Lyell Highway — Hobart to Strahan via the 99Bends.
Distance
305 km
Duration
2 days
Climb
2,400 m
Lyell Highway — Hobart to Strahan via the 99 Bends.
Tasmania's Lyell Highway connects the eastern capital to the wild west coast across the heart of the Tasmanian Wilderness World Heritage Area. Two days from Hobart through the Central Highlands hydro country, past Lake St Clair (Australia's deepest natural lake), down the legendary 99 Bends descent into Queenstown's denuded copper-mine moonscape, then on through cool-temperate rainforest to Strahan on Macquarie Harbour. Cold wet weather is possible year-round — pack waterproofs.
Quick facts
SurfacePaved
Distance305 km
Days2
Total climb2,400 m
DifficultyModerate
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2 days, 2 moods.
A suggested split across 2 days with 8 waypoints to discover along the way.
HobartStart · Start at Hobart's Salamanca/Battery Point waterfront. Fuel up — services thin out after Hamilton. The Lyell Highway (A10) heads northwest along the Derwent River.
Hamilton Historic VillageScenic Point · Hamilton — colonial sandstone village in the Clyde Valley, halfway through the run-in to the highlands. Quick coffee stop at the historic Hamilton Inn or the bakery.
Tarraleah Hydro PlateauScenic Point · Tarraleah's Art Deco hydro village perched above the Florentine Valley. Massive penstocks plunge down to the power station. Worth a slow ride-through and a photo of the workings.
Derwent BridgeOvernight · Overnight at Derwent Bridge — gateway to Cradle Mountain–Lake St Clair National Park. The Wall in the Wilderness sculpture (50m carved Huon-pine wall) and a counter meal at the Derwent Bridge Hotel. Sub-freezing in winter.
Lake St ClairPhoto Spot · 5km north of Derwent Bridge. Australia's deepest natural lake (167m) and the southern terminus of the Overland Track. Glacier-carved, ringed by ancient Huon pine. Quiet morning views before the day-walkers arrive.
The 99 Bends DescentMountain Pass · The legendary descent from the West Coast Range into Queenstown. Tight switchbacks across the denuded copper-mine slopes — pink and grey conglomerate rock unlike anywhere else in Australia. Sealed but tight; watch for log trucks.
QueenstownRestaurant · Lunch in Queenstown — historic Mount Lyell copper-mine town with the famously gravel football oval. Empire Hotel for a counter meal. The Paragon Theatre is worth a peek.
StrahanEnd · End in Strahan on Macquarie Harbour. Gateway to the Gordon River and Sarah Island convict ruins. Reward yourself with fresh ocean trout or a beer at the Strahan Wharf.
More routes in Australia
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