Cycle Touring Tasmania – Day 16
Tarraleah to Lake St Clair
58km, 600m elevation
After two hard days it was nice to have a shorter cycle on relatively flat roads today. From Tarraleah, the highway takes a circuitous and hilly route to Derwent Bridge. Instead, I decided to cycle the C601, a gravel road that passes through pretty forest. That saved me 10 km and let me enjoy the scenery without much traffic.
This is part of a month-long cycle tour around Tasmania. If you missed the start of this journey, here’s how it all got started.
On my way into the town of Derwent Bridge I stopped at a place called The Wall. The Wall in the Wilderness is a huge wood carving created by local sculptor Greg Duncan. It shows scenes of life in Tasmania’s central highlands and it’s surprisingly large – 100 meters long! It’s still a work in progress that Greg reckons will take another ten years to complete. You can see some panels that are just sketches on wood, others beginning coming to life, and others complete works of art.
Lake St Clair is a major attraction, probably one of the biggest in all of western Tasmania. You can take a cruise across the lake but we chose to stroll along one of the many short tracks. Wandering along the lake then stopping in the forest to sit on a large log across a babbling creek, I felt very much at home.
It’s somewhat ironic that I’m here, actually. One of the major draws in coming to Tasmania was to walk the Overland Track, a stunning mountain trail that ends at Lake St Clair. When I injured my foot, I had to change plans and that’s where the idea of this cycle tour came from. When one door closes, another opens. Seeing walkers finish their treks with happy and relieved faces made me really want to come back. That means another trip to Tasmania already in the works!
Up next, I cycle into the wilderness of Western Tasmania.
If you’re planning your own cycling trip in Tasmania, you can see today’s track and download the gpx from strava.
Eating Snow Around the World 
I remember Derwent Bridge and the Wall, it’s an amazing sight. And how good that you made it to the Overland Track, at least by bike. Bet you can’t wait to come back again and actually do the hike. Wonderful stuff as usual Justin.
You’re right, Miriam. I can’t wait to come back. Not only for the Overland Track but now that I’ve seen the wall, I’m really excited to see how different it is when i return!
How much of the trip in Tassie do you still have left?
Another two and a half weeks! I’m hoping to make it all the way up the West Coast and maybe even close the loop back at St Helens. We’ll see – everywhere I go there’s so much to discover! I’m more focused on enjoying the culture, nature, and history than cycling long miles, although I do like the challenge of covering lots of ground too.
Sounds great. You’ll love the West Coast, there’s so much to see around Strahan and Cradle Mountain and the scenery is just spectacular. The hilly terrain will test your legs! But it sounds as though you’re taking it easy and just enjoying the whole ambience of the place so I’ve no doubt you’ll have a ball.