Things to do

• Fishing
• Bushwalking
• Bird Watching
• Recreational Shooting
• Waddamana Power Station
• Pine Lake Nature Trail
• Tarraleah Falls

Accomodation ~ Great Lake Hotel

Cost ~$20 pn water +power and use of their showers +soap,shampoo and towels provided premium service for the cost.

We caught up with our friends here and stayed 2 nights up here on the highlands at the Great Lake Hotel. The Great Lake is located on the central plateau of Tasmania and is 1034 meters above sea level. It is one of Australia’s largest natural freshwater systems prior to its initial damming in 1916. In 1922 the Miena multiple arch dam was built cross the outlet to increase storage.

Miena is a town with two pubs, we stayed in the camping area of the Great Lake Hotel where we were close by to enjoy their patronage and roaring fire to warm up. Both the days we spent here we were met with rain and some sleet and snow. But that did not dampen our spirits of exploring this wonderful place.

The lakes were low when we visited and with the extreme wind chill we opted out on going kayak fishing on the lakes or at all. I’m sure this is a summer thing to do here when it is a more warmer climate . The types of fish here in the lakes are brown and rainbow trout. Ensure you have a Tasmanian fishing licence before you cast your rod in. As you drive around the lakes you will find there are a lot of shacks and small communities. Some of these shacks are rented out for weekend and holiday accmodation so people can enjoy the lakes first hand.

There are a few vantage lookouts up high where you can see down into the lakes and see how vast and remote they are.

We did the Pine Lake Nature Trail which is a 30min return walk. This is a grade 1 walk so suited for all walkers on a raised boardwalk. This lake offers a rare opportunity to get close to one of Tasmania’s rarest trees the Pencil Pine tree. The walk leads to a small alpine lake fringed by beautiful pines. This lake is at 1200m above sea level and on a cold day that we visited can be very challenging ….brutally cold even with layers on.

Allow yourself 2 days to explore this place and ensure you have warm clothing all year round as the conditions can change so quickly.

Accomodation~ There are all types of accomodation here from camping, cabins, to Air BNB houses and shacks on the lake.