Hartz Mountains National Park, Tasmania

Hartz Mountains National Park covers an area of 7226ha at the eastern edge of the south-west wilderness. The park is dominated by a dolerite ridge that reaches its highest point within the park at Hartz Peak, 1254m.  The walking track from the car park to Hartz Peak rises 400m as it passes beside small pools and streams as well as relatively large tarns then over Hartz Pass and up to the Peak itself. Here on a fine day, the view in all directions is spectacular; well worth the effort of the climb. The beginning of the walk follows a clearly defined track with lengths of board-walk and stonework, but the climb becomes more challenging beyond the Pass where loose rocks and stones must be negotiated. Vegetation along the way includes forested areas with a variety of trees, shrubs, and ground-cover, as well as heathland and alpine and subalpine communities. During daytime most of the observable wildlife consists of birds and insects. Further information is available from the Parks and Wildlife Service at http://www.parks.tas.gov.au/index.aspx?base=3396
The above image shows Mt Snowy to the left and Hartz Peak to the right. Part of a board-walk is visible in the middle.

November, 2014.

The following photos were taken on a beautiful fine spring day. They are more or less in chronological order from the beginning of the walk near the car park to the top of Hartz peak.
The walk to Hartz Peak and back takes somewhat longer than indicated when you stop frequently to take photos, follow side paths to the tarns along the way, stop to eat, and spend time on the Pass as well as a good hour on top of the Peak.
Above: Rock steps between board walks.

Above right: Bauera rubioides growing beside the track.

Right: area dominated by Gahnia grandis.
Above: Myrtle Beech Nothofagus cunninghamii.

Above left: Tasmanian Waratah Telopea truncata.

Left: Pinkberry Leptecophylla pogonocalyx (as far as I know)
Views along the way across heathland areas.
The goal is visible early along the track. The board-walks protect the vegetation and make the going easy.
Scoparia Richea scoparia beside the track.
An older section of track with a typical high spot for wombat droppings.
View from the track towards the Huon River and Bruny Island in the east.
Lake Esperance to the west of the track.
Above: Another section of board walk. What a lot of work to construct. Also an eye for an interesting line.

Right: Cushion plant sign above and the plant below.
Pools and running water beside the track
An area of taller trees to the right of the track
Another wide view to the left (east) of the track
Drawing a little closer to the goal ahead; Mount Snowy on the left and Hartz Peak to the right
Subalpine plants: Richea pandanifolia, named for its resemblance to the unrelated Pandanus, and the smaller, flowering Richea scoparia
Above: Steep stone steps

Above right: Pools and low plants

Below right: Ladies Tarn
Ancient pine skeleton, probably Athrotaxis species, either Pencil Pine or King Billy Pine.
Above: Looking back from higher ground

Above left: Pond or small lake, to left (east) of track when walking towards Hartz Peak. Water body has no obvious name

Left: Looking back from higher still. The east side of Ladies Tarn can be seen at the left of the picture. The pond or lake close to the right of the track is the one pictured above left.
Flatter ground in the Hartz Pass area
Climbing towards the Peak again
Left: Richea scoparia and Bauera rubioides again.

Above: Mount Snowy on the left and Hartz Peak to the right. Much closer now, but steep ahead.
Above: Plant growing by the track. I would love to know what it is, but so far have not been able to identify it.

Right: More steps and an increasing number of loose rocks.
Above: view from high ground on the way to the Peak.
Right: This part of the path is a mosaic work of art.
Below right: Leaf Beetle, possibly Golden Brown. Family Chrysomelidae, possibly genus Paropsisterna.
Below: Hartz Lake from high ground on the way to the peak.
Looking challenging.
Onward....
Looking back over Hartz lake again.
Endemic Tasmanian Velvet Grasshopper Tasmanalpina clavata.
We made it at last, though I did lose my lens cap in the last approach to the top. It clattered far down between large rocks, out of site and reach. I don't like leaving a piece of plastic in a remote and beautiful place.
Emily Tarn and Mount Snowy to the SSW looking from the top of Hartz Peak
Moving clockwise, a little to the right of the previous picture, facing more to the south, looking over a natural rock garden at the top of Hartz Peak.
Further right, the mountains on the skyline to the right of the previous photo are in the middle of the photo directly above this caption. Ironbound Range is on the horizon to the right of the photo.
Further right again, more or less south-west. Ironbound Range is now left of centre on the horizon. To the right of that, the three Bobs Knobs lead towards Mount Bobs behind The Boomerang (can't be distinguished here) in the mid right. The shape of the Boomerang can be seen well from above in Google Earth, via Google maps.
Another clockwise move. Bobs Knobs and Mount Bobs are to the left; the lumpy looking Federation Peak is to the right of them.
Another step to the right. Federation Peak is to the left and Mount Picton to the far right.
Around to Hartz Lake. Mount Picton is above the lake in this photo and in the one below.
 A compilation of several photos: looking more or less north to north-east from the top of Hartz Peak. Hartz Lake is on the left.