Duckhole Lake

The feature of this short and easy there-and-back walk is the idyllic Duckhole Lake. The 4.2km track, most of which is boardwalk, follows a stream through regrowth forest to the lake.

Lying within the Southwest National Park, the delightfully tranquil lake is actually a flooded sinkhole. It is part of the extensive regional cave and karst system that includes Hastings Caves. The lake is a peaceful place to sit and listen to the birds and frogs while you have a picnic.

The track follows a late 19th century sawmill tramway for much of the way, and remnants of the tramway can be seen.

A National Parks pass will be required to access the Southwest National Park. These can be obtained from the Huonville Parks Shop or online (https://passes.parks.tas.gov.au/).

Part of the 60 Great Short Walks, this walk is co-managed by Tasmania Parks and Wildlife Service and Sustainable Timber Tasmania.

NOTE: Please supervise children as there is water in the creeks and lake.

Distance: 4.2 km return

Suggested Time: 1.5 hours return

Difficulty: Grade 2. Suitable for most ages. The track has a hardened or compacted surface that may have a gentle hill section or sections and occasional steps.

Facilities: Picnic facilities. Alternatively there is a nearby cafe, toilets, picnic and barbeques and thermal swimming pool at Hastings Caves State Reserve (approx. 7.5km drive from Duckhole Lake car park).

Access: 2WD accessible, however may only be accessible by 4WD after rain.

Getting There:

Travel south on the Huon Highway to the township of Strathblane (7.5km south of Dover). Once you reach the Esperance River bridge continue for a further 2.9km, then turn right at the intersection of the Darcy Link. Keep left at Creekton Road for a total of 8km until you reach the carpark opposite the track head.

An alternative access is via the Hastings Caves Road and Chestermans Road. This route is only accessible with a 4WD vehicle. It is narrow with steep side slopes and can be slippery at times.

Plan Ahead

Tasmania’s remote areas are beautiful however weather and track conditions can change suddenly. Mobile reception in many of these areas can be limited or non existent. These tracks are not Council owned or maintained.

Be prepared for the walk or activity. Plan ahead, bring enough water, check the alerts, and make sure you are comfortable with the difficulty rating.

For more information, visit the following websites:

• TasALERT – for fire, floods and other emergencies
• Tasmanian Fire Service – for planned burns
• Bureau of Meteorology
• Tasmania Parks and Wildlife Service – Safety in Parks

Leave No Trace is an internationally accepted way of minimising your impacts on the places we visit. Respect wildlife, be considerate of others, dispose of your waste properly.