At the southern end of the Cradle Mountain-Lake St Clair National Park sits Australia’s deepest lake, carved out by glaciers and fringed by ancient pine forest — the kind of place where the water is often stone-still and the mountains around it feel a bit larger than life. It’s where the six-day Overland Track finishes, but you don’t need six days or a tent full of gear to see the best of it: a cluster of short, well-formed tracks fan out from the visitor centre at Cynthia Bay, ranging from a flat 45-minute stroll to a solid half-day circuit. It’s an easy add-on if you’re driving the Lyell Highway between Hobart and the west coast, and a good base for a night or two under canvas.
The end point of the Overland Track, located at the southern end of the Cradle Mountain—Lake St Clair National Park, Lake St Clair and Australia’s deepest natural freshwater lake.