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COVID-19 safety information

​​Tracks, campsites and reserves may be closed at times for a variety of reasons, including safety risks such as high fire danger or track improvement works. 

While closures and re-openings are shown here, for up-to-the-minute information we recommend checking the Parks and Wildlife Service Facebook page. ​Closures are also displayed on notice boards at the reserve. ​If you have further questions, pa​rk contact information is listed on each reserve page.

Im​portant links for the latest safety information:

Critical Alerts

Safety alert: COVID-19 walker registration and hut capacity

Applies from 25/6/2020

​​​​​​​​​​​​​​Registration is required for walkers and campers undertaking multi-day walks on the Overland Track​,​ and at Frenchmans Cap, Arm River, Pine Valley, Scott-Kilvert Hut, Farmhouse Creek Track and the​ Walls of Jerusalem​​. This is for COVID-19 contact tracing purposes. 

Some huts are open with limited capacity. For further registration information see the COVID-19 safety information​ page.​​

To confirm whether there is availability and register for your walk, please fill the Walker Registration Availability Enquiry​ form. For further enquiries email tracks@parks.tas.gov.au​​ or phone (03) 6165 4254.​​

Locations affected: Walls of Jerusalem National Park; Walls of Jerusalem - walk notes; Walls of Jerusalem multi-day walk; Multi-day walks; Frenchmans Cap; Frenchmans Cap - walk notes; Overland Track; Cradle Mountain (Cradle Mountain - Lake St Clair National Park); Overland Track - booking information; Overland Track - walk options; Lake St Clair camping; Lake St Clair walks; Lake St Clair (Cradle Mountain - Lake St Clair National Park); Franklin-Gordon Wild Rivers National Park; Southwest National Park;

Last reviewed 27/4/2021 08:59 AM


Site Alerts

​​Access to the Liffey Falls day use area and top walking track for Liffey Falls, Riversdale Road will be temporarily closed due to road works to improve the road surface. The road closures are on the following dates:​

  • 8:00am Monday 17 May to 4:30pm Friday 21 May
  • 8:00am Monday 24 May to 4:30pm Friday 28 May. 

The road will be opened for the weekend of the 22nd and 23rd of May. 

During this time, the Liffey Falls can still be accessed from the Lower Liffey Campground Track. 

For further information please contact the Great Western Tiers Field Centre on 6701 2104.

Locations affected: Liffey Falls State Reserve; Liffey Falls Walk;

Last reviewed 13/5/2021 05:34 PM

​​Due to an unexpected electrical problem the Hastings Thermal Springs Pool, short walks and barbecues will be closed until further notice.

The Visitor Centre is open 10.30-3.00 each day during the closure.​

Locations affected: Hastings Caves and Thermal Springs; Hastings Caves State Reserve;

Last reviewed 11/5/2021 03:41 PM

​​Hastings Newdegate Cave will be closed for engineering/maintenance work from 10-14 May 2021.

The cave will also be closed 7 to 11 June 2021 for the works to continue.​

To book a Cave Tour outside these times please contact the Visitor Centre on 6298 3209.

Locations affected: Hastings Caves and Thermal Springs; Hastings Caves State Reserve;

Last reviewed 8/5/2021 02:21 PM

​​​​​As the 2020-21 fishing season has now closed, the boom gate on Lake Augusta Road just beyond Bernacchi (The Thousand Lakes Lodge) has been closed for the winter period as of May 5th. The reopening of the boom gate will be on 1st October (approximately) subject to inspections determining the roads condition are suitable for vehicular traffic.

The annual road closure ensures damage to the 19 Lagoons road network by vehicles driving on wet/boggy, snow and frost heave affected roads is greatly reduced.

If conditions are not conducive to the opening of the road by the due date the Parks and Wildlife Service will undertake regular inspections and communicate information on likely opening timeframes until the road is opened.

For any further information please contact the Great Western Tiers Field Centre on 67012104​

Locations affected: Central Plateau Conservation Area;

Last reviewed 12/5/2021 08:25 AM

​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​The 2018/19 bushfires caused extensive damage to a number of walking tracks and the burnt track infrastructure poses a serious safety ​hazard. Fire damaged boardwalk and steps are also holding the soil in place in many locations, preventing erosion.​

Unfortunately, Phytophthora cinnamomi (rootrot fungus) has been confirmed to be spreading along the Eastern Arthur Range Traverse, Cracroft Plains and McKays Track. Illegal access of burnt tracks will increase erosion and cause environmental degradation, such as risking the of further spread of Phythophthora within the Eastern and Western Arthur Ranges and adjacent valleys. ​​

Visitor safety and environmental protection are our priorities. Fire affected areas will remain closed while works are being undertaken, and specialists are working out realignments of tracks and camps​.

The following tracks are closed: 

  • ​Mt Anne Circuit (including Mt Anne and Lake Judd tracks)
  • ​​Eliza Plateau
  • Huon Track
  • Eastern Arthur Range Traverse (north of Federation Peak)
  • Western Arthur Range Traverse - East of Moraine Kappa
  • McKays Track - East of Moraine Kappa
  • Rasselas Track

Tracks that have been re-opened:​

Adamsfield Walking Track, Clear Hill Track, The Needles Track and Lake Rhona Track (via Richea Creek and subject to river levels), Tahune Airwalk river loop tracks, Farmhouse Creek (to Hanging Lake campsite) have been reopened to the public.  To minimise erosion and so that walkers can remain on existing tracks, some vegetation has been cleared.​​

Walkers must remain on the existing tracks.  

Locations affected: Southwest National Park; Franklin-Gordon Wild Rivers National Park; Eliza Plateau; Lake Judd;

Last reviewed 12/4/2021 06:16 PM

​​​If you have travelled from interstate, or recently returned to Tasmania from interstate, and have been in one of the locations determined as high-risk by Public Health you should immediately self-isolate and call the Public Health Hotline on 1800 671 738.

These high-risk locations and premises are available at www.coronavirus.tas.gov.au/travelalert​. 

As the situation is evolving, travellers should check the website frequently as more locations are added.

​For further updates please visit www.coronavirus.tas.gov.au

Last reviewed 15/4/2021 05:04 PM

​​​​The Three Capes Track within the Tasman National Park will close from 17 May to 3 June 2021 to allow parks to undertake fuel reduction burns and maintenance. 

Planned burning is dependent on a broad range of factors including weather and fuel conditions. The Three Capes Track and surrounding tracks will be closed prior to commencing the burn and remain closed after burn until an assessment has been made to declare the area safe. ​

Upon completion of assessment PWS will notify public that tracks are open by removing this alert on the PWS website.  

This shutdown period is scheduled to minimise the impact on walkers and avoid school holiday periods. The shutdown of the Three Capes Track is undertaken each year and is part of the PWS risk mitigation strategy for walkers and infrastructure.  Undertaking maintenance and fuel reduction burns limits the risk of a long-term closure due to degrading infrastructure or fire.  

Visitor safety is our priority and you are not permitted to enter the closed areas.​

Tracks closed until further notice:

  • Three Capes Track 
  • The Old Cape Pillar Track (inland route to campgrounds, Arthurs Peak and Cape Pillar), 
  • Bare Knoll Campground
  • Wughalee Falls Campground
  • Stinking Bay Track
  • Denmans Cove.

Tracks remaining open in Tasman National Park:

  • Fortescue Bay Campgrounds 
  • Cape Hauy Track (day walk only) 
  • Waterfall Bay Tracks (including Canoe Bay, Bivouac Bay and Tasman Trail)
  • Remarkable Cave, Crescent Bay and Mount Brown Tracks
  • Cape Raoul, Shipstern Bluff and Tunnel Bay Tracks.

For more information Fire management | Parks & Wildlife Service Tasmania and Tasmania Fire Servic​​e​.​

Locations affected: Three Capes Track; Cape Pillar; Fortescue Bay camping;

Last reviewed 29/4/2021 02:43 PM

From 13th May roadwork contractors are being engaged to undertake remedial work on Bakers Point Road from the Narawntapu National Park Visitors Centre to Bakers Point. It is anticipated that road works will be completed by 21st May. 

The road will remain open to motorists during this time. Motorists are advised to comply with sign posted speed limits and the direction of road workers. Motorists should also expect short delays. 

Parks and Wildlife Service apologises for any inconvenience. 

Locations affected: Narawntapu National Park;

Last reviewed 12/5/2021 03:38 PM

​Please note McDougalls Road will be closed intermittently between the hours of 7.30am and 10.00am Monday to Friday which will impact access to the Lake Skinner Track and Lake Skinner in the Southwest National Park. Please note road closures will be managed by Sustainable Timber Tasmania. For enquiries about the road closures please contact stakeholder@sttas.com.au

Locations affected: Southwest National Park;

Last reviewed 7/4/2021 01:17 PM

​​​​​​​​​​​​​The Montezuma Falls Walking Track is open, from the carpark in Williamsford to the viewing platform at the base of the falls. The suspension bridge which forms a side trip, remains closed to the public for safety reasons until further notice. Re-bolting of tread-plates and final engineer inspection is expected in April.

Contact the West Coast Field Centre on PWS.WestCoast@parks.tas.gov.au.

Locations affected: Montezuma Falls;

Last reviewed 1/4/2021 10:48 AM

​​Following the mass stranding of long-finned pilot whales near Strahan in September 2020, the majority of carcasses from within Macquarie Harbour, and on the southern end of Ocean Beach (from Macquarie Heads to Ocean Beach Trail) have been removed and/or buried.

Large numbers of whale carcasses remain in other areas, including along the ocean coastline from Cape Sorrell to Low Rocky Point, and along the northern end of Ocean Beach (from Ocean Beach Trail to Trial Harbour).

The public and dogs must not approach or come into contact with whale carcasses. Contact can be hazardous and spread harmful bacteria. Visitors are strongly encouraged to check for carcasses upstream of the coastline in creeks and rivers before collecting drinking water; and to be aware that additional native scavengers and predators have likely been attracted to the area by the whales.

It is an offence under the Whales Protection Act 1988 to interfere, obtain or possess any part or product of a whale.

The Parks and Wildlife Service expects whale carcasses will move with the tides, and continue to wash up and down the coastline for some time. Heavy storm activity may also uncover previously buried whale carcasses. 

The Parks and Wildlife Service apologises for any inconvenience.​​​​

Locations affected:

Last reviewed 1/4/2021 10:49 AM

​​​Due to structural issues with the historic Bird River Bridge, the Kelly Basin Walk has been closed to walkers from the vehicle accessible Bird River Road end. The Kelly Basin Walk continues to be accessible by boat from the jetty at the Kelly Basin - East Pillinger end.

The Bird River Bridge is structurally unsound. Walkers must not cross the historic Bird River Bridge under any circumstances. The volume of water in the river where it passes the bridge can rise and fall rapidly, based on weather conditions in the higher catchment.

For further information contact the West Coast Field Centre on PWS.WestCoast@parks.tas.gov.au.​

Locations affected: Kelly Basin;

Last reviewed 1/4/2021 10:48 AM

​The Parks and Wildlife Service is currently undertaking major upgrades to critical infrastructure at Maria Island National Park. Planning and approvals for the management of wastewater are underway.

As a result, the showers in the Darlington Campground are expected to remain closed until 2022.  The outdoor shower (adjacent to the female toilets) will remain available until Monday 26 April 2021.

We apologise for any inconvenience. If there are any extenuating circumstances, please see one of our staff on the island.

For enquiries, please contact the Maria Island Gateway on (03) 6123 4040.​
​

Locations affected: Maria Island National Park; Maria Island camping - Darlington; Maria Island Penitentiary accommodation;

Last reviewed 23/3/2021 11:55 AM

​​​​

Devils Gullet walking track and lookout closed until further notice

Following the heavy rainfall, the walking track and lookout at Devils Gullet has sustained damaged. The site will remain closed until further notice.

The PWS apologise for any inconvenience this may cause visitors.

Locations affected: Great Western Tiers Conservation Area;

Last reviewed 4/5/2021 12:31 PM

​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​During the construction of the Viewing Shelter from April 2020 to Spring 2021, private vehicles will not have access beyond the Ronny Creek car park at any time of day. 

The shuttle bus service will continue to operate throughout the construction period. Private vehicle access between the visitor centre, Ronny Creek and Dove Lake (along Dove Lake Road) is not permitted during shuttle bus operating times. ​

See COVID-19 safety information​ for shuttle bus requirements and hut registration requirements.

Locations affected: Cradle Mountain (Cradle Mountain - Lake St Clair National Park);

Last reviewed 10/5/2021 03:05 PM

​​​​​​​​​The Meadstone Falls Lookout in the Mt Puzzler Reserve is closed until further notice. The lookout structure is damaged, resulting in a severe h​azard to users.

Last reviewed 14/12/2020 10:44 AM


 

Contact

Parks and Wildlife Service
GPO Box 1751
Hobart TAS 7001
Phone: 1300 TASPARKS, (1300 827 727)