Two Tasmania icons in one day. This Gordon Dam and Lake Pedder day trip takes you from Hobart to the rugged Southwest, with big views and good guide talk along the way. I love that the schedule gives you real time at both the dam and the lake, not just a quick photo stop.

I also love the rainforest portion, especially the guided Creepy Crawly Walk in the temperate rainforest. With David as your university-trained local guide, you get the plant-and-place explanations that make the scenery easier to enjoy, even when the weather turns.

One possible drawback: it’s a long day in the car, and the easy walks can still feel wet and bouncy if rain comes through. The Creepy Crawly path may also ask you to bend and step carefully, so plan for some uneven footing.

Key things to know before you go

• 140m Gordon Dam crossing with plenty of time to look down into the gorge and take photos
• Lake Pedder views plus time at Teds Beach, including the chance to enjoy the lake’s coloured, tannin-stained water
• Temperate rainforest walk at the Creepy Crawly area, guided and focused on how the place works
• Small group size (max 10), which makes it easier to ask questions and hear the guide without shouting
• A comfort-first vehicle, with air-conditioning and a sound system for clear commentary
• Weather reality: the tour requires decent weather, and rain can make the walking surfaces slick

A Hobart Day Trip That Really Goes Into the Southwest

This tour is built for people who want Tasmania’s wilderness in a single, well-timed chunk of time. You leave Hobart early (start time is 8:00am from 20 Davey St) and head west into South West National Park territory, where the scenery changes quickly from hills and eucalypts to cooler forest and high-country views.

The big reason I like this format is how it stacks the day’s highlights in a sensible order. You get gradual build-up: town stop and supplies first, then rainforest walking, then lake time, then the big engineering moment of Gordon Dam. By the time you’re standing at that 140m-high arch dam, you’re already in the right mindset—eyes open, camera ready, and not feeling like you’re rushing through random stops.

Your Guide and the Small-Group Comfort Factor

The tour runs with a maximum of 10 travelers, and that matters more than you’d think on a long day. In a small group, the guide can keep explanations tighter and personal, and you’re less likely to lose the story when the bus pulls over and everyone’s scrambling for photos.

Your local guide is David, and the tour description makes it clear he’s university trained and used to explaining the plants, geology, and how the landscapes connect. David also seems to take weather seriously; when rainy conditions hit, extra windbreakers were prepared, which is a nice sign that the tour isn’t just hoping for sun.

On top of that, you’re traveling in an air-conditioned vehicle with a sound system, so you’re not straining to hear the commentary over road noise.

The New Norfolk Setup Stop: Food and a Quick Reset

Before you get deep into the Southwest National Park area, you stop in New Norfolk. It’s a historic town dating back to 1807, and the short stop is mainly practical: grab lunch and hot drinks from a local bakery.

This is a smart moment to plan for the whole day. Since lunch is not included, this stop is where you can handle your food early rather than scrambling later when you’re standing in the right place at the wrong time. Even if you don’t want a full meal, a warm drink helps a lot once you’re moving into colder, wetter country.

If you’re the type who likes to travel with a snack list in mind, think of this as your easiest win.

Creepy Crawly Walk: Temperate Rainforest, Short and Guided

The first real nature stop is the Creepy Crawly Walk in the temperate rainforest area, after you drive through tall eucalyptus forest on the way there. The walk is guided and runs around 40 minutes.

This is one of the tour’s best “value-per-minute” sections because you’re not just looking at trees. You’re learning how the forest behaves—what makes this environment different from what you might expect back home. The tour also frames the walk as an easy guided stroll, which is great if you want nature without committing to a full hike.

One thing to keep in mind: even though it’s an easy walk, the path can require you to bend and move your body more than you’d expect. If you have knee issues or struggle with uneven ground, bring a little extra caution and good footwear.

And yes, if rain shows up, the rainforest atmosphere is still worth it—but you’ll want shoes that handle damp conditions.

Teds Beach Campground and Lake Pedder Time

From the rainforest, you head toward Lake Pedder with dramatic mountain scenery along the road. Your next stop is Teds Beach Campground, where you get time for a lake shore walk.

Lake Pedder is the visual payoff of the day. The water can look strikingly coloured because of tannin-stained waters, and the area is described with white sand along the shore. Even if you’re not a geology nerd, that combination of water colour, shore texture, and mountain shape makes the lake feel like a different world compared with many parts of Tasmania.

This stop is also where you get the story behind the place. The tour description specifically says lunch time happens beside Lake Pedder and that you’ll learn its incredible history. Since lunch isn’t included, you’ll likely rely on what you picked up earlier in New Norfolk or bring your own food strategy.

The shore walk isn’t just for stretching. It also helps you look at the lake from ground level, where you notice details that get washed out when you’re only viewing from a lookout.

Lake Pedder Lookout: Birds-Eye Views Without the Hustle

After Teds Beach, there’s a quick transfer to the Lake Pedder Lookout for an overhead view. This stop is only about 20 minutes, so it’s not meant to be a lingering picnic spot.

Still, it’s a useful contrast to the shore time. From above, you get a clearer sense of how the lake sits in the broader southwest terrain, and how the glaciated mountain ranges frame the view.

If the weather is clear, this is where your photos usually improve a level. If clouds roll in, it’s still worth going up, because the dramatic light can make the colours feel different rather than disappearing.

Gordon Dam: Walking Across Australia’s Highest Arch Dam

Now for the headline act: Gordon Dam. The dam is 140m high, and it’s described as Australia’s highest arch dam. This is one of those “don’t rush” moments. You’re allowed time to scurry across, take photos, and soak in the experience.

And yes, the feeling is real. The tour description even points out that you’ll feel like a mouse compared to the scale. One of the standout details is that you can look down toward the base of the gorge, about 35 stories below. That kind of height changes your perspective fast—suddenly the whole day’s travel distance feels like you’ve earned the view.

If you like architecture and engineering as much as scenery, this portion is a double win: it’s not only a view, it’s also a human-made structure in a massive natural setting.

Nob Hill and Gordon Dam Lookout: Higher Still, Short Stop

After crossing, you go for another viewpoint, the Gordon Dam Lookout area and Nob Hill. This segment is brief—about 15 minutes—but it gives you a noticeably different angle than the dam walkway itself.

This is also where you can re-check your photos. Many people like to compare: the dam as a line you cross versus the dam as a shape you see from farther back.

If the day is cloudy, higher viewpoints can still work because the rugged terrain fills in with texture, even when the sky looks grey.

Southwest National Park World Heritage Drive-Through Country

Between Gordon Dam and Maydena, you spend time moving through the South West National Park, part of the Tasmanian Wilderness World Heritage area. The tour information notes features like steep and rugged quartzite mountains, button grass plains, tall eucalypt forest, and rainforest.

What you should take away from this isn’t a checklist. It’s how quickly Tasmania’s southwest ecosystem can shift. Even from the bus windows, you’re watching the terrain sort itself into different “zones,” and that helps you understand what you later see on the ground at stops like the rainforest walk and Lake Pedder.

This is also where the guide talk matters. When the country changes shape right outside the vehicle, explanations help you connect what you’re seeing to why it looks that way.

Maydena Stop: Timber Houses and Forest Plantations

You’ll then continue toward Maydena, with a short stop in town. Maydena is described as having historic timber houses surrounded by forest plantations and eucalypt forest, and there are also mountain bike trails nearby.

This part of the day is more of a palate cleanser than a nature “final boss.” After dam scale and lake colour, a small town stop gives your legs and brain a change of scene.

If you’re into slow travel style, you can use this stop to stretch, check your photos, and reset for the final leg back toward Hobart.

Price and Value: What $186.48 Buys You (and What It Doesn’t)

The price is $186.48 per person, and that’s not a bargain price. But it’s also not random spending. You’re paying for a full-day road trip setup, guide time, and access.

Here’s what you do get:

• Air-conditioned vehicle and a sound system for clear guiding
• A university-trained local guide (David)
• Entry ticket to the Southwest National Park and World Heritage area
• Guided walks, including the Gordon Dam walk and nature stops
• Lookouts designed for photography time

And what you don’t get:

• Lunch (so plan on buying food, starting with the New Norfolk bakery stop)

When I think about value for a day tour like this, I focus on two things: how much transport and guidance you’re getting, and how much time you’re given at the major sights. This itinerary does give enough time at Gordon Dam and Lake Pedder to make the day feel earned, not rushed.

Also, the fact that it runs with a cap of 10 travelers helps justify the price. You’re not herded like a crowd.

Weather and Clothing: Plan for Wet, Not Just Cold

This tour requires good weather, and if it’s cancelled due to poor conditions, you’ll get offered a different date or a full refund. That’s the sensible policy.

But you should also assume that “good weather” for the southwest can still mean damp air and slippery surfaces. In rainy conditions, David had extra windbreakers ready, which is a big clue about how to dress.

Practical packing tips based on the walk style and rainforest environment:

• Wear sturdy shoes with grip
• Bring a light rain layer and something windproof
• Expect that the rainforest walk might feel cooler and wetter than you expect

If you’re used to city footwear, upgrade your traction. It’s worth it just for comfort, even on a short walk.

Who This Tour Fits Best

This day trip is best for people who want Tasmania’s Southwest highlights without stitching together separate drives and ticket planning. It’s also a strong match if you like a guide who connects plants, geography, and place stories.

You’ll probably enjoy it if:

• You want to see Gordon Dam and Lake Pedder in one go
• You like short guided walks more than long self-guided hikes
• You want a small group experience with time at lookouts

It may be less ideal if:

• You need completely flat, fully accessible paths (the rainforest walk may require bending and careful stepping)
• You hate cold and wet weather and would rather chase only sunny skies

Should You Book This Tour?

I’d book it if your priority list is simple: Gordon Dam, Lake Pedder, rainforest, and big Southwest views—done in one day from Hobart. The schedule gives you enough time to actually look, not just pass through, and the small group size makes the guide’s explanations easier to hear and more useful.

Skip it only if you know your walking comfort is limited, or if you’re unwilling to handle wet conditions. This is wilderness-country. Even with an easy walking style, you’re still in a place that can get damp.

If you can handle a long day and dress for weather, this is one of the more focused ways to experience Tasmania’s Southwest without wasting half your trip on transit.

FAQ

What time does the tour start and where is the meeting point?

The tour starts at 8:00am at 20 Davey St, Hobart TAS 7000, and it ends back at the same meeting point.

How long is the Gordon Dam and Lake Pedder wilderness day tour?

It runs for about 9 hours 30 minutes, including travel time.

Is lunch included in the tour price?

No. Lunch is not included, and there’s a short stop in New Norfolk where you can pick up lunch and hot drinks at a local bakery.

How many people are on the tour?

The tour has a maximum of 10 travelers.

Are entry tickets to the national park included?

Yes. The tour includes entry tickets to the Southwest National Park and World Heritage Area.

What kind of walking is involved?

You’ll do easy guided nature walks, including a guided Creepy Crawly Walk (around 40 minutes) and a Gordon Dam walk, plus some time for a lake shore walk at Teds Beach.

What if the weather is poor?

The tour requires good weather. If it’s cancelled due to poor weather, you’ll be offered a different date or a full refund.