Southwest National Park

Southwest National Park
	Lake Pedder
Location:	Tasmania , Australia
Specialty:	completely untouched mountain, river and coastal landscapes
Next city:	Strathgordon
Surface:	6,052 km²
Founding:	1955 (as Lake Pedder NP)
Address:	Southwest National Park ; (for entrance via Maydena) ; 66 Lake Dobson Road ; National Park TAS 7140
	South Cape Bay
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The Southwest National Park (German: Southwest National Park ; English Southwest National Park ) is located in the southwest of the Australian island of Tasmania .

description

geography

The eastern border of Tasmania's largest national park is about 95 km from Hobart . The park with a total area of 6052 km² extends over large parts of the southwest of the island. It was originally founded in 1955 under the name Lake Pedder National Park around Lake Pedder . After repeated enlargements of the park, it finally got its current name in 1990. It is now Tasmania's largest national park and is a UNESCO World Heritage Site of the Tasmanian Wilderness .

Mount Anne on the north edge of the park is the highest point at 1,423 m.

The park is known for its wilderness and seclusion. The weather is very changeable and rough. Aborigines settled here 25,000 years ago, and the Europeans first entered this area in the 19th century. Since then there have hardly been any permanent residents and consequently only minor influences on nature.

There is only one road in the entire park, it leads to Strathgordon . The southern and western parts of the park can only be reached on foot, boat or by air. The tarmac in Melaleuca , in the far south-west, is mainly used by the National Parks Service . Access by sea is best done through Port Davey or Bathurst Harbor .

fauna

Southwest National Park is the primary breeding ground for the critically endangered golden-bellied parakeet , which is most easily seen by park visitors near Melaleuca .

Hiking trails

Two main hiking trails lead through the park. One runs from Lake Pedder to Melaleuca, the other from Cockle Creek to Melaleuca. The hikes are only recommended for experienced hikers, as together they take about ten to 14 days. With a flight to Melaleuca you can split up the hike, or just set out from there for day hikes. There are also other, mostly very demanding, hiking trails. They lead to the west and east of the Arthur Range , Precipitous Bluff, the Southwest Cape and Federation Peak , possibly the most difficult and demanding hiking trail in Australia.

Short hikes