Walls of Jerusalem trip: Full of alpine surprises
Walls of Jerusalem National Park, November 2025 - by Sue Cask
In late November 2025, I set off with a group of adventurous women to explore the Walls of Jerusalem National Park in Tasmania. We had four days ahead of us, and while I knew I would find stunning alpine wilderness, I didn’t realise how much fun and connection would come from sharing the experience with the group.
The carpark was busy with several other groups also preparing for the walk, we left with heavy packs on our backs and started the steep climb through tall eucalypt forest, past the old Trappers Hut eventually reaching the alpine plateau. The trail finally eased off for the last few kilometres to Wild Dog Creek Camp, our base for the next three nights. As a first-time camper, to my surprise, it was pretty comfortable—raised platforms, comfortable tents and bedding, fresh creek water, and even a toilet!
There were plenty of little bonuses that made the trip even better. Mornings started with yoga led by Gracie, which grounded us before the day’s hike. Meals were warm and filling and catered to everyone’s needs, with bush coffee becoming an unexpected favourite. Rest breaks often came with a sweet energy boost and we learned clever hacks from our guides too—like wearing “Marigolds” (dishwashing gloves) over our hiking gloves (or socks) to keep them dry.
Day two was a big day with a 14-kilometre trek across the plateau, past Solomon’s Throne, and down into Dixon’s Kingdom. Wandering among pencil pines that had stood for over a thousand years was humbling. After a rest at Trappers Hut (and some chocolate), we pushed on to the summit of Mount Jerusalem (1,459 meters). It was tough but worth it, even if the views were limited due to the weather.
Day three took us to the Pools of Bethesda, a serene alpine lake framed by rugged peaks. We sat quietly, soaking in the stillness, and disappointed the resident platypus didn’t make an appearance. Later, we tackled Solomon’s Throne in rain and sleet. The climb was steep but reaching the summit was unforgettable, even with limited views due to the weather and the strong winds whipping around us. To top it off, we shared some local Tasmanian food—Elly’s Salted Caramel Bang—which felt like the perfect reward.
Every day brought something new. The tarns—those little mountain lakes left behind by glaciers—were like mirrors, perfectly reflecting the pines and shrubs around them. Towering dolerite peaks gave the place its fortress-like feel. The weather kept us on our toes, swinging from sunshine to “mizzle” (mist plus drizzle, as our guides liked to say), and even snow. Wildlife popped up along the way too: echidnas, wombats, pademelons, wallabies, currawongs and the cheeky possums that tried to raid our camp at night, dragging off a backpack that had some leftover scroggin. Our guides—Grace, Jess, and Gracie—were brilliant, sharing stories about the history and ecology of the area, and even performing a few bird calls for us!
As the week wore on and the weather turning colder, the other campers and hikers were departing, leaving us alone with the park all to ourselves.
Day four was my favourite, rising at 5am in sub-zero temperature, I was disappointed with the amount of snow that had fallen overnight. A bush coffee, warm breakfast and a flurry of packing activity while trying to keep warm, we were ready to depart and that’s when the weather front settled in and snow started to fall and kept going for the next 4 hours while we walked back along the plateau and descended down to the sunshine and the carpark.
And after all that, our final night in Launceston at the Verge Hotel felt like pure bliss: long hot showers, soft beds, and one last dinner together, where we shared our reflections on everything we’d been through. The final day following breakfast, we all departed on our way, some back to Sydney and others onto extended stays in Tasmania.
Finally, a huge thanks to our fabulous coach Lis for your unwavering support, dedication, and guidance throughout our journey!