Walls of Jerusalem National Park

The attraction of walking in the Walls of Jerusalem National Park

The biblical names that have been bestowed upon landmark features of the Walls of Jerusalem National Park hint at its grand scale, epic nature and profound impact. What walker would not be lured by monikers such as Herrod’s Gate, Solomon’s Throne, Pool of Siloam and the Vale of Bethseda? Succumb to the lure; you won’t be disappointed! The national park is a wondrous land of alpine tarns and lakes, dolerite peaks, pencil pines and diverse alpine vegetation.

The Walls of Jerusalem National Park is located on the Central Plateau of Tasmania. It is situated a short distance east of the better known and much-visited Cradle Mountain-Lake St Clair National Park and together with that national park forms the bulk of the northern portion of the Tasmanian Wilderness World Heritage Area. The park name derives from the dolerite peaks, bluffs and cliffs in the middle section of the park that appear to create a natural fortress.

The Central Plateau of Tasmania is a relatively flat, elevated region. Most of the area sits above 1200 metres and is alpine in nature. The region is also known as the Lake Country as the Walls of Jerusalem National Park and the neighbouring Central Plateau Conservation Area contain approximately 4,000 lakes. The lakes are the product of the last Ice Age, during which the scouring action of the ice cap that covered the plateau created innumerable indentations in the dolerite.

The Walls of Jerusalem National Park is about 200km south-west of Launceston. The drive from Launceston takes about 2.5 hours. Unusually, there is no road access into the park. Access is gained by foot, with the most common entry point being from a carpark located outside the north-west boundary. Facilities in the park are virtually non-existent. The Wild Dog Creek Campsite has tent platforms and a toilet. There are several huts in the park but they are very small and prone to leakage. Tents must be carried.

The most common way of exploring the National Park is to climb up the plateau from the north-west entry point and to establish a base camp at Wild Dog Creek Campsite or Dixons Kingdom Hut. Typically, walkers spend one or two nights at either of these campsites and use daypacks for day walks. Click the button below for a description of Walls of Jerusalem National Park walks.

There are a number of tour operators offering a variety of walking trips in the Walls of Jerusalem National Park. We can help you choose an operator that best suits your interests and requirements. Click below to learn more.