Southwest Tasmania hits fast. This is a tight 9.5-hour loop built around Gordon Dam and Lake Pedder. With guide David and a small group (max 10), you get real explanations while the scenery does the heavy lifting. One stop also shows you the temperate rainforest side of Tasmania, not just the postcard coast.

I like how the day mixes engineering awe with nature walks. Crossing the 140m Gordon Dam is the kind of moment you feel in your body, and it comes with time for photos and a look down into the gorge. I also like that the stops are paced so you’re not just staring out a window—there’s a guided walk at Creepy Crawly and an easy shoreline walk near Teds Beach.

The main drawback to plan for is that lunch isn’t included—so you’ll want to grab food on the way, and then eat by the lake break when it’s offered. Also, the itinerary leans on good weather, and a rainforest walkway can mean bending and damp ground if conditions are wet.

Key things to know before you go

• Gordon Dam (140m) arch structure: you actually walk across it, then get higher viewpoints for the scale
• Lake Pedder’s color story: you get time by the lake, plus context for the lake’s unusual tones
• Creepy Crawly nature walk: short, guided, and physical enough to warrant good shoes
• Southwest National Park World Heritage area: multiple outlooks tied to the rugged quartzite-and-rainforest scenery
• Small group set-up: max 10 travelers with a university-trained local guide and sound system in the vehicle
• Plan for weather and moisture: if it rains, you’ll want rain layers—David reportedly comes prepared with windbreakers

Gordon Dam at human scale: the 140m arch walk

The star moment is the Gordon Dam itself—Australia’s highest arch dam at 140m. Your route builds anticipation with drives through mountain country and repeated lookouts, then gives you the real thing: time to cross and photograph while you feel the scale in front of you.

What makes it special isn’t just the height. It’s the experience of standing on the dam and looking down toward the base of the gorge—described as 35 stories below—while a guide frames what you’re seeing. When you’re traveling in Tasmania, it’s easy to treat dams like infrastructure. Here, the walk turns it into a viewpoint and a story.

You’ll also get an extra perspective shot from the Gordon Dam Lookout area (with a stop at Nob Hill). That matters because the first crossing is all about “I’m here,” while the lookout is “I can see how it sits in the land.” If you care about photos, this two-step approach is one of the smartest parts of the itinerary.

One practical note: the day is long and you’ll be doing a lot of standing and walking. If you don’t enjoy heights, you still shouldn’t feel trapped here—you get time to take photos and step away, and you can pace yourself across the span.

Lake Pedder lunch break and the color of the water

After the dam excitement, the tour shifts to Lake Pedder, which is known for its striking tones. The plan includes a lunch stop beside the lake, with a chance to learn why the water looks the way it does—described as white sand and tannin-stained waters.

Even if you’re not a “lake person,” Lake Pedder works because it’s visual and atmospheric. You’re not just eating at a random picnic place. This is time to sit near the shoreline, look at the mountains around you, and connect the scenery to the lake’s backstory.

Because lunch isn’t included, you’ll want to think like a Tasmanian local: eat when food is available during the day. The itinerary includes a stop in New Norfolk where you can pick up lunch and hot drinks at a bakery, and that’s the most straightforward way to handle it.

If the weather is misty, the lake can still feel dramatic. In wet conditions, you’ll likely appreciate having layers and a way to keep your photos and phone gear protected. The upside is that rainy days can make the color look even more intense—less glare, more mood.

Creepy Crawly temperate rainforest walk (and what the path feels like)

The most relaxing part of the day—if you like forests—is the Creepy Crawly walk in the temperate rainforest. This stop is guided and totals about 1 hour 30 minutes, with a ~40-minute informational walk included.

The name isn’t random. You’re in a rainforest setting where the “action” is subtle: plant shape, light, moisture, and the way the forest floor changes with conditions. A guide turns this into something you can understand instead of just “trees everywhere.”

Here’s the practical side: the path can involve bending and moving up and down, so wear shoes with grip and expect uneven ground. If you’re coming from Hobart with comfortable sneakers only, swap to something sturdier. You’ll thank yourself when the ground is damp.

This is also the part of the tour where you get the contrast Tasmania is famous for. Instead of only thinking of Tasmania as coastal and wild, you see the temperate rainforest texture: cooler air, darker understory, and that feeling of being inside a living climate.

Southwest National Park viewpoints: quartzite, button grass, and big sky

The driving and viewpoint pattern is a big reason this tour works well for a day trip. You’re passing through and then stopping in Southwest National Park, part of the Tasmanian Wilderness World Heritage Area. The scenery mix is described as steep rugged quartzite mountains, button grass plains, tall eucalypt forest, and rainforest.

Those words matter because they map what you’ll see. Quartzite tends to form hard-edged slopes and dramatic ridgelines. Button grass plains look like open country but are still part of the wilderness ecosystem. Eucalypt forests create a different kind of shade and sound than rainforests.

You’ll get multiple short lookouts that help your brain stitch the day together: distant mountain lines, the way the lake sits in the basin, and how the dam structure fits into the same rugged geometry. The stop at Lake Pedder’s lookout is especially important because it gives you a birds-eye view of the glaciated mountain ranges of the southwest—something you can’t fully appreciate from shoreline level.

At the dam-related lookouts, you get that “from a distance” perspective again. It’s a nice balance: one moment you’re on the structure, the next you’re far enough away to see the entire system.

New Norfolk and Maydena: small towns, big contrast

Most of the day is wilderness and viewpoints, but the tour still gives you human-scale stops. In New Norfolk, you get about 50 minutes and a chance to pick up lunch and hot drinks from a local bakery. It’s a smart setup because it solves the lunch issue early, and it helps you avoid the scramble of finding food later.

Then later you drive through Southwest National Park and stop in Maydena for a short break. Maydena is described as a town with historic timber houses surrounded by eucalypt forest plantations and mountain bike trails. Even if you only pass through, it’s a helpful contrast to the wilderness-only feeling.

This pacing matters when you’re doing a full day outside Hobart. Without those town stops, you’d feel like you’re just being transported between scenic spots. With them, the day feels like a journey through Tasmania’s different textures.

What you get for the price (and what to watch)

The price is $186.48 per person, and that’s not a throwaway cost for a day trip. The value comes from the blend of things that are hard to DIY in one go: guided nature walking, park/world heritage entry, a very specific dam experience, and multiple designed lookouts.

This tour includes:

• Air-conditioned vehicle and a sound system
• University-trained local guide (David)
• Easy guided nature walks plus the Gordon Dam Walk
• Entry ticket to Southwest National Park / World Heritage area
• Lookouts built for photography

It does not include lunch. Given how the itinerary handles food (bakery stop early, lake break later), you’ll probably plan to buy lunch in New Norfolk and then enjoy it at the lake.

You should also consider the weather factor. The experience requires good weather, and if it’s cancelled due to poor conditions, you’re offered a different date or a full refund. Since this is a rainforest-and-outdoors day, bringing gear for damp conditions isn’t optional—especially if you hate getting cold and wet.

Good news: the smaller group size (max 10) usually means more attention from the guide and less crowding at viewpoints, which can make photos and walking more comfortable.

Who this tour fits best

This day trip is ideal if you want a guided way to see the Southwest rather than driving yourself and guessing timing.

You’ll likely enjoy it most if you:

• care about engineering + nature in the same day
• want a short rainforest walk with explanations
• like photographing scenery from multiple angles
• want a small-group pace instead of a long coach with dozens of people

It also fits travelers who want “easy nature” without committing to a full-day hike. The walks are described as easy, but the rainforest trail still asks for a bit of physical attention because of bends and steps.

If you’re the type who gets motion-sick in long drives, you’re still on a vehicle for much of the day (travel time included), so consider that based on your own sensitivity.

Quick practical tips for a smoother day

A few things I’d plan for based on how this tour is set up:

Wear shoes you’re happy to get muddy. The rainforest walkway is short but can be uneven.

Bring a light rain layer even if the forecast looks decent. The tour requires good weather, yet conditions can turn wet, and David has reportedly had extra windbreakers for rainy weather.

Bring a heat layer. “Cooler and wetter” is part of the vibe in temperate rainforest country, and you’ll feel it more once you’re stopped at lookouts.

Expect a long day. It runs about 9 hours 30 minutes, starting at 8:00am from 20 Davey St, Hobart, and ending back at the meeting point.

Should you book this Gordon Dam and Lake Pedder tour?

If your goal is a high-impact day that shows you Tasmania’s Southwest in one package, I’d say yes—especially if you want a guide to connect the scenery to what it is and why it looks the way it does. The standout is that you get both scale (walking the dam and viewing from multiple spots) and atmosphere (Lake Pedder and the temperate rainforest walk).

I’d skip or rethink it if you hate cold/wet days, or if you only want “easy, no-hassle” logistics. The lunch gap is easy enough to solve, but the outdoors weather reality is real. Also, if you strongly dislike heights, the dam experience might be stressful even with photo time and the ability to take breaks.

Overall, for the money, this tour earns its cost by bundling the key Southwest highlights into a timed, guided experience—with a small group size that keeps things manageable.

FAQ

What’s the duration of the Gordon Dam and Lake Pedder day tour?

It runs for about 9 hours 30 minutes (travel time is included in the duration).

How much does the tour cost?

The price is $186.48 per person.

What time does the tour start in Hobart?

The start time is 8:00am.

Where is the meeting point?

The meeting point is 20 Davey St, Hobart TAS 7000, Australia. The tour ends back at the meeting point.

Is lunch included?

No. Lunch is not included, though there is a bakery stop in New Norfolk where you can pick up lunch and hot drinks.

What’s included in the tour price?

It includes an air-conditioned vehicle, a university-trained local guide, easy guided nature walks and the Gordon Dam walk, entry ticket to the Southwest National Park and World Heritage Area, lookouts for photography, and a sound system in the bus.

Is there a maximum group size?

Yes. The maximum is 10 travelers.

Is the tour suitable for most travelers?

The information says most travelers can participate.

Does the tour require specific weather conditions?

Yes. The experience requires good weather. If it’s canceled due to poor weather, you’ll be offered a different date or a full refund.

Do I need to bring printed tickets?

No. The tour uses a mobile ticket. Confirmation is received at the time of booking.