Ben Lomond National Park

Ben Lomond National Park is a nature reserve spread across a 100-square-kilometer plateau with dolerite rock formations, alpine plant life, and Tasmania's second-highest peak. The area features steep mountain roads, open highland terrain, and harsh weather conditions that shape the local ecosystem.

Colonel William Patterson named the area after the Scottish Ben Lomond in 1804, establishing a European connection to this Tasmanian region. This naming reflected the period when European settlers were giving their own geographic references to the lands they encountered.

The mountain takes its name from Colonel William Patterson, who in 1804 named it after the Scottish Ben Lomond, bringing a European reference to the landscape. Today the name reflects this historical practice, though Aboriginal people had inhabited and known this region by different names for thousands of years.

During winter months from June to September, drivers must carry snow chains for Jacobs Ladder, a steep mountain road with sharp switchbacks. Road access depends on seasonal weather, so preparation before visiting is essential.

The park contains around 220 plant species and provides habitat for wombats, Bennett's wallabies, Forester kangaroos, eastern quolls, echidnas, and platypuses. This variety of animals in a single alpine region shows how these species adapt to diverse terrain.

Location: Northern Midlands

Operator: Tasmania Parks & Wildlife Service

GPS coordinates: -41.56068,147.65186

Latest update: December 14, 2025 15:02