Watersmeet Loop

Starting behind the Visitor Centre at the end of Lake St Claire Road, Cradle Mountain-Lake St Clair National Park, this Aboriginal cultural heritage walk takes you on a figure-of-eight loop via the Watersmeet, Larmairremener tabelti and Platypus Bay tracks. Read the information boars along the track to learn more about the Larmairremener people. The walk starts on the Watersmeet Track, following an old road that was constructed to allow for limited logging after bushfires in the 1960s. You'll pass fragrant tea tree, wattle and banksia through buttongrass sedgeland to the Watersmeet Bridge. The track leads toward Platypus Bay. As the name tells you, you might spot a platypus there if lucky. The walk returns via the Larmairremener tabelti track, following the ridges formed by retreating glaciers during the ice ages. This hike can be completed as a loop walk or split into three shorter walks. At their longest, these walks combine to form a figure-of-eight loop. Let us begin by acknowledging the Traditional Custodians of the land on which we travel today, and pay our respects to their Elders past and present.

Photo by admin, 2018.

Photo by admin, 2019.

Photo by admin, 2018.

Photo by admin, 2019.

Photo by admin, 2018.

Photo by admin, 2019.

Photo by admin, 2018.

Photo by admin, 2019.

Downloads GPX PDF

Safer Bushwalks

Tips on staying safe on track

Before you start any bushwalk ensure you;
• Tell someone you trust where you are going and what to do if you are overdue
• Have adequate equipment, supplies, skills & knowledge for the whole journey
• Consider the impact of weather forecasts, park/track closures & fire dangers
• Can respond to emergencies & call for help at any point
• Are healthy and fit enough for this journey
If not, change plans and stay safe. It is okay to delay and ask people for help.

Getting There

Transport options and directions

Start	(-42.1164503,146.1744949)
Mode	Car
Directions	From

Track Notes

Turn by turn instructions & maps

Getting started
From the car park at the end of Lake St Claire Road (near the visitor centre), head towards the said visitor centre. Cross the road via the crosswalk and head along the ramp. Then head down the small set of steps and keep right. When you come to the picnic tables outside (to your left), turn left and head along the concrete path. Keep left at the intersection shortly after, following the "All walking tracks" sign. About 130 metres later, keep right at the Y intersection. After another 400 metres, turn left at the 3-way intersection (following the signage for the Mt Rufus and Shadow Lake walks) to continue along Watersmeet Loop Track (clockwise).....

Turn map	Directions & comments
	Start. There is a car park (about 55 m back from the start). After 40 m pass the "Visitor Centre" (10 m on your left). This sign is wheelchair accessible. W:www.lakestclairpark.com.au T:+61 3 6289 1137 Then pass the toilet (10 m on your right). After 30 m pass the restaurant (15 m on your right).
	After another 55 m turn left. After another 15 m continue straight.
	After another 120 m continue straight, to head along Watersmeet Track. Keep right. After another 145 m continue straight, to head along Watersmeet Track. After another 265 m pass the sign.
	At the intersection of Watersmeet Track & Mount Rufus Circuit turn left, to head along Mount Rufus Circuit (a walking track).
	After another 235 m (at the intersection of Mount Rufus Circuit & Larmairremener tableti) turn right, to head along Larmairremener tableti.
	After another 1.5 km (at the intersection of Shadow Lake Circuit & Larmairremener tableti) continue straight, to head along Shadow Lake Circuit.
	After another 140 m (at the intersection of Watersmeet Track & Shadow Lake Circuit) turn right, to head along Watersmeet Track (a vehicle track).
	The starting point of an alternate route. This alternate route takes you along the foreshore of the lake via the Fergie's Paddock Track. To take the alternate route turn left here. Details below. After another 740 m (at the intersection of Watersmeet Track & Fergie's Paddock Track) continue straight, to head along Watersmeet Track. After another 100 m (at the intersection of Mount Rufus Circuit & Watersmeet Track) continue straight, to head along Watersmeet Track.
	After another 265 m continue straight, to head along Watersmeet Track. After another 145 m continue straight.
	After another 135 m turn right. About 175 m past the end is "Lake St Clair Lodge". There is a fee to use this campsite. This campsite has showers. Then pass the "Visitor Centre" (7 m on your right). This sign is wheelchair accessible. W:www.lakestclairpark.com.au T:+61 3 6289 1137
	After another 35 m come to the end.

This alternate route takes you along the foreshore of the lake via the Fergie's Paddock Track.

Turn map	Directions & comments
	At the intersection of Fergie's Paddock Track & Watersmeet Track Start heading along Fergie's Paddock Track (a walking track). After 110 m come to the "Fergy's Paddock camp site" (10 m on your right).
	After another 390 m continue straight, to head along Fergie's Paddock Track. After another 140 m pass a seat (5 m on your right)., has a backrest. After another 35 m pass the picnic table (7 m on your right). After another 5 m continue straight, to head along Fergie's Paddock Track.
	After another 5 m come to the end. At the end of this alternate route, rejoin the main route.

Terrain

Know the Hills, grading & facilities

Watersmeet Loop

Grading

	Class 3/6 Moderate track
Length	4 km
Time	45 min to 1 h 30 min

Quality of track	Formed track, with some branches and other obstacles (3/6)
Gradient	Gentle hills with occasional steps (2/6)
Signage	Clearly signposted (1/6)
Infrastructure	Generally useful facilities (such as fenced cliffs and seats) (2/6)
Experience Required	Some bushwalking experience recommended (3/6)
Weather	Storms may impact on navigation and safety (3/6)

Some facilities on route

Camp site: There are 2 on route, on average they are 1.5 km apart with the largest gap of 3.4 km.

Toilet: There is one -10 m back from the start.

Seat: There is one 3.2 km (plus an extra 640 m along side route) from the start.

Order of key facilities on route

Item	From Start	Name & link to notes
Toilet	-10 m	[toilet]
Camp site	3.2 km + 110 m	Fergy's Paddock camp site
Seat	3.2 km + 640 m	[seat]
Camp site	4.1 km	Lake St Clair Lodge

Weather Forecast for {{location.name}}

Alerts and Closures