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Main photo gallerys are below Information.
WALLS of JERUSALEM NP
Rinadeena Falls, Turanna Bluff & Grail Falls
SMALL PHOTO & INFORMATION PAGE
WALLS of JERUSALEM National Park in Central Tasmania. It is a truly magical place of mountains, lakes and forests. This area is a must see destination for intrepid bush walkers, unfortunately, there is no easy way this area can be seen except by plane. The park is just east of Lake Rowallan.
There are no facilities in the Walls of Jerusalem area. The nearest facilities and accommodation are at Mole Creek. The nearest town is Deloraine. The orientation distances are given for Mole Creek, as Mt Jerusalem is way out in the wilderness.
From MOLE CREEK you are 30 minutes from the LAKE ROWALLAN, DEVILS GULLET, SHEFFIELD, WESTBURY and DELORAINE. You are one hour from LAUNCESTON and DEVONPORT. Nearby places are described in the CENTRAL MOUNTAINS REGION page.
View Region Central Mountains of Tasmania in a larger map
FACILITIES: There are no facilities in the Walls of Jerusalem National Park. However, there are emergency huts at Howells Bluff (Trappers Hut) and at the Jaffa Gat (Dixons Kingdom Hut). There is also a toilet and raised camping area, half way between these two huts at Wild Dog Creek. For information on the Lake Rowallan area telephone (03) 6259 8148 There are shops, a cafe and a petrol pump at Mole Creek. There is a large shopping precinct at Deloraine. There is accommodation at MOLE CREEK and DELORAINE.
TOURIST information is located at 98 Emu Bay Rd, Deloraine. The telephone number is (03) 6362 3471 or the internet contact is www.greatwesterntiers.net.au
SIGHTS: WALLS of JERUSALEM is an awesome area with many impressive sights. The walk is through beautiful mountain valleys, lakes, alpine meadows and forests. The sights include; HERODS GATE, KING DAVID'S PEAK, LAKE SALOME, SOLOMONS THRONE and the JAFFA GATE. Each one of these is a sight worth seeing in its own right.
The walk is a favorite with Tasmanians, but is not well known by others. The nearest hamlet is MOLE CREEK. It is in a very isolated area, so this walk is only for experienced walkers. A detailed description follows, so that you can judge for yourself.
The walk starts on the eastern side of Lake Rowallan. You start by climbing a very steep mountain for 2.3 kilometres, until you reach the TRAPPERS HUT, near the top. This is why it is graded as a hard.
The next 12 kilometres on the plateau is relatively flat and slowly rising. You do not need to climb Mt Jerusalem at the end, if you are tired. If you do, then you are presented with a fantastic vista.
Some walkers do detours to other peaks like SOLOMONS THRONE or the TEMPLE.
This walk can be done in a day, but this makes it very hard Most walkers camp overnight at Wild Dog Creek or at Dixons Kingdom Hut. They then have more time to explore the sights before returning.
The return 12 kilometres is mostly down a slight incline and the last 3 kilometres are easy, if you like going down hill. (Some people find this more difficult than going up hill.) This was my experience, but the reader really must match this description with their own strength and experience. Other walks in the Walls of Jerusalem National Park include:
RINADEENA FALLS is a spectacular waterfall that is relatively easy to reach. You take the Little Fisher Road north of Lake Rowallan and drive to the Little Fisher River Track. The track is through a regrowth forest in the shadow of Turrana Bluff.
TURRANA BLUFF has great views over the Little Fisher Valley and nearby mountains. It is access on the same Little Fisher River Track as for Rinadeena Falls and it is simply further south of it. However, it is a much longer journey, so it is only for groups of experience walkers. The track ends on a tarn strewn plateaus, which has great views of the Little Fisher Valley, as well as the peaks of the Walls of Jerusalem National Park to the south.
WARNING: The Central Plateau area can be very cold and very wet in any season, so check the weather and come prepared. Caution advises you to cancel a trip, when bad weather is predicted.
ROUTES: From LAUNCESTON you drive west on the A1 Bass Highway towards DEVONPORT. You then turn off to the south to DELORAINE, where you join the B12 road to MOLE CREEK. Past Mole Creek you turn south onto C171 to Lake Rowallan. Half way down the eastern side of Lake Rowallan, you will see the trail to Mt Jerusalem.
From DEVONPORT you drive south on B14 to SHEFFIELD, where you then drive south down C136 past Mt Roland, until it reaches C138. You drive south down C138, until it reaches C171, which takes you to Lake Rowallan. Half way down the eastern side of Lake Rowallan, you will see the track to the Walls of Jerusalem
To LARGER WALLS PHOTOS
- Mt JERUSALEM SJ
- Mt JERUSALEM MT1
- Mt JERUSALEM MT2
- Solomons Jewels
- Rinadeena Falls
- Turrana Bluff
1/ The Walls of Jerusalem National Park is a very beautiful, World's Heritage listed valley in eastern Tasmania. In this image you can see the famous Walls of Jerusalem set beyond an alpine tarn. Note the colors that make this area so beautiful. Two photographers have contributed images for three galleries, which show different aspects of the park.
2/ Lovely colors are seen in the Jewels of Solomon lakes. This is a major attraction on walk to Mt Jerusalem.
3/ The photo shows one of the peaks along the way to Mt Jerusalem. Note the alpine meadow and alpine vegetation in the distance. These are hints that the area gets very cold quite regularly.
4/ A black boy is framed against a stark peak. The views on the Mt Jerusalem trail were really spectacular.
5/ This is the beautiful Pool of Bethesda and beyond is Zion Hill. The pencil pine trees here are 1000 years old. Note the beautiful colors and reflections.
6/ Mt Jerusalem is the backdrop to this beautiful lake.
7/ Here surrounding a tarn are lovely cushion plants and ancient pencil pine trees. Beyond are the Walls of Jerusalem range. Note the plethora of colours and shapes that greet your eyes.
8/ Here lovely green cushion plant and pencil pine trees look towards King David's Peaks and the Walls of Jerusalem. The trail is world famous for its mountains, exotic plants and lakes.
9/ Pencil pines have a strange, almost unworldly shape and make a beautiful addition to the landscape seen on the Mt Jerusalem trail.
10/ Many lakes are seen on the Mt Jerusalem trail.
1/ The first landmark on the trail to Mt Jerusalem is the Trappers' Hut on Howell's Bluff. Here our party rests after the 2.3 kilometre, 600 metre walk uphill from the car park. This trip was made in the winter.
2/ The next major feature along the trail to Mt Jerusalem are Solomon's Jewels. These are a series of small tarns.
3/ Solomon's Jewels frequently freeze solid. This image shows the lovely colours of a frozen tarn.
4/ This is another view of the lovely colours and shapes of Solomon's Jewels. They were photographed, when they were frozen solid.
5/ This is the view as you approach Herod's Gate. To the left is Mt Orphel, next is Zion Hill then in the distance is Mt Jerusalem with the Temple Hill to the right. The lake in the distance is Lake Salome.
6/ This is the view from inside Herod's Gate. To the left is Zion Hill, which is 1395 metres high and beyond is Mt Jerusalem, which is 1460 metres high. The lake to the left is Lake Salome.
7/ This view looks south towards Solomons Throne, which is on the left edge of the West Wall. The lake in the foreground is Lake Salome.
8/ This view shows the West Wall near Solomon's Throne. It is a a sheer 200 metre high cliff. Note the man in the foreground for a comparison of size.
9/ These are cushion plants near a tarn near the West Wall image shown above. These plants really do look like cushions.
10/ This is a tarn near the foot of Mt Jerusalem.
11/ This is the view of King David's Peak seen from near Solomon's Throne.
12/ This view was taken from the valley near King David's Peak, which is at the right end of the West Wall.
13/ This is the Pool of Bethesda. To the left is the West Wall and Solomon's Throne. The pencil pine trees here are 1000 years old.
14/ This is the magnificent sight of Solomon's Throne. It was photographed from east of the Dixon's Kingdom Hut.
15/ Dixon's Kingdom Hut is camping area in the middle of a pencil pine forest. It is a good place to rest before exploring this magnificent area.
16/ This is the view from the Temple towards Solomon's Throne.
17/ This is the view photographed from near the Temple looking towards the north west and King David's Peak. Note the approaching clouds.
18/ This is another view of the frozen landscape photographed near the Temple.
19/ This view should give you some idea how fast the weather can deteriorate in the highlands of Tasmania. It was photographed soon after the photo above.
20/ This image was photographed on the return journey. It shows the view northwards from Herod's Gate. The distant mountain to the right is Cradle Mountains and the distant mountain to the left is Barn Bluff. The hill to the right is Mt Orphel.
1/ This gallery shows the Walls of Jerusalem photographed in the summer. It will give you some idea as to how much this area can change. The first image shows the Trappers' Hut. This is located 2.3 kilometres east of the car park. There is an uphill track to this hut and reaching it marks the first landmark of the trail to Mt Jerusalem.
2/ This image is of one of the small lakes called Solomon's Jewels.
3/ This is another view of Solomon's Jewels photographed near sunset.
4/ This is the view photographed from Herod's Gate looking northwards towards Barn Bluff, which is about 50 kilometres away.
5/ King David's Peak dominates this meadow of eucalyptus and pencil pine trees.
6/ This is a close up of the mighty King David's Peak. It is 1500 metres high and towers over the Mt Jerusalem area.
7/ The is the West Wall of the famous Walls of Jerusalem. It is a sheer cliff that rises 200 metres above the valley. In the middle ground are a forest of pencil pine trees.
8/ This is the view from Zion Hill looking east towards King David's Peak. The large lake in the distance is Lake Salome.
9/ This is the same view from lower down Zion Hill.
10/ This view is of the Pool of Bethesda looking south towards Solomon's Throne. This is beyond the pencil pine tree forest.
11/ This view shows the typical alpine landscape of the Mt Jerusalem area. It consists of pencil pines, eucalyptus trees and numerous small tarns.
12/ This is the view across Lake Salome looking towards King David's Peak.
13/ This is another view of the beautiful Lake Salome. Beyond it is an ancient pencil pine forest. To the left is Mt Orphel and to the right is Zion Hill.
14/ This view shows the vegetation that surrounds an alpine stream near Wild Dog Creek. Here there is a raised platform for tents and a toilet. It is a great place to camp before exploring the area.
15/ This view looks towards Zion Gate on the left and Mt Jerusalem on the right. It is looking towards the north east.
16/ This is the view to the north from near Herod's Gate. It was taken on the return journey. In the distance you can see Cradle Mountain, which is about 50 kilometres away.
1/ This gallery shows photos that I made on a club day trip in 2021. We walked only as far as Herods Gate before returning. It was a very difficult 16 kilometre walk. The first 2 kilometres were a steep climb to reach the Trappers Hut, which is near the start of the plateau.
2/ When we reached the plateau we saw the distant peaks of many mountains. In the centre of this photo you may recognize Cradle Mountain.
3/ This was the first of the tarn we met that marke the start of Solomons Jewels.
4/ This image shows more of the jewels. Note how the tarns are flanked by lovely pencil pines.
5/ The distance between the many tarns is quite small as you can see in this image.
6/ This was one of the larger tarns, where we stopped for a short break.
7/ From this point we could at last see King Herods Peak, our final destination.
8/ This area is called Herods Gate. It is at the base of King Herods Peak. Beyond are the many attractions of the Walls of Jerusalem.
1/ Rinadeena Falls is a lovely waterfall in central Tasmania. It is located north east of Lake Rowallan in the northern part of the Walls of Jerusalem National Park. It should not be confused with the Rinadeena settlement near Queenstown. This gallery shows a trip our club made to Rinadeena Falls 2015.
2/ From the Rowallan Dam you turn north east onto the Little Fisher Road. This is a gravel road. It takes you north east to the car park at the start of the Little Fisher River Track. Rinadeena Falls is 4 kilometres south of the car park, so it can be reached in a day walk.
3/ The route to Rinadeena Falls is the Little Fisher River Track. Part of this track is is an old logging road. This image shows us crossing a dilapidated bridge.
4/ The track follows the Little Fisher River. To the east of us was the towering escarpment of Turrana Bluff. You can visit Turrana Bluff in the next gallery.
5/ This is the Little Fisher River, which the track runs parallel to, as it wends its way to the south.
6/ Rinadeena Falls is on a stream just west of the Little Fisher River. It drops about 20 metres and is located in a lovely, rainforest valley.
7/ This image shows the full profile of Rinadeena Falls.
8/ One of the attractions of Rinadeena Falls is that you can make your way to a point behind the waterfall. However, you must be sure footed enough to cope with the very slippery rocks you must perch on. The next 5 images show you the enchanting views from behind the waterfall.
14/ I made this image to show you what you have to perch on to get behind the waterfall.
15/ This image shows the valley and track near Rinadeena Falls.
15/ The track to Rinadeena Falls uses this crude log bridge to access the falls.
16/ The Rinadeena Falls area is in a rainforest. I made this image to show you a section of the track that was covered in moss.
1/ Turrana Bluff is in Central Tasmania in the northern part of the Walls of Jerusalem National Park. It is north east of Lake Rowallan and is accessed from the Little Fisher River Road. From the car park you access the Little Fisher River Track, which takes you first to Rinadeena Falls, then climbs up Turrana Bluff. This gallery shows photos made on a club trip in 2015. This image shows Turrana Bluff from near the car park at the end of Little Fisher Road.
2/ South of Rinadeena Falls the track enters a light forest zone and gradually rises, as it climbs Turrana Bluff. This image looks up at part of Turrana Bluff. You will notice how this area of forest has many dead trees.
3/ This image shows the forest zone that we were passing through. The track was gradually wending its way up this slope from the bottom left of this image to the top right.
4/ Unfortunately, the Little Fisher River area has been extensively logged and all that you can see in some sections is saplings like these.
5/ Here you can see us slowly sidling our way up Turrana Bluff. Notice the huge area of dead trees behind us. Mass tree death like this is usually the consequence of human interference.
6/ This was the view to the south from near the top of the escarpment of Turrana Bluff. You can see the vast valley of the Little Fisher River to the right, while to the south are the peaks of the Walls of Jerusalem National Park.
7/ At the top of Turrana Bluff is a vast plateau that is littered with dozens of tarns. There are no trees on the plateau as it is too wet and windy. The tarns are the consequence of the huge quantity of rain and snow that regularly falls here.
8/ This is a closer view of one of the tarns. Note the sparse covering of hardy, alpine vegetation.
9/ This image looks to the north west into the valley of the Little Fisher River that we had just ascended from.
10/ Here you see down a vast cleft in the escarpment and beyond it see a vast field of scree.
11/ This image shows more of the escarpment of Turrana Bluff and the vast field of scree at its base.
12/ This image looks south along the escarpment to the Walls of Jerusalem area that you can see in the other galleries.
13/ Here you can see the rocks and scree that we had to descend down to return home.
