Black Bluff Summit and Paddys Lake

Black Bluff Mt sits prominently above the river valley of Loongana it can carry a lot of snow through winter and is always the first mountain visible with snow from the North West coast.

The track is part of the Penguin to Cradle Trail and starts at the Leven River, and winds upwards through Forest, Heath, a Glacial Lake and Alpine Plateau.

It is a stunning and accessible walk that cover many terrains and plant communities in one day.

The Brookes Track starts at Taylors Flats near Mountain Valley and climbs to the Black Bluff Summit (1339m) via Paddys Lake and takes approximately 6 Hours return. 

Paddys Lake is a 4 hr return walk but if the weather is nice you will want to linger on the Plateau to take in the stunning views and the rare opportunity to explore the alpine garden.

From Paddys Lake the Penguin to Cradle Trail continues with camping options.

Paddys Lake is said to have never been bottomed and is a pretty glacial formed lake described by early settlers as ‘a jewel dropped from the sky’. Tasmanian mountain shrimp (anaspides) can be found in the lake. These shrimp are a left over from 250 million years, a living fossil.

Black Bluff Mt is the highest mountain protruding into the north west corner of Tasmania. Views are extensive from here across the North West of Tasmania. From the summit 360’ views to Cradle Mt and Mt Ossa ( the highest in Tasmania ), Mt Roland and the great western tiers, and on a clear day to Ben Lomond Mt Arthur and Mt Barrow in the north east .

The flora of Back Bluff is a rare opportunity to explore a variety of endemic Tasmanian plant communities all in one day.  Late spring early summer the plateau is a spectacular alpine garden.