“Hi, I'm Shannon, during the summer of 2011 as a bursary student with Forestry Tasmania, I took the challenge to visit Forestry Tamania's 52 visitor sites.
The Duckhole track on Creekton Road will be closed until further notice due to flood damage. 21/4/11
Let me just shamefully say, that this was my second attempt to visit Duckhole Lake, and that a bit of research into how to get there would have proved very useful when driving around for several hours trying to find it! I will begin by passing on my knowledge, so you don't have the same problem as me (it really is quite simple when you know where it is). From Hobart it is about a 90 minute drive south to Hastings Caves.
The drive is lovely, following the Huon River, passing through towns like Franklin, and continuing past Geeveston Then you simply follow the signs which guide you to Hastings Caves. Summer is a great time to head down, the temperature is just right when you get down into the cooler forests, and there are many fruit stalls along the way, with welcoming locals, and a great snack for the journey.
To find Duckhole Lake you drive past the Hastings Caves Visitor Centre, and continue along Hastings Caves Road until you reach a sign on the right hand side of the road that says Esperance Forest Tour – Chestermans Road. Once on this road you can simply follow the signs to Duckhole Lake. The roads around here are quite narrow and they are gravel, however, if you drive carefully it would be okay to take a car. Like the rest of the southern forests, everything around here is green and lush.
It only took about 20 minutes to reach Duckhole Lake. There are no facilities, so I would strongly advise bringing lunch and water with you. The walk begins across the road from the car park. The sign suggests 60 to 90 minutes return. I walked at a leisurely pace and it took me about 35 minutes each way. It is a pleasant walk, and because it has been well established with a boardwalk going most of the way, it is easy.
A short distance along the track, I found a large, peculiar looking oval piece of metal of some sort, with a hole in it. I had no idea what it was, however after a bit of research (thanks to Google) I found that it was actually cast iron and called a 'shoe'. It turns out that back in the day it was used by forest workers to transport trees through the bush after they were harvested.
For most of the walk, you follow a stream, which stems from Duckhole Lake. Due to the solitude you can hear all of the wildlife which inhabits the area. One species which is common is the lyrebird, and you can hear them calling as you get closer to the lake. Duckhole Lake is actually a flooded sinkhole, and the view is quite amazing. At the end of the main path there is a picnic table, which is great for resting and taking in the view.
The lake does not really have a bank as such but is surrounded by trees. From the colour of the water it looks really deep, and there is another path which takes you further around to show you different perspectives of the view. This spot is tranquillity at its best, and would be a great spot to eat lunch.
I am not usually keen on retracing my steps, however the walk back looks completely different from this angle, and I almost didn't recognise anything. It is not a well-known track it would seem, as I only passed one other person on my way back out, which just adds to the serenity of the experience. At the finish of the walk, before you go back to the car park, there is a bridge which is part of the road. On either side you can see the water running through, and it is a really nice spot for a happy snap.
On the way back to Hobart, if you still have time why not call into Tahune? To get there you can either go back the way you came, or continue along the Hastings Forest Tour. That is another experience in itself though, and will have to wait for another day.
GPS Coordinates :
LAT : 43°21'52.89"S
LON : 146°52'30.08"E
Click here to view in Google Earth!
Always check our road and track closure information before setting off on your journey (click here)
52 Places to Visit
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