Traverse Walls of Jerusalem to the Overland Track via Lees Paddock

The Walls of Jerusalem had always been an attraction – quite possibly, the fanciful biblical names of the many landmarks within the park fascinated me.

I'd enquired about the park, and was met with knowing looks, a sigh, and some comment that resembled “It's magical”. It was almost like it was some sort of secret club!

The Walls of Jerusalem National Park doesn't have an official walk per se, but a variety of options, including a circuit. Most people do a 2-3 day circuit; however, I was looking for a hike that would last at least 8 days, and I didn't want to exclude the park on account of the duration of the hike. So, I got my thinking cap on.

Neighbouring the Walls of Jerusalem National Park is the Cradle Mountain-Lake St Clair National Park, home to the iconic Overland Track.

I'd heard about a track that entered Cradle Mountain-Lake St Clair National Park from the Walls of Jerusalem, so with the two park maps in front of me, I followed the trails, working out the best route.

My original plan was to hike through on the famed Never-Never trail, hitting the Overland Track just before Du Cane gap at Hartnett Falls, but I wanted to climb Mt Ossa, having missed it during my hike of the Overland Track a year earlier. As the Overland Track cannot be hiked South to North during the high season, this option wouldn't work.

Many people are under the impression that the Overland Track is one of the only hikes in the Cradle Mountain-Lake St Clair National Park. However, the park contains many hiking trails, countless wild camping sites alongside stunning picturesque lakes, rustic huts still in use today and several entry points into the park!

Unlike the Walls of Jerusalem and the Franklin-Gordon Wild Rivers National Park, which contains the iconic Frenchmans Cap hike, you don't have to book any of the hikes in Cradle Mountain, except for the Overland Track.

Can you hike the Overland Track without paying? Technically no. However, you can enter the Overland Track via Lees Paddock on the Arm River Track, and you are officially allowed to stay at Pelion Hut for 2 nights, allowing you time to summit Mt Ossa.

We eventually decided on the following itinerary, with a few ad hoc changes we made along the way. The joy of taking off on an unofficial hike is that you can take each day as it comes.

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Our Itinerary of Walls of Jerusalem to the Overland Track via Lees Paddock

For Detailed Track Notes, head to Walls of Jerusalem to Overland Track via Lees Paddock – Track Notes

Map of Walls of Jerusalem to the Overland Track via Lees Paddock

The best place to get paper maps of all national parks in Tasmania is from TASMAPS. They have a great selection and it's nice to support a local business. The maps I used were:

Cradle Mountain-Lake St Clair National Park
Walls Of Jerusalem National Park

The maps show all of the trails within the National Parks, however it's good practice to take a compass (along with the knowledge to use it). I do recommend taking a navigational course. Just like First Aid, navigation is a good skill to have.

Emergency Assistance

If you’re hiking solo in remote areas, a satellite communication device is really important. Should something go wrong and you can’t call for help, triggering your beacon will alert Australian Search and Rescue that you need assistance.

I carry the RescueMe PLB1, a compact Personal Locator Beacon (PLB) that, once activated, notifies the Australian Maritime Safety Authority. From there, they coordinate with the nearest Search and Rescue team to get help to your location—fast.

SAR Cover is always a good idea, and I use and recommend Overwatch x Rescue. It includes helicopter rescue and repatriation to your home hospital, should you need it. For what it offers, it’s extremely well priced—and far more competitive than anything else out there. Please use my code SOUL15 for a 15% discount.

Know Before You Go

Fees and Registrations for Tasmanian Parks

You will need a Tasmanian Parks Pass to enter Walls of Jerusalem National Park, and one Parks Pass covers you for all national parks in the state. If you plan to return to Tasmania or regularly visit Tasmanian parks, an annual pass might be better value

Our hike combined two national parks – Walls Of Jerusalem National Park and Cradle Mountain-Lake St Clair National Park.

Get your Tasmanian Parks Pass here

We spent 3 nights in the Walls Of Jerusalem National Park before crossing the border into Cradle Mountain-Lake St Clair National Park at Pine Plain Hut (not to be confused with Pine Valley Hut)

The Walls of Jerusalem requires advance bookings if staying overnight.

There is no fee for the bookings, and once you are in the national park, you are free to camp at any designated campsites or wild camp in the many picturesque spots available, as well as take as long as you like in the park.

Book Walls of Jerusalem here.

Cradle Mountain-Lake St Clair does not require advance bookings with the exception of the Overland Track.

Options and Direction

Once you open a map (or maps) of both national parks, you can see how extensive your options are. The only things stopping you are your supply of food and the weather. Water on the track is plentiful.

Supply and Resupply

There is no place to purchase food or gas within either park, nor the border between the parks. Supplies for your entire hike will need to be brought in. As we arrived in Launceston after 5 pm on Boxing Day, we asked our ride to pick up some gas for us.

Best time to Hike

The best time to hike the Walls Of Jerusalem National Park and Cradle Mountain-Lake St Clair National Park is during the summer months. However, autumn (fall) is spectacular with the Turning of the Fagus. These parks are in alpine Tasmania, and sudden changes in weather, including snow in January, can and did happen to us. You will need to be prepared for all weather.

Our Full Track Notes tell the story of snow and using an emergency hut on Boxing Day!

Route Description

The trails in the main areas of both parks are clearly defined and include unformed tracks along with boardwalk over eco-sensitive areas. Once you get off the beaten track, the trail may appear overgrown, and some bush bashing or navigation may be required. If you are climbing Mt Ossa, rock scrambling is required.

Water Sources

Water is plentiful along all of the tracks we took, especially the streams running through Walls of Jerusalem. The streams that run like channels across the park are actually called “runnels”. They are plentiful, and the water is crustal clear and delicious!

Lees Paddock is pastural farmland, so water treatment is important when passing through this farmland.

New Pelion Hut has water tanks, and I recommend treating the Overland Track hut water, as the water tanks rely on rainwater from the roofs, and many possums hang around the huts looking for food scraps.

Once in the parks, there are rivers, streams and lakes galore with lovely spring water.

Safety

The most dangerous aspect of Tasmanian parks in alpine regions is sudden weather change, catching hikers unaware. Make good choices and be ready to bring out your tent to shelter if the weather turns nasty. There are several huts that can be used as emergency shelters; however, these may not be in your immediate vicinity if needed.

Snakes in Australia
Snakes pose a threat, but only if stepped on or intimidated. Australian snakes know we are too big to eat and would rather bolt than have to face us. If you do get a bite, often the snake will give a dry, warning bite – they don't want to waste venom on something they can't eat if they don't have to.
Australian snakes bite into the lymphatic system, so treatment differs from other parts of the world. You need to put a compression bandage on the affected limb. How to Bandage a Snake Bite

Dogs and Drones

Dogs and drones are not allowed in Tasmanian National Parks

Trail Accommodation

There is no fee to book campsites in both parks and spots are available on a first come, first served basis. You cannot stay in huts on the Overland Track without an Overland Track Permit, with the exception of New Pelion Hut.

Camping in the Walls of Jerusalem National Park

Wild Dog Campsite

Wooden platform tent sites
Water Tanks (tanks are fed by Wild Dog Creek, not rainwater)
Toilets

Dixons Kingdom Campsite

Large grassy area for tents
Dixons Kingdom historical hut is for emergency use on
Toilets
Water Tanks

Lake Adelaide Campsite

Grassy area for tent
Toilets
Water Tanks

Wild Camping in the Walls Of Jerusalem National Park

You can pitch a tent anywhere in the park except between Herod's Gate and Damascus Gate, including the Pool of Bethesda area.

There are several designated camping sites on the map; however, there are no amenities such as toilets or tank water (they are mostly situated next to a natural water source). There is no fee to book these campsites.

There are several wooden structured backcountry huts throughout the park which have no amenities and are for emergency use only. It's always a good idea to look at the map (or GAIA) and familiarise yourself with their whereabouts.

Camping in the Cradle Mountain Lake St Clair National Park

New Pelion Hut

Pelion Hut on the Overland Track is open to hikers coming across from Arm River Track or Lees Paddock Track, and you are allowed to stay 2 nights. There is no fee or need to book, and you can use all the hut facilities, including sleeping in the hut

Pine Valley Hut

Pine Valley Hut towards Lake St Clair is a rustic hut similar to the older style huts on The Overland. It has a lovely large verandah around the hut where hikers congregate.

There are wooden platforms for tents, as well as flat sites on the ground among the trees. Pine Valley Hut also has toilets and a water tank.

Pine Valley Hut is the base for hiking the Acropolis or the Labyrinth.

Lees Paddock Hut

Lees Paddock Hut is located on a block of private farmland within the national park. It's a lovely rustic one-room hut with a wood-burning fire, water tank and bunk beds with mattresses. At the time of writing, there was a sign warning hikers that if the hut continued to be disrespected and left unclean, the owners would have no option but to cease allowing the public to use it. You need the owner's permission to stay in the hut or camp in the area around the hut.

To contact the owners for camping or staying at Lees Paddock:
Judy Kilby 0439 334 663
Grant Evans 0408 133 421

Pine Plain Hut

Pine Plain Hut is not to be confused with Pine Valley Hut, and refers to a disused hut at the Mersey Forest Road entrance to the park. There is a lovely camping area on the banks of the Mersey River. The river is downstream from Lees Paddock (with livestock), so the water needs to be treated. There are no toilets or other amenities.

Wild Camping in Cradle Mountain-Lake St Clair National Park

As well as the huts and camping spots above, numerous backcountry huts (historic wooden shelters) are dotted within the park and many dispersed camping sites. Some camping sites are indicated on the map; otherwise, find a nice flat area next to a picturesque little lake or stream and enjoy the wilderness!

Highlights of the Walls of Jerusalem to Overland Track via Lees Paddock

For the full track notes on this fantastic 9-day hike, visit Hiking the Walls of Jerusalem to the Overland Track – Track Notes.

Trappers Hut

Walls of Jerusalem National Park. I can still remember hiking past huts such as Du Cane or Kitchen Hut on the Overland Track, imagining having to stop in the dead of winter as it just got too cold.

Well, it doesn't need to be “dead of winter”, and snow can and does happen on Boxing Day (26 December). Bunking down in an old historic hut in an emergency was a highlight!

Solomons Throne, The Temple and Mt Jerusalem

Walls of Jerusalem National Park. We summited Solomons Throne, The Temple and Mt Jerusalem all in one afternoon. The views from each summit were amazing; you could see for miles. And the glittering tarns on Mt Jerusalem sparkled like jewels.

​​Solomons Throne

1.2 km / 0.75 mi return – 115 m / 377 ft – 40 mins
This short, steep climb gives you some of the best views in the Walls of Jerusalem. The rocks are placed into “stairs”, and there's a little negotiating through scree at the top.

The Temple

1 km / 0.62 mi return – 110 m /360 ft – 40 mins
The wonder of The Temple is the fantastic view of the Walls from Solomons Throne all the way to King David's Peak. There are some great ledges to sit, have a snack, and take in the moment.

Mt Jerusalem

4.5 km / 2.7 mi return – 185 m /607 ft – 1.5 hours
Although Mt Jerusalem has more elevation gain than the other climbs mentioned, it has a moderate grade, so it's pretty easy. The view takes in the thousands of tiny tarns sprinkled throughout the park.

Lake Meston

Walls of Jerusalem National Park. Any other campsite on the shores of a lake in Australia on the 27 December would have been packed with campers. We were the only hikers and campers for miles and were able to skinny dip in the cool lake after a hot day of bashing through the bush on Lake Adelaide. We had a show-stopping light display for dusk as we sat on our little private beach and ate dinner.

Camping by the Mersey River

The banks of the Mersey River at Pine Hut Creek is a gorgeous grassy camping area with some logs strewn around for seating. The burble of the river is the only sound you hear in this peaceful little utopia. Again, we were the only ones there, so we really lucked out. The next morning, I went for a dawn walk, and the light was just magical.

New and Old Pelion Huts

As nice as the newer huts on the Overland Track are, Pelion Hut remains my favourite of all the Overland Track huts. Perhaps it's the ultra-wide verandah with the outstanding views of Mt. Oakleigh or the fact that the hut has character and charm. Regardless, it was lovely to return and spend another night there. Even if it has stinky dunny!

Old Pelion Hut is one of my favourite backcountry huts. Built in 1917 to house the manager of a copper mine on Pelion Plains, Old Pelion Hut is now used only for emergency accommodation. Over the last century, Old Pelion Hut has provided shelter to recreational hikers, trappers walking between their snares and cattle drovers.

Walking into the hut, you get a real sense of history, and you can imagine the 1000's of walkers who have used this hut. There's a brilliant copy of a visitor book you can look through and see all the entries from days gone by. It's definitely worth a visit.

Climbing Mt Ossa

I mentioned in my post on the Overland Track that climbing Mt Ossa is like a right of passage for Overlanders. However, Mt Ossa is a difficult climb towards the summit, and many newbies are hiking the Overland Track as their first hike.

There's a saying in the hiking community: “Hike Your Own Hike”, which means hike to your ability or in a way you enjoy. I didn't feel capable of climbing Mt Ossa a year earlier, so I climbed Mt Pelion East, which gave me insane views over Mt Ossa. It was a win, after all.

The highlight of climbing Mt Ossa this time round was acknowledging just how far I'd come in my hiking ability within a year.

Du Cane Hut

Du Cane's claim to fame is that it's the oldest structure on the Overland Track. Built in 1910 by ‘Paddy' Hartnett, who led some of the earliest multi-day guided walks on what has become the Overland Track, the picturesque Du Cane Hut sits in a small clearing with a pencil pine forest backdrop.

Pine Valley Hut

I'd bypassed Pine Valley Hut the previous year, so this was an excellent opportunity to visit this popular hut. Just 5kms off the Overland Track, it's a lovely undulating walk to Pine Valley through the forest. When you arrive at Pine Valley Hut, you immediately feel the difference between this hut and the Overland huts.

The older-style hut is set among the trees, with tent sites and wooden platforms scattered along Cephissus Creek. The other visitors are mainly local Tasmanians and a mixed bunch; some are rock climbers arriving with all their ropes and other gear, some are there to hike the Labyrinth or the Acropolypse, while others have just hiked in from Narcissus to stay at the hut and chill for a day or so.

Continue Your Hike to Frenchmans Cap

If you want to hike Frenchmans Cap, the Hobart bus stops at the Derwent Bridge Hotel en route to the Frenchmans Cap trailhead. Potentially, you could drop a resupply box off at the hotel if you wanted to go down this route.

Your only problem would be gas, and your options are either making up full canisters from the array of canisters people leave when finishing up the Overland Track – use a Flip-Fuel to combine all the half-used canisters, or ask Wild Island Adventures if they can bring you some fresh supplies.

Transport and Logistics for The Walls of Jerusalem National Park

The Walls of Jerusalem National Park – Transport

Private Car or Private Driver

Logistically, getting to The Walls of Jerusalem trailheads on Mersey Forest Road from Launceston is easier than Hobart. We used a private driver, which is a good option if there are 2 or more passengers, the shuttles are all booked out, or, like us, you weren't keen on spending a night in Launceston. There are a couple of Uber drivers in Launceston picking up passengers and dropping them off on various trailheads.

Another option is to put it out there on the Overland Facebook page. Mike Hazelwood, a local guy who does search and rescue, will often help if he's not taking people hiking. He's a great guy with a load of stories. When he picked us up from Launceston Airport, he also brought us a couple of gas canisters.

Vehicle and Parking

If you are going to drive your car, any point-to-point hike can be problematic. If you are planning a point-to-point, you will have to car shuffle, which is doable, and the car parks are very safe. All of the trailheads on Mersey Forest Road have car parks.

Shuttle

Wild Island Adventures runs a shuttle service to the Walls of Jerusalem National Park. They will also take you the extra 7 km to Lees Paddock.

Public Transport

The only public transport from Launceston is the 762 Bus Launceston to Mole Creek, which runs daily. Your options from Mole Creek to the Walls of Jerusalem car park (45 km) include taxi or hitchhiking.

At the time of writing, a taxi service at Deloraine may be able to assist. Also, if you choose public transport and stay at the Mole Creek Camping Ground, the camp hosts may be able to help you with getting transport to the trailhead.

The bus departs Launceston (Cornwall Square Transit Centre) at 3.50 pm and arrives at the corner of Pioneer Dr and Caveside Rd at Mole Creek at 5.30 pm. The return departs Mole Creek at 7 am, arriving in Launceston at 8.30 am. You would need to be creative with wild camping, or there's a camping ground at Mole Creek.

Bus Timetable
Mole Creek Camping Ground

Luggage Storage

Wild Island Adventures can store your luggage if you are using them for the return journey, or if you are staying at Mole Creek Camping Ground, they will also store your non-hiking gear.

Gas Purchase

Wild Island Adventures will supply 250 gm and 100 gm gas canisters. If you are getting a private driver, if you speak to them nicely, they may be able to pick some up for you. We arrived in Launceston on Boxing Day, so this was our solution.

Where to stay in Launceston

Save Your Pennies
Pod Inn

Very Good and Won't Break the Bank
Hotel Grand Chancellor Launceston

Splash Out
Hotel Verge
The Lake St Clair Ferry

Reflections on a Tasmanian Trek Adventure

In summary, the trek from the Walls of Jerusalem to the Overland Track via Lees Paddock offers an enriching experience for avid hikers. This guide has outlined key preparations, from obtaining maps and a parks pass to understanding trail conditions and safety measures.

The journey itself intertwines the natural beauty of Tasmania's parks with the challenge of remote bushwalking, highlighting the need for self-reliance and adaptability. The diverse landscapes, historic shelters, and encounters with local fauna underscore the uniqueness of this trek.

For those up for the challenge, this route delivers a rewarding and comprehensive adventure through Tasmania's wilderness.

If You Enjoyed this Guide. – You May Also Like:

• Navigating the Overland Track Solo
• Hiking Frenchmans Cap -Tasmania’s Iconic White Peak
• Hiking the Rees Dart Track – Mt Aspiring National Park
• The Rakiura Track – A Great Walk on Stewart Island
• Traverse Walls of Jerusalem to the Overland Track via Lees Paddock
• Hiking The Tahoe Rim Trail – A Guide for Overseas Visitors
• Conquering the Gold Coast Kokoda Challenge
• Plan Your Larapinta Trail Sections, Best Time of Year, Resupply, and Transfers
• Larapinta Trail Food Essentials and Nutrition Plan

Frequently Asked Questions