Lake Rhona Track — Queenstown to Lake Rhona via Crossing River Wilderness
Southwest wilderness — earn every kilometre.
Most people never make it to Lake Rhona, and that’s exactly why it’s worth the effort. The route departs Queenstown heading south on forestry tracks through the Crossing River drainage, cutting through buttongrass plains and dense myrtle forest before the track deteriorates into something that separates locker-equipped vehicles from wishful thinkers. The climb past the Crossing River crossing itself — a knee-deep rocky ford that runs fast after rain — is the crux. From there the track rolls through eroded peat bog channels before breaking out at the lake, ringed by dolerite spires that look like something out of another planet.
This is Expert territory. You need a well-built 4WD with genuine mud-terrain tyres, a high-lift jack, snatch block, and recovery gear — and a mate behind you. The track is not maintained and conditions change fast; wet seasons turn the peat sections into wheel-swallowing traps. There are no permits required, but check PWS Tasmania closures before you go. No fuel between Queenstown and your return, so carry extra. Water is abundant but treat it. Late summer (February–April) gives the best ground conditions. Cell service is non-existent. The payoff is one of Tasmania’s most remote alpine lakes with exactly zero other people around it.
Trail Specs
| Difficulty | Expert |
|---|---|
| Trail Type | Backcountry, Technical 4x4 |
| Surface | Dirt, Mixed |
| Features | Camping, Remote, Scenic, Water Crossings |
| Length (miles) | 28 mi / 45 km |
| Duration | 2-3 days |
| Max elevation (ft) | 2460 ft |
| Best season | February-April |
| Minimum vehicle | Locker-equipped 4WD with mud-terrain tyres |
| Nearest town | Queenstown, Tasmania |
| Land manager | Parks and Wildlife Service Tasmania |
| Permit required | No |
| Cell service | None |
| Water crossings | Yes |
| 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 Land Cruiser or Defender handle this, or do I need lockers?
You need at minimum one locker — rear at absolute minimum, front preferred — plus aggressive mud-terrain tyres. A stock setup will get you stuck in the clay sections before you're halfway in. This trail earns its Expert rating.
What's the best time of year to run this trail and when should I stay home?
February through April is the window — drier ground, lower creek levels, and the mud is more manageable. Winter closes this track down hard; snow, ice, and flooded crossings make it genuinely dangerous and potentially impassable for days at a time.
Do I need a permit to drive in and camp at Lake Rhona?
You need a valid Tasmania National Parks Pass to access and camp in this area — day pass or annual, both work. No separate track permit required, but Parks and Wildlife Service Tasmania manages the area so check current conditions at parks.tas.gov.au before you leave Queenstown.
What's the hardest section and what am I actually dealing with?
The creek crossings through the Crossing River drainage are where rigs get hurt — axle-deep water over slick rocks with no clear line, combined with the steep, rutted clay climbs immediately after. Momentum matters, but so does reading the water before you commit. One wrong line and you're winching in a very remote place with no help coming.
How far is the nearest fuel stop, and is there any cell service on trail?
Queenstown is your last fuel — fill up completely before you leave, 45km each way plus recovery fuel means you want a full tank and a spare jerry can minimum. There is zero cell service for the entire route; a PLB or satellite communicator is not optional on this one.
Trail track
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