We leave Hobart and travel west along the scenic Lyell Highway. Along the way, we pause in a charming historic town, established in 1807, where you’ll have the chance to purchase lunch and enjoy a hot drink from a local bakery.

We then continue along the scenic Gordon River Road, passing through towering eucalyptus forests. Upon arrival in the lush temperate rainforest, you’ll visit the Creepy Crawly Walk, where your guide leads a 40-minute informative wilderness walk, including navigating steps and climbing over fallen logs.

As we journey past dramatic, steep mountains and take in the sweeping views of Lake Pedder, we arrive at the lakeside Ted’s Beach. Here, you can fully connect with nature on a relaxed shoreline walk, enriched by David’s university-level knowledge of botany, geology, and freshwater ecosystems. You may even enjoy a refreshing barefoot dip in the lake. Take time to unwind and enjoy lunch at Ted’s Beach, known for its striking white quartzite shoreline.

After a short drive, we reach a scenic lookout offering breathtaking bird’s-eye views of the lake and the rugged, glaciated mountain ranges of the southwest. Pause for a moment, take a deep breath, and fully absorb the spectacular surroundings.

After another short drive, we arrive at Gordon Dam, where you’ll walk across the 140-metre-high wall, feeling tiny against its immense scale. There’s plenty of time to capture photos, soak in the views, or, if you’re brave, look down into the gorge far below. Take in the dramatic beauty of Gordon Gorge, with pristine temperate rainforest on one side. Then turn around to admire Lake Gordon, Australia’s largest water storage. Your guide, David, will share his firsthand experience from working with Hydro Tasmania, including his role in helping determine the lake’s volume. To finish, climb the 185 steps back up to the road.

After a brief drive, we reach the elevated vantage points of Nob Hill Lookout and Gordon Dam Lookout, offering even more spectacular views—so breathtaking that one guest famously exclaimed, “I believe I can fly!”

Southwest National Park forms part of the Tasmanian Wilderness World Heritage Area. Visitors will encounter dramatic, steep quartzite mountains, expansive button grass plains, towering eucalypt forests, and lush rainforests, all complemented by sweeping vistas of Lake Pedder.

As we drive through Southwest National Park, we’ll pause briefly in the historic town of Maydena, where charming timber houses sit amidst forest plantations, eucalypt forests, and mountain bike trails. This stop occurs both on the way to and from Lake Pedder, offering views of the dramatic dolerite peaks of Mount Field National Park, sometimes capped with snow. From there, we continue back to Hobart, traveling along the picturesque Derwent Valley.