclerophyll buffer zone into open button grass plains on the Florentine Plateau, offering uninterrupted sightlines across one of Tasmania’s least-visited high-country landscapes. The plateau itself sits above 900 metres and the track can be boggy well into November — pull off the main line and you will sink in a hurry if the ground is saturated. This run links into the broader Styx Valley forestry network further south, making it a legitimate anchor leg for a multi-day southwest highlands loop.
Rated moderate to difficult depending on seasonal conditions — the upper plateau section carries genuine bog risk and any vehicle without a locker or good all-terrain tyres will struggle in wet conditions. A lifted 4WD with recovery gear is the minimum sensible choice. Fuel at Westerway or Maydena before heading in. No phone coverage above the valley floor. The Tasmania Parks and Wildlife Service boundary is close here so check logging operation schedules with Forestry Tasmania before entry — active coupes mean truck traffic and locked gates. No permit required on the forestry sections. Dispersed camping possible on the plateau.
Trail Specs
| Difficulty | Difficult |
|---|---|
| Trail Type | Backcountry, Technical 4x4 |
| Surface | Dirt, Mixed |
| Features | Camping, High Altitude, Remote, Scenic |
| Length (miles) | 24 mi / 38.6 km |
| Duration | Full day |
| Max elevation (ft) | 3050 ft |
| Best season | December-March |
| Minimum vehicle | Lifted 4WD with locking differential |
| Nearest town | Maydena, Tasmania |
| Land manager | Forestry Tasmania |
| Permit required | No |
| Cell service | None |
| Water crossings | Yes |
| Dispersed camping | Yes |
| Official sources | forestrytas.com.au |
| Start coordinates | |
| End coordinates | |
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Location
Trail Conditions
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Frequently asked questions
Can a stock Hilux or Patrol run this trail, or do I need lockers?
A stock rig will struggle — the boggy button grass sections and eroded clay climbs toward the plateau demand at minimum a rear locker and a lift of 2–3 inches for clearance. Open-diff vehicles have gotten buried up here. Don't chance it without lockers.
Is the Lake Gairdner Road accessible outside of summer?
December through March is the viable window. Winter brings snow to the plateau above 800m and the clay tracks turn to grease that'll hold you indefinitely. Even in late autumn the upper sections can be impassable after rain — check with Forestry Tasmania before any shoulder-season attempt.
Do I need a permit to drive this route through Forestry Tasmania land?
No permit is required for recreational vehicle access on Forestry Tasmania roads, but the network operates under their conditions — roads can be closed for logging operations or fire risk with little notice. Check closures at forestrytas.com.au before you leave Maydena, not the night before at camp.
What's the hardest section and what makes it technical?
The upper climb onto the Florentine Plateau is where it earns its difficulty rating — steep, rutted clay with off-camber shelf road sections and no recovery room on the downhill side. Add any moisture and the clay becomes a skating rink. Pick your lines early and don't let momentum get away from you on descent.
Is there any water available on trail, and how far is the nearest fuel from the trailhead?
There's no treated water on route — creek crossings exist but treat anything you pull from them. Fuel up in New Norfolk before heading to Maydena; Maydena itself has no servo and you're looking at over 80km round-trip back to civilization if you come up short.
Trail track
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