Hiking guide to Hartz Peak, Tasmania

Hiking guide to Hartz Peak, Tasmania

A detailed hiking guide for the Hartz Peak summit in Hartz Mountains National Park, Tasmania. How to get to the starting point of the hiking trail, what awaits you and photos from our sunrise walk to the Hartz Peak.

The Hartz Peak is the highest point of the Hartz Mountains chain in southern Tasmania at 1253 meters. A simple access road in combination with a well -developed path make this summit hike a very feasible mission for many.

In this blog post, I hope to equip you with everything you need to know to hike the Hartz Peak Walk to the summit. I also added some photos of our sunny hike in winter, from which I hope you will inspire you to visit this incredible Tasman National Park.

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Where is the Hartzspitze?

The Hartz Peak is located in the Hartz Mountains National Park in southern Tasmania, about 86 kilometers from Hobart. The starting point for the summit is at the end of the Hartz Road, where there is also an vacant visitor center and sufficient parking spaces for up to 20 vehicles.

Google Maps Pin: "Hartz Peak Track"

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Drive to the Hartz Mountains National Park

Unfortunately there are no organized tours or public transport that lead to the Hartz Mountains. Therefore, the only way to reach the starting point of the hiking trail, drive here yourself or to try your luck by hitchhiker from Geeveston.

This is because, no matter from which direction you come, you first have to drive towards Geeveston. Once there, follow the signs towards Hartz Mountains and Tahune Adventures to the Arve Road.

About 12 kilometers of the curvy Arvestrasse high you will see a junction to Hartzstrasse (unpaved). Next, follow this road about 14 kilometers to the end, where there is a large turning bay and sufficient parking spaces.

The road up to the Hartz Mountains is unpaved, but is well classified. But remember that it is steep and the winter frost can make it very slippery.

We managed to bring our big van there without any problems.
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If you want to explore the beautiful region south of Hobart but do not have their own means of transport, I can recommend this full -day tour from Hobart instead.

It includes some of the best activities in the south, such as the Tahune Airwalk and the Hastings Caves.

check price: southern Tassie-Ganztagen-day adventure tour to the Tahune Airwalk and the Hastings caves.

Related Post: 26 great things that can be done in Hobart

The Hartz summit

Hiking route (back and forth)
Duration: 4 hours of time recommended time: 2.5 hours
Height: 519 meters total height difference peak: 1253 m Amsl
Medium

The great thing at the Hartz Peak Walk is that the Hartz Road meanders up the whole mountain and offers simple access to the summit, which is only 4 kilometers away. With regard to effort and reward, the Hartz Peak hike is one of the best in Tasmania.

From above you have a look at Alpine Bergseen and Lakes while you are on the highest point in the Hartz chain. Behind them overlook the rough and unacceptable World Heritage Wilderness Area des Southwest National Park and even catch a glimpse of the Federation Peak.

Although this route is quite simple and can be easily mastered in about two and a half hours, it is important to mention that it is located in an alpine area. This means that dangerous weather can break in at any time. People died out of the cold out there. There are also a bit uphill with sections that are a bit steep and can often be covered with snow in winter.

Therefore, it is best to plan your hikes accordingly and the most important alpine things such as additional water, warm clothing, a waterproof layer and possibly even take a satellite phone with me (I always have my Inreach Mini with me).
Alt = "Hartz See from Hartz Peak Walk">

Related Post: Guide to visit the edge of the world

starting point for the Lake Esperance

The starting point of the hiking trail to the Hartz Peak begins next to the visitor hut at the end of the Hartz Road. There is a blue Tasmanian Parks sign that shows the way.

The first section can be a bit muddy, but it doesn't take long. The route was recently modernized and there is a wooden footbridge that leads to Hartz Peak until the start of the ascent. This makes this hike very pleasant and also protects the sensitive alpine vegetation underneath.
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After about 1.5 km you reach a fork that leads to Lake Esperance. This is a beautiful Alpensee with a wooden footbridge that continues to the edge. There are a few benches where you can sit down and enjoy the view. Since we broke up early for sunrise, we continued past the Lake Esperance and made a stopover on the way back.
Alt = “Hartz-Berge sunrise in Tasmania”>

Ladies Tarn to Hartz Peak

Another kilometer down the picturesque boardwalk path (when the weather is nice) there is another detour to Ladies Tarn. A mountain lake is a kind of small Alpine lake. This special lake has a very short diversion loop, which means that we could handle it and continue towards Hartz Peak.
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If you continue, the gentle wooden footbridge only ends a few hundred meters behind Ladies Tarn. The path then rises on a narrow, rocky route and reaches the saddle, which is known as Hartz Pass, right next to the Hartz Peak. This section had very deep snow when we visited it because it is protected by the Hartz Range from the Roaring 40s that scream through the Southwest National Park.
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When we reached the Hartz Pass, we were immediately hit by these notorious winds. Here you can also get the first views of the wilderness of Southwest National Park. And if you are lucky with the weather, you can see the Federation Peak in the distance.
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Views of the summit of the Hartz Peak

The ascent to the Hartz Peak begins to the left (south) of the pass. You see stacked piles of stone that mark the way to the summit. The path upwards is actually very well carved, with rocks that are placed in such a way that climbing becomes child's play. However, I could imagine that it could get a little difficult and slippery in the event of strong snowfall.
Alt = "Hartz tip in winter">
When you have arrived at the top, you will be rewarded with an excellent view. Immediately in the south is the conical snowy peak, a beautiful mountain that was not particularly snowy during my winter visit.

The most beautiful view is that of Lake Hartz in the northwest. On clear days you can also see the steep slope in the distance in the south and the distant Arthur Ranges in the west.

More photos of the Hartz Peak

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Alt = "Snow -covered pointed Tasmania">
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Alt = “Hartz See and Hartz Peak Tasmania”>
Alt = "Hartz Peak Tasmania, Hartz See">
Alt = "Hartz summit sunrise hike">

Return to the Trailhead parking lot

After enjoying the view, you can turn back and go the same way back to the parking lot. Be sure to see Ladies Tarn and Lake Esperance on the way if you haven't done it yet.

In addition, I suggest that on the return trip to the Arve Falls, a short 800-meter right of back to a picturesque little alpine waterfall.
Alt = “Arve falls Tasmania”> Arve cases

Accommodation near the Hartz Mountains

If you want to stay in the region around Geeveston for a while after the Hartz Peak hike, I have linked some resources below to help you.

The Tahune Airwalk Lodgesie may be surprised to hear that you can actually spend the night at Tahune Adventures. There are numerous rooms to choose from, from dormitories with bunk beds to suites for the whole family. The facilities include a restaurant, a community kitchen and a community lounge as well as free WiFi. So if you are in the area, why don't you take a look at Tahune Adventures and spend the night in the lodge?

Check the price and availability for your travel data
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Otherwise there are also a few hotels and motels in the nearest Geeveston community, which are a great stop after Hartz Peak Walk. Below is a card you can use to search for the best offers for your travel dates.

Click here to compare the best offers and the availability of rooms in Geeveston

booking.com

More Tasmanian waterfall leader, hikes and adventure

I hope that you found this fast hiking guide to the Hartz Peak in Tasmania. If you liked the Hartz Mountains National Park, you should definitely take a look at some of the other wonders of Tasmania.

I spent several months to hike and explore some of the best areas of Tasmania, and many of them are presented in this blog. Look at it!

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