Short Bushwalks on Mount Roland & Sheffield (And Where to Camp Nearby)

Mount Roland dominates the skyline of Tasmania’s Central North — a craggy, dolerite-capped wall of rock rising sharply above the farmland around Sheffield and Gowrie Park. It’s one of the state’s most recognisable peaks, and the regional reserve it sits within packs in a surprising range of walking options, from short lookout strolls to full-day summit pushes with 360-degree views to Cradle Mountain and Bass Strait. Add a nearby waterfall walk at Lake Barrington and you’ve got a solid weekend of day walking without needing to venture into true wilderness terrain.

This is farmland-meets-mountains country — the “Cradle Country” gateway — so it pairs well with a stop in Sheffield (Tasmania’s mural town) or a run out to Lake Barrington for water views. Here are five of the best short walks in the area, all doable as day trips.

1. Mount Roland Summit — via O’Neills Creek Track

The classic. From Gowrie Park, the track climbs steadily through eucalypt woodland before opening onto buttongrass plains, then finishes with a short boulder scramble to the 1233m summit. There’s a lookout platform about 15 minutes along the plateau if you want the view without the full climb. On a clear day you can see north to Bass Strait and south-west to Cradle Mountain and Barn Bluff.

Distance: 16km return • Time: 4–6 hours • Difficulty: Grade 3 (moderate, steep sections, loose rock near the top) • Dogs: Not permitted

Nearest campground: Gowrie Park / O’Neills Creek Camping Reserve, right at the trailhead turn-off.

2. Mount Vandyke Loop

Starts on the same track as Mount Roland, splitting off at “The Junction” for a steeper climb through forest onto an exposed, rocky ridgeline. There’s some scrambling and basic navigation involved, with views along the range to Cradle Mountain. Experienced walkers can link it to Mount Roland for a full traverse; otherwise it’s a solid there-and-back.

Distance: 11km return • Time: 3–4 hours • Difficulty: Grade 4 (hard, steep, rock scrambling) • Dogs: Not permitted

Nearest campground: Gowrie Park / O’Neills Creek Camping Reserve.

3. Round Mountain Lookout

The easy option in this reserve, and a good one for kids or anyone who’d rather admire Mount Roland than climb it. A short, mostly flat walk links the summit lookout tower with the Northern and Eastern lookout points at the western end of the range, with wide panoramas over the Sheffield valley. It’s also the starting point if you want to continue on toward Mount Claude.

Distance: ~2km return • Time: 30–60 minutes • Difficulty: Grade 2 (easy) • Dogs: Not permitted (part of the regional reserve)

Nearest campground: Gowrie Park / O’Neills Creek Camping Reserve.

4. Mount Claude Summit

From the Round Mountain Lookout car park off Olivers Road, this track pushes on to the 1034m summit of Mount Claude — steep and overgrown in places with a tricky final approach, but a good option if Roland and Vandyke are booked out with cloud. Rewards you with a different angle on the range and less foot traffic than the main summit track.

Distance: ~6km return • Time: 2–3 hours • Difficulty: Grade 4 (hard, steep and overgrown sections) • Dogs: Not permitted

Nearest campground: Gowrie Park / O’Neills Creek Camping Reserve.

5. Forth Falls, Lake Barrington

A change of scenery from the mountain tracks — this one winds through lush fern forest with glimpses of Lake Barrington before reaching a junction where you can detour to either the lower or upper falls and cascades on Forth Falls Creek. Rougher underfoot than the distance suggests, so don’t let the short length fool you.

Distance: 4km return • Time: ~1.5 hours • Difficulty: Grade 4 (short but rough and moderately steep) • Dogs: On-lead dogs are generally permitted in this reserve (it’s not a national park) — check trailhead signage on the day

Nearest campground: Lake Barrington campground, a free camping area near the rowing course, where leashed dogs are welcome.

Planning Your Trip

Mount Roland Regional Reserve (covering Roland, Vandyke, Claude and Round Mountain) is Crown reserve land rather than a national park, so there’s no Parks Pass required — but conditions and access can change, so it’s worth checking current alerts at parks.tas.gov.au before you go. Dogs, bikes and campfires are all prohibited on the Roland, Vandyke, Claude and Round Mountain tracks; Lake Barrington’s reserve is more relaxed and allows leashed dogs on the walking tracks and at the campground.

The summit tracks climb well over 900m onto exposed, rocky, buttongrass terrain that behaves like alpine country in bad weather — cloud, wind and sudden temperature drops are common even in summer. Carry a waterproof jacket, warm layers and sturdy boots any time you’re heading for Roland, Vandyke or Claude, and turn back if the weather closes in; the boulder sections near the summits get genuinely slippery in the wet.