Walls of Jerusalem National Park Exposed Extremes of Tasmania Guide

The Walls of Jerusalem National Park is an alpine wilderness dominated by dolerite peaks, tarns, lakes and alpine vegetation. It forms part of the Tasmanian Wilderness World Heritage Area and is exposed to the extremes of Tasmania’s changeable weather. This remote park is not accessible by road, and there are no facilities for shortstop visitors. Bushwalkers should be experienced and well equipped for alpine conditions. Stands of pure pencil pine forest and alpine vegetation are set high on a plateau of dolerite peaks and glacial moraines, tarns and lakes.

The boundary of the Walls of Jerusalem National Park is 1km from the road end carpark. Bushwalkers must walk into the park from this carpark located off the gravel Mersey Forest Road near Lake Rowallan. The carpark is reached from Deloraine by following the B12 through Mole Creek and taking Mersey Forest Road (C138 then C171) to Lake Rowallan. A gravel road on the left just after the Fish River leads to the car park. There is no public transport to this area. The park boundary is reached after 30 minutes walking following the track uphill through forest. The track can be wet underfoot. Drive carefully between sunset and sunrise as you will be sharing the road with wildlife.

Walls of Jerusalem National Park

Walls of Jerusalem National Parks fees apply. National Park Passes can be purchased from Visitor Centres in the larger national parks and Service Tasmania Shops. For the full range of passes including Annual and Two Yearly visit any Service Tasmanian Shop (the closest are Sheffield or Deloraine) or a National Park Visitor Centre.

History Walls of Jerusalem National Parks

The Walls of Jerusalem National Park incorporates a number of former reserves. The history of each of these reserve areas is provided separately below. Each history has been compiled from a variety of sources and whilst all effort has been made there can be no assurance that it is a complete and accurate historical record for this reserve.  The Central Plateau Protected Area (102,000 hectares) was established by Order No.157 of 1978 under the Crown Lands Act 1976.

By virtue of Order 16 of 1981 under the Crown Lands Act 1976, 40,470 hectares (including 23,250 hectares indicated on LM Plan 181, 11,510 hectares indicated on LM Plan 182, and 5,710 hectares indicated on LM Plan 183) was revoked from the Central Plateau Protected Area. This Order removed 40,470 hectares from the Central Plateau Protected Area.  In accordance with Order No.22 of 1992 under the Crown Lands Act 1976, 18.63ha indicated on plan number LD 1376 was revoked from the Central Plateau Protected Area. This Order removed 18.63 hectares from the Central Plateau Protected Area.

Walls of Jerusalem National Park

At the commencement of the relevant sections of the Regional Forest Agreement (Land Classification) Act 1998: 

- The Central Plateau Protected Area comprising 9,460 hectares (indicated on CPR Plan 4654) was revoked from reservation under the Crown Lands Act 1976, and; That same area of land was declared to be reserved land in the class of conservation area and given the name Central Plateau Conservation Area being an extension to that reserve.

An area of Crown land comprising 40,000 hectares (indicated on L.M. Plan 124; was declared to be a conservation area to be known as the 'Central Plateau Wildlife Sanctuary’ under the National Parks and Wildlife Act 1970 (Statutory Rules 315 of 1978). As result of Statutory Rules 1981, No.128 under the National Parks and Wildlife Act 1970, 5,710ha of crown land in the vicinity of Chalice Lake indicated on LM Plan 183, that was previously part of the Central Plateau Wildlife Sanctuary was declared to be a State reserve and given the name Cradle Mountain – Lake St Clair National Park, being an extension to that reserve.

At the commencement of the relevant sections of the Regional Forest Agreement (Land Classification) Act 1998:
- The conservation area known as the ‘Central Plateau Conservation Area’ was revoked by virtue of section 12 of that Act, and by virtue of section 17 (2) of that Act the same area was declared to be reserved land in the class of conservation area and was taken to have been so declared under the National Parks and Wildlife Act 1970 and continued to be known by the same name - ‘Central Plateau Conservation Area’, and; by virtue of section 17(4) of that Act; 9,460 hectares of Crown land (indicated on CPR Plan 4654) was declared to be reserved land in the class of conservation area and given the name ‘Central Plateau Conservation Area’, being an extension to the existing reserve.

Two areas of Crown land comprising 3,915 hectares (including 2,730 hectares indicated on CPR Plan 5006 and 1,185 hectares indicated on CPR Plan 4609) were declared to be conservation areas and were given the name ‘Central Plateau Conservation Area’, under the National Parks and Wildlife Act 1970 (Statutory Rules 2000, No.241) being an extension to the existing reserve.

WaterFall In Walls of Jerusalem National Park

 In a proclamation under sections 14(1) and 16(1) of the National Parks and Wildlife Act 1970 (Statutory Rules 2001, No. 180) the boundaries of the reserve were consolidated as follows:

- The area of land given the name Central Plateau Conservation Area and specified in section 17 and Part 1 of Schedule 9 to, the Regional Forest Agreement (Land Classification) Act 1998 ceased to be reserved land, and;

- The proclamation notified in the Gazette as Statutory Rules 1990, No. 79, was revoked, and;

- The proclamation notified in the Gazette as Statutory Rules 2000, No. 241 was amended by omitting from Schedule 1 to that proclamation the item relating to an area of 2,730 hectares (indicated on CPR Plan 5006), and;

- 90 870 hectares of Crown land (indicated on CPR Plan 5722) was declared to be reserved land in the class of conservation area and was given the name ‘Central Plateau Conservation Area’.
This proclamation consolidated and redefined the boundaries to include 90,870ha of land.

The National Parks and Wildlife Act 1970 was replaced by the National Parks and Reserves Management Act 2002 and the Nature Conservation Act 2002. Central Plateau Conservation Area continued to be reserved in the same reserve class but administered under the Nature Conservation Act 2002.
Guide Access
This park offers many opportunities for experienced bushwalkers and cross-country skiers to explore. The walking track from the carpark at Lake Rowallan climbs through tall open sclerophyll forest before entering the alpine region of the park at Herods Gate, just beyond the camping area at Wild Dog Creek. The boardwalk and hardened track continues to Dixons Kingdom and Mt Jerusalem (1459 m). Beyond Mt Jerusalem walkers need to be confident in navigation as tracks and pads soon become indistinct. The wild weather characteristic of the ‘Walls’ is as much part of experiencing the region as the landscape. As visibility can be reduced to zero, it is important that all walking parties carry a map and compass and be able to Lake Rowallan car park to Trappers Hut-1.5 to 2 hrs, Trappers Hut to Wild Dog Creek camping area 1 to 2 hrs,  Wild Dog Creek camping area to Solomons Throne-3 hrs return, Wild Dog Creek camping area to Dixons Kingdom-3.5 hrs return, Dixons Kingdom to Mt Jerusalem-2 to 2.5 hrs return.