Early rise today! Because on the program is Ben Lomond National Park, one of Tasmania’s most impressive natural areas. With as the highlight: the notorious Jacob’s Ladder. This is one of Tasmania’s most challenging roads. Jacob’s Ladder is a winding mountain pass that takes us to the rugged Ben Lomond National Park. We depart at sunrise from our hotel in Launceston, because a spectacular adventure awaits us.
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About Ben Lomond National Park
Before we take you along on our adventure, a bit of background. Ben Lomond National Park, established in 1947, is not just any park. With its 18,192 hectares of pristine area and Tasmania’s second highest mountain (Legges Tor, 1,572 meters) this is a place of extremes. In winter it is Tasmania’s main ski area, in summer a paradise for hikers and nature lovers. In the years 1805-1806 the area was first explored, and in 1950 it was officially developed as a ski area, with the construction of the iconic Jacob’s Ladder in 1963.
The most special thing about the park? The geology! Those striking rock formations you see everywhere were formed in the Jurassic period, about 165 million years ago. They mainly consist of dolerite, which creates that characteristic rugged landscape with steep cliffs and dramatic rock formations.
Jacob’s Ladder: a legendary drive through this mountain pass
The access road to the park is perhaps just as famous as the park itself. Jacob’s Ladder, located about 50 kilometers from Launceston, is not just any road. It is an unpaved mountain pass that winds its way up to 1,500 meters altitude with 6 hairpin bends. The road is notorious for its steep gradients and lack of guardrails, making it one of Australia’s most challenging routes – and we would soon experience that for ourselves!
Attention: it is important to check the weather conditions before you start the drive; in bad weather the drive is strongly discouraged. Between June and September snow chains are mandatory. It is recommended to drive in a low gear and when descending use engine braking to spare the brakes.
Our experience with the challenging drive
We left early, and that proves to be a good choice. The weather is clear and we have the road practically to ourselves. For the car it becomes a real challenge: steep hills, no guardrails and an unpaved road make it an intense driving experience. On some sections you hold your breath – one wrong move and.… but we don’t want to think about that!
The drive takes about 45 minutes, but we take longer. Not because it is so difficult, but because we have to stop for photos all the time. Every bend offers another spectacular view over the valley. The combination of that zigzagging road against the rugged rock face is simply too photogenic to just drive past.
When you arrive at the top it is best to immediately park your car on the roadside and walk to the plateau from where you have a magnificent view over Jacob’s Ladder. The photo above of the road was also taken here.
By the way, the climb itself certainly doesn’t take 45 minutes. You are up Jacob’s Ladder in less than 5 minutes. It is mainly the long gravel road through the forest that takes up a lot of time. Well, for beautiful natural highlights you just have to drive a bit. Jacob’s Ladder is worth it!
Hiking on the plateau
Once at the top a completely different landscape awaits us. We park at Alpine Village, the starting point of our hike. We had chosen the ‘Alpine Village to Little Hell’ trail, a 4.5 kilometer route that is marked as ‘moderately challenging’. But we found this route poorly marked. We had no signal and thus no AllTrails app at hand. So we decided to walk a section of the Summit track. You walk through the little village a nice stretch through the alpine area. Along the way you encounter wallabies and we even saw a snake slithering away.
In winter there is snow here, but now in summer you mainly see a rugged moonscape with eucalyptus trees here and there in the lower parts.
Besides wallabies and pademelons you can also encounter wombats and even Tasmanian devils here. For bird lovers it is a real paradise, with species like the wedge-tailed eagle and the black-headed honeyeater.
Continue your route through the Northern Midlands
After our hike we start the exciting descent. Tip: let your car brake on the engine by putting it in 1st or 2nd gear. Your brakes will thank you, even if you are probably driving a rental car.
We continue our way through the Northern Midlands towards the east coast. The landscape here is surprisingly varied: mountain passes alternate with gravel roads through dense forests, and then suddenly you are driving through open plains where a farm appears every now and then.
Our final destination today is St. Helens, where we stay overnight at the Panorama St Helens hotel. After checking in we drive on to the Bay of Fires, known for its orange-colored rocks, white sandy beaches and crystal-clear blue ocean. A perfect place to end the day.
Practical tips for your visit and your drive to Jacob’s Ladder
- Always check the weather before starting Jacob’s Ladder – in bad weather the drive becomes life-threatening and is strongly discouraged.
- A 4WD is not a luxury, especially in winter. Make sure you trust yourself and the car.
- Take enough water and snacks with you – there are no facilities at the top.
- Download routes and maps in advance – you have no signal!
- Count on at least 2-3 hours for the whole experience (drive + hike).
- The best time to visit is in summer (December-March) if you want to hike.
- Take extra warm clothing with you – even in summer it can be cold at the top.
Is this detour worth it?
Absolutely! Ben Lomond National Park and Jacob’s Ladder are a must-do for every round trip through Tasmania! The thrill of the drive, the peace on the plateau – it makes this destination one of the absolute highlights of our trip through Tasmania.
Whether you come for the challenging drive, the hikes, the wildlife, just that breathtaking view – or a good story for back home: it is simply a matter of doing it.
Now on to St. Helens and the Bay of Fires, which for many travelers is a logical next stop.
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