Ben Lomond National Park

Introducing Ben Lomond National Park

Tassie’s most reliable skiing hot spot (or rather, cold spot), this 165-sq-km park, 55km southeast of Launceston, incorporates the entire Ben Lomond Range. Bushwalkers traipse through when the snow melts, swooning over alpine wildflowers that run riot during spring and summer. The odd lonesome crow may comment on your arrival on the treeless plateau.

Stay here year-round at Tasmania’s highest-altitude pub, the Creek Inn (03-6390 6199; www.ski.com.au/creekinn; d $120-180, extra adult/child $45/25). There’s a fully licensed restaurant and, during ski season (July to September), a kiosk and ski shop. Lift tickets cost adult/child $45/25 per day; ski hire (including lift ticket) is $90/70. National park fees apply.

During the ski season, McDermotts Coaches (6394 3535; return adult/concession/family $26/20/85) depart Launceston at 8am and ascend the mountain, returning at 4pm. Outside the ski season, driving is your only option. The route up to the alpine village includes Jacob’s Ladder, a ludicrously steep ascent on an unsealed hairpin-bend road – drive slowly, with snow chains in winter.

Last updated: Feb 17, 2009