Hartz Mountains National Park is a relatively small reserve sitting on the edge of Tasmania’s vast southwest wilderness. It’s easy to overlook on a map, especially when it sits in the shadow of the much larger Southwest National Park.

This walk is ideal if:

You want a challenging short walk without committing to a full-day hike

You’re comfortable on steep, rocky terrain

You enjoy alpine environments and rapidly changing landscapes

You’re happy to turn around if conditions deteriorate

What Hartz lacks in size, it makes up for in variety. Alpine heath, buttongrass plains, subalpine forest, lakes, exposed rock, and stunning waratah blooms at the right time of year. Better still, two of Tasmania’s 60 Great Short Walks start from the same general trailhead and can be combined into a single outing if you’re keen and the weather allows.

Hartz Peak is the more demanding of the two, and while this walk is quite short, it is very steep, rocky, and likely not ideal if you aren’t very sure-footed on sketchy terrain.

What You Will See on the Hartz Peak Walk 

Hartz Peak is less about one standout feature and more about how quickly the landscape changes as you gain height. The variety is impressive for a relatively short walk. If you’ve walked Tarn Shelf in Mount Field National Park, or summited Cradle Mountain, this walk feels a little bit like a mini combination of those two walks.

Expect:

Alpine heath and buttongrass plains in the lower sections

Narrow boardwalk winding through diverse, low-growing alpine plants

Lake Esperance sitting in the shadow of the mountains

Exposed rock slabs and scree on the upper slopes

Wide, open views across Hartz Mountains National Park and into the Southwest on a clear day

This is a good walk for people who enjoy noticing changes in vegetation and terrain as they climb. Early on, there’s plenty to look at underfoot. Higher up, the focus shifts to expansive views and impressive mountain ranges.

If you’re into photography, look out for the variety of alpine plants and, on a still day, the reflective water at Lake Esperance and Lady Tarn. The views from the summit are, of course, impressive, but the track up to the summit had me putting my camera away for safety.

Best Time to Do the Hartz Peak Walk 

Timing and conditions are important on this track, especially if you want to make the summit. The distance is short, but the upper sections are exposed and slippery in wet and icy conditions.

Best times:

Spring for spotting waratah blooms

Late spring to early autumn for safer footing and longer daylight hours

Clear or partly cloudy days if you want summit views

Calm weather, as wind exposure increases near the top

Less ideal times:

Wet or icy days, when rock slabs and steps become slippery

Mid-winter, unless you are experienced and properly equipped

Very windy days, particularly if cloud is sitting low on the peaks

Unlike more sheltered walks, Hartz Peak does not improve in bad weather. Low cloud, heavy rain, or ice significantly change the difficulty of the final ascent. If conditions aren’t right, Lake Esperance makes a sensible turnaround point.

Hartz Peak Track Conditions

The walk begins near the ranger’s hut, which is a great place to shelter if you are unlucky weather-wise. Which we were, and actually had to retreat to the ranger’s hut shortly after beginning our walk to put on boots and raincoats.

The opening section of track is unpaved and is often very wet underfoot, particularly in cooler months. We walked this track in spring, when the ground was already soft, and I can only imagine winter brings an extra layer of enthusiasm to the bogs. Summer is likely drier, but nothing is guaranteed in alpine Tasmania.

Before long, you’ll step onto one of the narrowest boardwalks I’ve ever seen — just two planks wide, so you might need to practise your balancing. This beautiful boardwalk snakes its way through a mosaic of alpine vegetation, and while it looks delicate, it does a solid job of keeping you out of the worst of the mud.

This section alone makes the walk worthwhile, and at points you can actually hear small streams running below your feet.

Before long, you will reach Lake Esperance. If Hartz Peak seems a little too out of reach, you can read about this shorter walk here.

Beyond Lake Esperance 

After the boardwalk ends, the track begins to climb. The terrain becomes rockier, with short but steep sections that require a bit more attention to foot placement. The route isn’t overly technical, but it is slow going getting up the rocky steeps. This section is trickier with bad knees, or if your legs are a little short.

Before long, you’ll reach Lake Esperance, a beautiful alpine lake sitting in the shadow of the surrounding mountains.

If you choose to turn around here, you’ve already completed one of Tasmania’s 60 Great Short Walks, and that’s a perfectly reasonable decision. The walk to Lake Esperance is rewarding, and a perfect place for a picnic lunch before turning around. You can read more about that walk here.

If you’re continuing on to Hartz Peak, this is a good place to stop and take a little rest before continuing on.

Beyond Lake Esperance, the track becomes noticeably steeper and rougher. Boardwalk ends and the track becomes rockier, with more steep steps.

We tackled this part of the walk in heavy rain, which turned the rock steps into what can only be described as very semi-impressive waterfalls. Parks Tasmania recommends attempting this hike in fair weather, and after doing it in the wet, I can confidently say that advice is valuable.

Progress is slower here, and good footwear matters — though in saying that, I did complete this hike in my favourite pair of Tevas.

The Plateau Below Hartz Peak

Eventually, the gradient eases and you’ll reach a small plateau. This was a true highlight of the walk for us. Having had so much rain, the plateau was covered in small pools and ponds, with beautiful buttongrasses and cushion plants as far as the eye can see.

A short wander across the flatter ground here will take you to a viewpoint that looks out over a lake tucked into the next valley. In the wet and foggy conditions, we struggled to find this path, so hopefully you have a better chance.

If the weather is deteriorating, this is another sensible place to turn back. And while the summit isn’t far from here, it does require you to scramble over loose, uneven rocks.

The Final Ascent of Hartz Peak

The final climb to the summit involves traversing thick slabs of rock and sections of crumbled scree. In dry conditions, it’s straightforward and quite a fun challenge. In rain, snow, or ice, it’s still fun, but much more sketchy.

I did this section in the rain, wearing footwear that was, in hindsight, not the safest or best choice. It was manageable, but I wouldn’t recommend it. If you’re inexperienced, uncomfortable on loose rock, or even just having an off day, this is a section best tackled in good, dry weather.

The summit of Hartz Peak is exposed, open, and ever-changing based on the weather.

On a clear day, the views stretch across Hartz Mountains National Park and deep into the rugged peaks of the Southwest. It’s expansive and very satisfying after the effort it takes to get there.

On a cloudy or rainy day, the view is limited, but still impressive in a different way. Visibility might be limited to clouds spilling through valleys and wrapping themselves around nearby peaks. This cloud movement, known as orographic lifting, looks a lot like cream being poured over pudding, and I found it beautiful and very mesmerising.