Walls of Jerusalem Hike, Tasmania 2025

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The Walls of Jerusalem National Park in Tasmania is a remote park with great hiking and bushwalking. It is one of the best hiking trails in Australia. It offers stunning mountain scenery and for the most part, the trails are not too difficult. Most Tasmanian locals leave the main summer season to tourists as they prefer to see the park early and late in the season. March and April are my favourite times, but that comes with a chance of snow so make sure you are prepared.

Walls of Jerusalem National Park Permits and Booking

A permit is required to go hiking in the National Park. You are also required to have a current Tasmanian Parks Pass. There are 3 main campgrounds within the park and numbers are restricted so booking as early as possible is recommended.

Look at the Tasmania National Parks Site for more info on permits and booking.

Transport to Walls of Jerusalem National Park

There is no scheduled public transport or regular transport to the Walls of Jerusalem National Park. As a result, you will either need your own transport, hitchhike, or organise a shuttle from one of the hiking transport companies. The carpark at Walls of Jerusalem has had a reputation for people breaking into cars. While it is usually not a problem, many people use hiking transport companies.

How to get to Walls of Jerusalem National Park? Here are some transport options:

• Walls of Jerusalem Transport – transport from Launceston, Devonport, Sheffield, or Deloraine.
• Wild Island Adventures – transport from Launceston.

Hiking Gear for Walls of Jerusalem National Park

A Complete Guide to Lightweight Gear for the Walls of Jerusalem National Park.

Try to pack lightweight if possible. It can be both very cold and very warm while hiking the Walls of Jerusalem. Most people take Hiking Boots with Gaiters and a high-quality Rain Jacket.

Here are some reviews of the best lightweight and ultralight hiking gear.

• Lightweight Backpack
• Lightweight Tent
• Lightweight Sleeping Bag
• Lightweight Sleeping Mat
• Lightweight Down Jacket
• Lightweight Rain Jacket

Best Places to Buy Outdoor Gear in Australia:
Snowys.com.au | Macpac | WildEarth

Walls of Jerusalem National Park Trip Journal

Here is a journal of my hike to give you an idea of what it is like. The trip was in April and there was a bit of snow to keep things interesting.

Day 1

From the carpark, there was the slog up to the plateau, on the way up it started to snow. My first thoughts were, cool, I can’t remember the last time I was hiking in the snow. As I continued and made it to the top of the plateau the snow and wind increased. I passed people heading down from their hiking trip and I noted the rather cold and unhappy looks on their faces, all told of the blizzard in the early hours of the morning and the snow they have tramped through.

As I continued further the snow and wind increased in strength but I was warm comfortable and happy. Like a lot of weather in the mountains, just as quick as it arrived, it stopped and by the time I made it to the Wild Dog Campsite the weather looked like clearing up.

It took only about 2-3 hours to hike here from the carpark so I stopped for a rest and some snacks. Then it happened. The sweat on my inner layers started to chill my core and extremities very quickly. Within a matter of minutes, I couldn’t move my fingers and hands properly. I had a choice. Keep walking to warm up or make camp. I choose the latter.

I always keep a dry change of thermals to get into when I finish hiking. My first task was to put up the tent, change out of the wet gear, and slowly start to warm up. Gusts of wind around 40km/h appeared and then more snow, my tent started to buckle and strain under the load.

When the wind subsided the snow increased, now heavier than before until it covered the whole of my outer tent, which warmed up the inside of the tent nicely, like an insulation blanket. My thermometer showed a balmy -1 degrees celsius. But I was warm now.

As the afternoon and evening progressed it got noticeably cooler. At 10 pm I woke up very cold. I looked at my thermometer, -6 degrees Celsius. My -7 degree rated sleeping bag was struggling with my tropical-rated body. I put on my fleece jacket and down jacket and within minutes I was suitably warm again.

• 6km hiking

Day 2

By morning the cold remained but I put on several layers and set off with a view to climb the 3 peaks of Solomons Throne, The Temple, and Mt Jerusalem. I was the only person walking in the morning and had the place to myself. I learned that ice on wooden boardwalks made for moves similar to those known only to ice dancers.

My first climb was to the top of Solomons Throne, I noticed footprints but didn’t see anybody. At the top, the 30km/h winds and sub-zero temperatures meant I only stayed for a short visit before slipping and sliding down the icy slopes and up the next climb of The Temple. This climb was much more exposed to the cold wind, which at times was well above 50km/h. At the top, I was rewarded with views of the whole surrounds which eluded me on the previous climb. What an extraordinary area. I now know why every local bushwalker I spoke with told me that The Walls of Jerusalem National Park is their favourite place.

I headed over to the next valley for lunch inside Dixons Kingdom Hut and climbed Mt Jerusalem but the strong wind and low cloud meant it was just a climb to tick off the list as there was no view, low cloud saw to that.

On return to Dixons Kingdom Hut I planned a circuit to get back to camp. So with only a couple of hours of sunlight left I headed for Lake Ball and followed the Junction Lake track until it reached a saddle that my map told me would take me across to my campsite. With a little bit of navigation, regularly consulting the compass, and taking bearing and back bearings I made it to camp about 15 minutes before sunset, a bit close for my liking. But I did complete a worthwhile circuit walk.

19km hiking

Day 3

Blizzard, snow storm, whiteout. I stayed in the tent all day.

Day 4

Overnight it snowed and my sweaty boots from yesterday were frozen solid and rather difficult to get into. But I took off early in the deep snow to explore the winter hiking of the lakes and pools of ‘The Walls’. I planned another circuit walk of about 5km that would take in the scenic Pools of Bethesda, Gate of Chains, Pool of Siloam, and return to camp via the North side of Lake Silone.

Most of this area didn’t appear to have any paths or tracks, but as there was so much snow I wasn’t sure. I just tread my way through the snow stopping on so many occasions to take in the stunning vistas. During the winter hiking, I had two problems. Firstly, my boots were frozen and making my feet cold no matter what I seemed to do. Secondly, I lost my sunglasses before the walk and the sun was starting to come out. I was a little worried about snow blindness. Lucky for me the sun only started in earnest when I was close to camp so I warmed myself in my now sun-covered tent and began the slow process of thawing out and packing up camp.

It took only about 2 hours to return to the start of the walk in brilliant sunshine.

11km hiking

In good weather in summer with the long hours of sunlight this walk could be completed by fit people in one, big, long, tiring day or rather comfortably overnight. I chose to take longer as my preplanned exit from Tasmania was booked and I had the time to spend it ‘out bush’ rather than in some town. Despite the weather being very average for most of my time at ‘The Walls’ I wouldn’t have wanted it any other way. Winter wonderland without it actually being winter yet. One of my most favourite places in Tasmania.

Have you hiked ‘The Walls’? How was the weather?
Let me know in the comments section below.

Best Places to Buy Outdoor Gear in Australia:
Snowys.com.au | Macpac | WildEarth

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