Lake Mackintosh Campground is situated in an open area next to Lake Mackintosh. It is a free campground managed by Hydro Tasmania. The surrounding area is heavily wooded. In wet conditions, you must be aware of the lake level, as access may be cut (more on this later).
Mackintosh Campground is located on the west coast of Tasmania, just north of Tullah. It is an excellent place to base yourself to explore the area. It is accessed via a 6km sealed road from the Murchison Highway. The access road crosses Mackintosh Dam and then shortly after a spillway.
As the road crosses a spillway the site is not accessible when it is active. While at the campsite you need to take careful note of the dam level on the markers. They clearly indicate when you should leave the area.
No facilities are provided at this campsite so you should be self-contained.
Pets are permitted, but fires are not.
Camping in tents is permitted.
Lake Mackintosh Campground Quick Facts
| Campground Name | Lake Mackintosh Campground |
|---|---|
| Nearest Town | Tulla |
| GPS | 41°41'8.75"S 145°39'22.48"E |
| Access Road | Sealed |
| Number of sites | Greater than 20 |
| Toilets | No |
| Water | No |
| Dump point | No |
| Power | No |
| Pets | Yes |
| Tents | No |
| Fires permitted | Yes |
| Telstra coverage | Very Weak |
| Optus coverage | No |
| Cost | Free |
| Booking | N/A |
Campground Layout and Features
There are two areas open for camping. One is an open area next to the road and another slightly to the north and on the banks of the lake. The open area has space for about 15 vans and the smaller area has about 5 or 6 cramped sites.
The open area is quite flat while the smaller areas is more sloped.
While we were there, the smaller area was full and cramped. You will need to make your own decision on where to stay. The smaller area has a better view while the open area campsites are more spread out.
Lake Mackintosh Campsite Location
The campsite is located about 4km north of Tallah. The location is shown in the map below. For a more general view you may scroll out.
What to Watch Out For at Lake Mackintosh Campground
The larger open area is very close to the road, but there is little traffic and there is no traffic at night.
If you wish to keep your batteries charged, you may wish to camp in the central area of the open area. We camped close to the road for this reason and there was no noise at night.
As mentioned earlier, keep an eye on the water level in wet conditions and be prepared to leave quickly.
Not related to this campground, but at a nearby location, we saw someone camping in a place he shouldn’t have been. Just before crossing the dam, there is an area at the foot of a tall rockface. Someone was camping there while we were there. I couldn’t help but think that it wasn’t the smartest place to camp. Cliffs have a habit of throwing rocks every now and again,
Final Words
This is a good place to stay if you wish to explore the area. If you are fit, bushwalking experienced and up for a challenge, do the Mount Murchison walk. It is a difficult walk, but it is spectacular.