Lake Gairdner Camping Area is a beautiful free camping area. The campsite is located on the edge of Lake Gairdner. In the evenings it is common to see a platypus or two in the area. Cradle Mountain is just 30km away making it a great option for exploring the national park.
Other than exploring Cradle Mountain and watching platypuses, there are a number of walks nearby. We recommend the Champagne Falls and Bridal Veil Falls walk and the walk up Bell Mount for a great view.
Lake Gairdner Camping Area is located 41km to the south-west of Devonport. It is a accessed by a good c-class road. The last 4km is on the unsealed Moina Road. If travelling from the south the turn onto Moina Road is fairly sharp. When we was there Moina Road was in good condition.
To stay at this site you should be self-contained. If you must dispose of your waste in a way in which it does not pollute the nearby water. Given that the area is surrounded by private land this is difficult.
Pets and fires are permitted. Fires must be contained.
The camping area is managed by Hydro Tasmania.
Lake Gairdner Camping Area Quick Facts
| Campground Name | Lake Gairdner Camping Area |
|---|---|
| Nearest Town | Sheffield |
| GPS | 41°28'59.38"S 146° 3'33.29"E |
| Access Road | Sealed (last 4km unsealed) |
| Number of sites | Aprox 17 |
| Toilets | No |
| Water | No |
| Dump point | No |
| Power | No |
| Pets | Yes |
| Tents | Yes |
| Fires permitted | Contained |
| Telstra coverage | Very weak |
| Optus coverage | No |
| Cost | Free |
| Booking | N/A |
Campground Layout and Features
The camping area is a grassed area, allowing for about 17 campsites. This number is dependent on how people set up their campsites. To maximise the number (and prevent people thinking poorly of you) place your van perpendicular to the sides of the area.
No facilities are provided in this campground. You must remove all of your waste.
Lake Gairdner Camping Area Location
The map below shows the location of Lake Gairdner Camping Area. You may zoom out for a general location of the area.
What to Watch Out For at Lake Gairdner Camping Area
We did not encounter any issues at this camping area but we did make some observations.
The area looks like it would get very sodden during wet weather. Consider this when planning your stay.
The area is very popular. Plan to arrive early and definitely do not arrive in the late after noon during busy periods.
Mobile coverage is marginal in the area.
You may notice that on Google maps the camping area is noted on the other side of the river. It appears that this area was used in the past. It is now rocked off. Don’t expect to be able to get a vehicle into this area.
Final Words
This is a wonderful campground, and we enjoyed our stay here. Arrive early or you may not get a place to camp for the night.
Closeby Campgrounds
Lake Mackintosh Campground provides a great place to stay if you are travelling to the south-west.
If you are heading towards the north coast, you may like Sheffield Campground.