Sumac Lookout Walk
- September 10, 2026
A very short walk to a lookout over the Arthur River and Tarkine rainforest canopy.
Hidden among the forests and buttongrass plains of north-west Tasmania, the Milkshake Hills Lookout Walk is a rewarding short walk along the Tarkine Drive, climbing from cool forest to an open hilltop with expansive views across the surrounding wilderness. The walk begins at the Milkshake Hills picnic area and initially passes through wet forest before emerging onto open buttongrass country. From here, the track climbs steadily towards the summit lookout, where clear weather provides broad views across the Milkshake Hills, plains, distant ranges and the vast forests of the takayna / Tarkine .
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Location: Milkshake Hills Regional Reserve, takayna / Tarkine , North West Tasmania
Distance: Approximately 2.1 km return
Time: Approximately 1–1.5 hours
Difficulty: Moderate – Class 3
Track Type: Return, with the option of including the short Forest Walk
Track Surface: Well-formed gravel track and forest trail, with some boardwalk sections on the Forest Walk
Elevation Gain: Approximately 107 metres
Best Time: A clear, dry day for the best views from the summit
The walk starts from the Milkshake Hills picnic area, where you’ll find parking, toilets, picnic facilities, shelter and barbecue facilities surrounded by forest. From the trailhead, follow the signed track towards the lookout. The first section passes through cool forest before the landscape opens into the distinctive buttongrass moorland characteristic of this part of north-west Tasmania. The track then begins its climb towards the top of Milkshake Hills. Although the climb is not particularly long, there is a steady uphill section that makes the walk more strenuous than the much shorter Forest Walk near the picnic area. The track is generally well formed and straightforward to follow, making this a good introduction to slightly more energetic walking along the Tarkine Drive.
The reward for the climb is the Milkshake Hills Lookout, where the enclosed forest gives way to expansive views across the surrounding landscape. On a clear day, the lookout provides panoramic views over buttongrass plains, forest-covered hills and distant ranges, giving walkers a real sense of the scale of the takayna / Tarkine landscape. The open summit also provides an interesting contrast with the dense wet forest around the picnic area below. After enjoying the views, return to the picnic area along the same track.
If you have a little extra time, the lookout walk can easily be combined with the short Milkshake Hills Forest Walk. This short loop explores the wet forest close to the picnic area, passing through ferns and regenerating vegetation on a combination of formed track and boardwalk. The Forest Walk takes only around 15 minutes on its own and provides a worthwhile contrast to the open buttongrass country encountered on the climb to the lookout.
The Milkshake Hills Lookout Walk is graded Class 3 and follows a generally clear and well-formed track. Most of the walk is straightforward, although the climb towards the lookout includes a sustained uphill section and some steeper gradients. Around 107 metres of climbing is involved over the course of the walk. Reasonable general fitness is recommended, but no specialist bushwalking experience is normally required.
Milkshake Hills is located along the Tarkine Drive south-east of Smithton in north-west Tasmania. From Smithton, travel south through Irishtown and towards Trowutta before continuing into the Tarkine region. Turn onto Milkshake Road and follow the signs towards the Milkshake Hills Regional Reserve. A gravel access road leads to the Milkshake Hills picnic area and the start of the walking tracks. The reserve makes a convenient stop when exploring other attractions along the Tarkine Drive, including Julius River, Lake Chisholm, Dempster Plains, Sumac Lookout and Trowutta Arch.
The Milkshake Hills picnic area is particularly well set up for a remote Tarkine Drive stop.
It’s a good place to stop for lunch or a break while travelling the Tarkine Drive, even if you don’t have time to complete the full lookout walk.
The Milkshake Hills Lookout Walk packs plenty of variety into a relatively short distance. In little more than a kilometre each way, the landscape changes from enclosed wet forest to open buttongrass before reaching a hilltop with expansive views across one of Tasmania’s wildest regions. Combined with the short Forest Walk and excellent picnic facilities at the trailhead, Milkshake Hills is an ideal stop on the Tarkine Drive and one of the best short walks for gaining a broader perspective of the surrounding takayna / Tarkine landscape.
A very short walk to a lookout over the Arthur River and Tarkine rainforest canopy.
