Tasmania Road Trip: Walls of Jerusalem National Park

The Walls of Jerusalem simply known as "The Walls" is not to be missed when visiting Tasmania. It had been highly recommended by friends and people I've met on my travels due to its spectacular landscape sceneries, alpine lakes and tarns, dolerite peaks, unique vegetation, and wildlife.

Having missed this jewel of a wilderness on my first visit to Tasmania in 2015, I made sure to finally tick it off my never ending list of places to visit. With a not-so-optimal weather forecast for the day and exhausted from the last 2 days of hiking in Cradle, I decided I'd sleep in to get a much needed rest. I started the day quite late arriving at the Mersey Forest Rd car park near Lake Rowallan, passed the Fish River just before 1pm. With only a lil over 7 hrs of daylight left, I quickly got my pack ready, put my hiking boots on and started the 26 km return trek to Mt Jerusalem.

The trail climbs steadily 500 meters up a well-defined track for the first 2.5km which passes through dry sclerophyll forest to Trappers Hut. A bit in a hurry and wanting to get back before dark, I wasted no time and only stopped at the walkers registration station, about 5 minutes in, before taking a quick breather at the hut - which took me less than an hour to get to.

Dry sclerophyll forest

Trappers Hut - an emergency shelter for hikers during poor weather

Past the Trappers Hut, the climb gently subsides and the track winds its way through small lakes or tarns known as Solomon's Jewels. After reaching the plateau, I took another half an hour to cross to the Wild Dog Creek Campsite which is about 6.5 kms one way from the car park. This is one of two campsites available to overnight hikers wanting to explore The Walls of Jerusalem National Park. I would have loved to stay and explore a bit more and hike to Solomons Throne but that will have to be saved for another visit. At this point I was 2 hrs in and half way to the summit.

The track is now fairly leveled

First glimpse of small alpine lakes

Solomon's Jewels

Track leading up to Wild Dog Creek Campsite

Wild Dog Creek Campsite on the other side of the boardwalk

Past the Wild Dog Creek Campsite I climbed up to Herods Gate, which is the main entry point to the Walls of Jerusalem central basin. Then I continued on to Damascus Gate, the saddle between Solomons Throne and the Temple, which gave me amazing views of Lake Salome in the central basin towered by King Davids Peak on one side and Mt Ophel on the other.

Herods Gate

Lake Salome and Mount Ophel

From Damascus Gate I continued on a fairly leveled trail before going downhill towards Dixons Kingdom passing through pencil pine forest. Shortly after leaving Damascus Gate I encountered my first Tasmanian tiger snake, coiled on the stone stepped track. Unfortunately, I didn't get a photo of it as it moved so quickly. It must have been 2 to 3 feet long. Tiger snakes are one of three snakes found in Tasmania. All three are venomous. I was startled but wasn't very scared as these snakes are not aggressive as long as you leave them be. As the temperatures rise more and more reptiles come out of hibernation so I expected to encounter these creatures on my hikes.

Dixons Kingdom Hut was reached just fifteen minutes later. From here I followed the sign towards Mt Jerusalem. The track passes through a small alpine lake before the rocky switchbacks to the summit. I made it to the top in just a lil over 3.5 hrs with not much breaks. Time check: 4:45pm. With the return hike mostly downhill, I knew I'd get back to the car a lot faster. I spent about 30 minutes at the summit soaking in the views and taking some photos before retracing my steps back to the car park.

Dixons Kingdom Hut

Onwards to Mt Jerusalem

A small alpine lake near the summit

Track to the summit

Summit

The stunning views of nearby lakes and mountain ranges from the summit is very impressive. It was definitely worth the hike. And to have had it all to myself made it even more special. I just wish I could've spent more time up there.

Summit

A hike wouldn't be complete without a signature jump shot, of course.

Signature jump shot at the summit

Below are other favorites I took at the summit.

Still making good time, I made sure to check out anything and everything I missed on the way up like the Dixons Hut and its nearby facilities.

Toilets near Dixons Hut

Dixons Hut, an emergency shelter. Hikers may camp here if necessary

Retracing my steps back

Admiring Solomons Throne on the boardwalk. Rain clouds have now rolled in

Just past the Damascus Gate and down the steps towards central basin, I had my first sighting of Bennetts Wallaby in the national park. There were a few of them happily feeding on grass not far from the boardwalk. I'd usually spend a lot of time admiring these mammals but since I was racing against time and now weather, I snapped a photo and hurried towards Wild Dog Creek Campsite. I encountered another Tasmanian tiger snake just before I reached the campsite's toilet facilities. It was about a foot and was a lot thinner than the first I saw which suggests that it might have been a baby snake.

Bennett Wallaby

Clouds hovering over the Dolerite Peaks of The Walls

Clouds hovering over the Dolerite Peaks of The Walls

Clouds hovering over the Dolerite Peaks of The Walls

Looking back at the saddle, Damascus Gate

Clouds hovering over the dolerite peaks of The Walls

Campers set up their tent on one of the platforms at Wild Dog Creek campsite

Looking back at Wild Dog Creek and the dolerite peaks of The Walls

With rain clouds threatening to open up at anytime, I snapped one last photo before putting my camera away. I made it back to my car at 8pm with still a bit of daylight left but also still a bit of a drive to get out of the corrugated, dirt ,and windy road. I drove out to Sheffield and stayed there for the night with plans to rest the next day or have an easy relaxing day that doesn't involve summits and steep hikes. But did I rest or relax? Find out on my next post :)

Clouds hovering over the dolerite peaks of The Walls

As always, thank you for reading my stories. I hope you enjoyed this one as much as you did the first 3 write ups I've posted about this road trip.

Tasmania Road Trip: Launceston and Cataract Gorge
Tasmania Road Trip: Hansons Peak
Tasmania Road Trip: Cradle Mountain Summit Via Marions Lookout Link Track

xx
jh3n