What is Southwest National Park in Tasmania?
Southwest National Park is Tasmania's largest national park, covering more than 600,000 hectares of remote wilderness in the island's southwest. Much of it has no roads.
The park protects rugged mountains, button grass plains, wild rivers, rainforest and a coastline battered by the Southern Ocean. It is part of the Tasmanian Wilderness World Heritage Area.
Walking tracks such as the South Coast Track and the Port Davey Track cross the park. The South Coast Track, about 85 kilometres long, starts at Melaleuca, reached by light aircraft.
Lake Pedder
The flooding of the original Lake Pedder for a hydroelectric scheme in 1972 sparked one of Australia's first major conservation campaigns.
The orange-bellied parrot, one of the world's rarest birds, breeds near Melaleuca.
Mount Anne and Federation Peak attract experienced climbers.
Protesters formed the United Tasmania Group in 1972, often described as one of the world's first green political parties. The Gordon River Road, built for the hydro scheme, now gives visitors access to the park's northern edge, including the Gordon Dam and Strathgordon. Weather in the southwest is wet and changeable, with frequent rain even in summer, so walkers must be well prepared.
Did You Know?
Federation Peak is often described as Australia's most difficult bushwalking summit.