N AT U R A L VA L U E S
Hartz Mountains
National Park & WHA
Parks and Wildlife Service Tasmania
DEPARTMENT of TOURISM, PARKS
HERITAGE and the ARTS
Hartz Mountains National Park offers you the
opportunity to see a spectacular landscape which has
been shaped by glaciers during past ice ages. The park
contains a wide variety of vegetation from wet
eucalypt forest and rainforest through to alpine heath
on the exposed mountain tops. Waterfalls tumble off
the dolerite range that runs through the centre of the
park and small glacial lakes dot the upper slopes.
This area was included in Tasmania’s Wilderness
World Heritage Area (WHA) in 1989, in recognition
of its spectacular natural and cultural values. Its
highest point, Hartz Peak (1255 m), provides
panoramic views into the heart of the southwest.
Weather
Visitors to Hartz Mountains are warned that the area
is subject to sudden storms, mists and blizzards, even
in summer. Rain falls on more than 220 days of the
year so it is necessary to carry waterproofs and warm
clothing with you at all times.
Geo-heritage
Hartz Mountains National Park ranges from 160m at
the Picton River to 1,255m above sea level at Hartz
Peak. Most of the park is above 600 m.
The sedimentary rocks of the
lower altitudes in the south are
among the oldest rocks in the
park. They were formed from
sediments deposited by marine,
glacial and freshwater sources
between 355 and 180 million
years ago.
The great backbone of rock
extending almost the entire
length of the park is dolerite.
This igneous rock which is very
resistant to weathering, intruded
into the earth’s outer crust around
165 million years ago during the
break-up of Gondwana.
This area has also been modified
over time by several ice ages.
The cirques, horn peaks, aretes
and glacial troughs were all
formed during glacial activity on
the Hartz Range.
glaciation
Animals
Most animals in the park are nocturnal, however
echidnas and platypus are sometimes observed during
the day. In the evening Bennetts wallabies, Tasmanian
pademelons and brushtail possums are often seen.
Several frog species can be heard calling during the
day. This includes the moss froglet which was
previously unknown until it was discovered at Hartz
Mountains in 1992.
A variety of birds can also be seen in the park
depending on the season. Some of the more common
birds include the eastern spinebill, green rosella, forest
raven and several honeyeaters.
Plants
As you drive into the park you will notice changes in
the vegetation from wet eucalypt forest, through
mixed forests dominated by stringybark (Eucalyptus
obliqua), to rainforest communities with myrtle
(Nothofagus cunninghamii), sassafras (Atherosperma
moschatum), leatherwood (Eucryphia lucida) and
native laurel (Anopterus glandulosus).
At higher altitudes the vegetation continues to change
in response to the lower temperatures and extreme
conditions. The trees become shorter and the canopy
more open, until eventually they are replaced by
shrubs. Alpine communities, those above the treeline,
and sub-alpine communities, those just below the
treeline, dominate the park.
The sub-alpine forests are dominated by three
eucalypts, snow gum (Eucalyptus coccifera),
varnished gum (E. vernicosa), Australia’s
smallest eucalypt, and yellow gum (E.
subcrenulata). The understorey is
made up largely of heath plants,
including the Tasmanian
waratah (Telopea truncata).
Today a memorial to the two men is located in the
park near the place where they perished, only five
minutes walk along the Hartz Peak track.
In the early 1900s a new industry was established,
which involved the extraction of eucalyptus oil from
the varnished gum. The oil was distilled and used in a
variety of medicinal preparations.
The increasing popularity of
the Hartz Range as an
area of outstanding
beauty led to it being
set aside as a Scenic
Reserve in 1939. Since
then sections of the
reserve have been
revoked for logging, while
new areas have been added.
Hartz Mountains National Park
now encompasses 7226 ha.
Human history
The Aboriginal people who
lived in this area probably
belonged to the South East
group whose territory ranged
from New Norfolk to Bruny
Island, throughout the
MOSS FROGLET
D’Entrecasteaux Channel and
Walks
(Bryobatrachus nimbus)
inland to the Huon Valley. The
Walking tracks in the park are
recorded name for people from the Huon
well defined and signposted and
area was the Mellukerdee.
range from a few minutes to all day. Some tracks may
have muddy sections. The weather in the mountains
The Mellukerdee people would have used the coast
can change rapidly so be prepared for rain, snow and
for resources such as shellfish and muttonbirds and
mist, even in summer.
travelled further inland for wallabies and plant foods.
The Hartz Mountains area and surrounding forests
The short track across the road from the picnic shelter
continue to have significance for today’s Tasmanian
leads to Waratah Lookout, with views of Keoghs
Aboriginal community.
Falls. The Arves Falls Track is slightly longer, half an
hour return, and leaves from the carpark about 1 km
The first Europeans to explore the area were timberpast the picnic area.
getters in search of the Huon pine. They were also
looking for possible routes west to Port Davey to
A track leads from the end of the road to Lake
reach the stands of pine there. The Hartz Mountains
Osborne. It is an easy one hour return walk and is
were named after a mountain range in Bavaria,
certainly worth the effort. The return journey is along
Germany.
the same track.
Among the early settlers in the 1840s were the
At the end of the road the more energetic walker can
Geeves family who founded the township of
tackle the Hartz Peak Track, which will take you to
Geeveston. They explored much of the southwest and
the highest point in the park. The last section of the
cut the first track from Geeveston to the Hartz
track is marked by rock cairns and short tracks branch
Mountains. They later extended the track westward to
off to Lake Esperance and Hartz Lake. Hartz Peak
the base of Federation Peak.
offers unsurpassed views of Tasmania’s southwest.
Tragedy struck in 1897 when Osborne Geeves, his
Allow about 4 to 5 hours return.
three sons and their cousin were overtaken by a
blizzard when returning to Hartz hut. One son, Arthur,
Further information
and his cousin, Sydney, died of hypothermia. This is a
Hartz Mountains Day Walk Map and Notes
stark reminder of the unpredictable nature of the
weather in highland Tasmania.
Hartz Mountains National Park: Huonville Office;
Phone: (03) 6264 8460
FURTHER INFORMATION
Head Office:
Phone:
134 Macquarie Street Hobart TAS 7000
1300 135 513
Internet:
www.parks.tas.gov.au
December 2003 © State of Tasmania