Mt Rufus Cynthia Bay Walk
- September 16, 2026
A challenging full-day circuit from Cynthia Bay to the summit of Mount Rufus, with wide views over Lake St Clair.
The Frankland Beaches Walk is one of the easiest ways to experience the spectacular scenery of Lake St Clair, following the shoreline through forest and ancient glacial moraines to a series of peaceful beaches overlooking Australia’s deepest lake. Starting from Cynthia Bay, the formed track meanders east along the edge of Lake St Clair, with interpretive signs explaining how enormous glaciers carved and shaped the surrounding landscape during the last Ice Age. At approximately 6 kilometres return and taking around two hours, Frankland Beaches is an excellent choice for families, casual walkers or anyone wanting beautiful mountain and lake views without committing to one of Lake St Clair’s longer alpine walks.
Location: Lake St Clair, Cradle Mountain–Lake St Clair National Park, Central Highlands Tasmania
Distance: 6 km return
Time: Approximately 2 hours return
Difficulty: Grade 2 – Easy
Track Type: Return
Start: Cynthia Bay jetty, near the Lake St Clair Visitor Centre
Track Surface: Formed, hardened or compacted walking track with gentle gradients and occasional steps
Best Time: Year-round; a clear, calm day provides the best mountain reflections and views
The Frankland Beaches Walk begins at the Cynthia Bay jetty, only a short distance from the Lake St Clair Visitor Centre. From the jetty, follow the walking track east along the southern shoreline of Lake St Clair. The route stays relatively close to the water, alternating between sheltered forest and sections where views open across the lake towards the surrounding mountains. Unlike the more demanding walks to Shadow Lake and Mount Rufus, there are no substantial climbs. The track is gently undulating and suitable for most walkers. Continue along the shoreline until you reach the Frankland Beaches before returning to Cynthia Bay along the same route.
The beaches themselves provide a peaceful destination for the walk. Rather than a single large beach, the shoreline contains attractive stretches of sand, gravel and lakeside vegetation where you can stop and enjoy views across Lake St Clair. On calm days the water can become remarkably still, reflecting the surrounding mountains and forest. It’s worth allowing extra time at the beaches rather than treating the two-hour estimate as a target. Bring some lunch or a snack and enjoy the setting before beginning the return walk.
Known to Tasmanian Aboriginal people as leeawuleena – “sleeping water” – Lake St Clair forms the southern end of Cradle Mountain–Lake St Clair National Park. With a maximum depth of approximately 167 metres, it is the deepest lake in Australia. The enormous lake occupies a basin carved by glaciers during previous Ice Ages, leaving behind the deep valley, mountain slopes and glacial landforms that define the landscape today. The Frankland Beaches Walk provides one of the easiest opportunities to explore this remarkable environment at walking pace.
One of the most interesting features of the Frankland Beaches Walk is its glacial geology. The track passes through and alongside glacial moraines – deposits of rock, gravel and other material left behind by the enormous glaciers that once moved through the Lake St Clair valley. As the ice advanced and retreated, it carved the surrounding mountains and excavated the deep basin now occupied by Lake St Clair. Interpretive signs along the Frankland Beaches Walk explain how this process created many of the features visible in the landscape today. This makes the walk particularly rewarding for anyone interested in Tasmania’s geology and natural history.
Although Frankland Beaches is a low-level lakeside walk, it provides some superb views of the mountains surrounding Lake St Clair.
In clear weather, the panorama can include:
The mountains can look particularly impressive when reflected in the still waters of Lake St Clair.
Even when cloud hides the summits, the combination of dark forest, misty mountains and the lake can create an atmospheric landscape that is very different from the views experienced on a clear day.
Between the open lakeside sections, the track passes through the cool forest surrounding Cynthia Bay and Lake St Clair. The sheltered forest provides a pleasant contrast to the open beaches, particularly during warm weather. Keep an eye out for mosses, fungi, ferns and other plants thriving in the cool, damp environment around the lake. Bird calls and the possibility of encountering native animals add another dimension to what is otherwise a very relaxed walk.
The Frankland Beaches Walk is officially classified Grade 2 and is suitable for most ages and fitness levels. The track has a hardened or compacted surface and may contain gentle hills and occasional steps.
Expect:
There are no major climbs, exposed alpine sections or difficult scrambling, making Frankland Beaches considerably easier than many of the longer walks around Lake St Clair.
The forests and wetlands surrounding Lake St Clair support an impressive variety of Tasmanian wildlife. Bennetts wallabies and Tasmanian pademelons are commonly encountered around Cynthia Bay, particularly early in the morning and late in the afternoon. Wombats, echidnas and quolls also inhabit the national park, although they are less frequently seen. Platypus live in the Lake St Clair area as well, particularly around quieter waterways and sheltered sections of the lake. Walk quietly and keep an eye on the forest margins for the best chance of spotting wildlife.
The Frankland Beaches Walk begins at Cynthia Bay at Lake St Clair. From Hobart, follow the A10 Lyell Highway towards Derwent Bridge. At Derwent Bridge, turn onto Lake St Clair Road (C193) and continue to the Lake St Clair Visitor Centre. The drive from Hobart takes approximately 2.5 hours. From Launceston, Lake St Clair is a similar driving time via the B11 Marlborough Highway and A10. Parking is available at Cynthia Bay near the visitor centre. From the visitor centre, make your way towards the Cynthia Bay jetty, where the Frankland Beaches Walk begins.
Cynthia Bay has excellent facilities compared with many Tasmanian bushwalking trailheads.
A valid Tasmania Parks Pass is required for entry to Cradle Mountain – Lake St Clair National Park.
Yes. Frankland Beaches is one of the more family-friendly walks at Lake St Clair. The Grade 2 track, gentle terrain and lack of major climbs make it suitable for most active children comfortable walking approximately 6 kilometres. The beaches also provide a natural destination and a good place to stop for a break before walking back to Cynthia Bay.
Frankland Beaches is an excellent introduction to the network of walks around the southern end of Lake St Clair.
The Lake St Clair Short Walks combine Watersmeet, Platypus Bay and the Larmairremener tabelti Aboriginal cultural walk. Walkers can choose an individual trail or combine them into an approximately 4.7 km figure-of-eight circuit.
The Echo Point Ferry & Walk combines a cruise on Lake St Clair with an approximately 11 km one-way walk back to Cynthia Bay. Allow approximately 3–4 hours for the Grade 3 walk, plus the ferry journey.
The Shadow Lake Circuit is a substantial step up in difficulty.
The 13 km, 4–5 hour Grade 4 circuit climbs through forest and subalpine vegetation to beautiful Shadow Lake beneath Little Hugel.
The Mount Rufus Circuit is one of the major day walks at Lake St Clair. The challenging 19 km, approximately 7-hour Grade 4 circuit climbs to the summit of Mount Rufus, where clear weather reveals expansive views across the surrounding mountains.
The famous Overland Track finishes at Lake St Clair after crossing some of Tasmania’s most spectacular wilderness between Cradle Mountain and Cynthia Bay. For day walkers, the tracks around Cynthia Bay provide an opportunity to experience a small part of the landscape associated with Tasmania’s best-known multi-day walk.
If you’re choosing between two of Lake St Clair’s shorter day walks, the main consideration is how challenging you want the outing to be. Frankland Beaches is the easier option – 6 kilometres, approximately two hours and Grade 2, with gentle walking beside the lake. Shadow Lake is considerably more demanding – 13 kilometres, 4–5 hours and Grade 4, with around 320 metres of climbing and exposure to alpine weather. Choose Frankland Beaches for a relaxed lakeside walk and Shadow Lake if you’re looking for a more substantial mountain experience.
The Frankland Beaches Walk delivers much of what makes Lake St Clair special without requiring a long or difficult bushwalk. In just two hours, you can walk beside Australia’s deepest lake, cross a landscape shaped by enormous Ice Age glaciers, explore peaceful beaches and enjoy views towards some of the best-known mountains in the Tasmanian Wilderness World Heritage Area. The easy Grade 2 track makes it accessible to a wide range of walkers, while the glacial moraines and interpretive information add considerably more interest than a simple lakeside stroll. Whether the mountains are reflected perfectly in calm water or disappearing into cloud above a dark and moody lake, Frankland Beaches is one of the best easy walks at Lake St Clair.
A challenging full-day circuit from Cynthia Bay to the summit of Mount Rufus, with wide views over Lake St Clair.
Three short, easy walks from Cynthia Bay exploring Aboriginal culture, rivers and platypus habitat at Lake St Clair.
A half-day alpine circuit from Cynthia Bay climbing through rainforest and moorland to Shadow Lake beneath Mount Hugel.
Combine a scenic ferry ride with a rainforest walk back to Cynthia Bay along the shore of Lake St Clair.
