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Lake Fenton – Mt Field National Park

  • Lake Fenton, Mt Field National Park. Image Credit: Darren Wright

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Lake Fenton – Mt Field National Park
Derwent Valley

Lake Fenton is where Mt Field’s wild side starts to feel close enough to touch, alpine air, big skies, ancient plants and that famous golden fagus show in autumn.

Lake Fenton is one of those places that makes the quick hop from Hobart feel like you’ve driven straight into another world, crisp air, ancient trees, and that glow of gold every autumn that only happens in our corner of the planet.

Where is Lake Fenton?

Lake Fenton sits high in the alpine section of Mt Field National Park, in the Derwent Valley. It’s an important water catchment for Hobart and a scenic stop along Lake Dobson Road on the way up the mountain. The lake is ringed by low, windswept snow gums and moorland, with boardwalks and short tracks making it easy to explore without a big mission.

Why visit Lake Fenton?

  • Easy access to “big mountain” scenery without a major hike – you can literally step out of the car into an alpine landscape.

  • It’s one of the most accessible spots in Tasmania to see the turning of the fagus, Australia’s only cold‑climate, winter‑deciduous tree.

  • Short walks, longer hikes, lookouts and photo spots all start or finish around the lake, including Seagers Lookout and Mt Field East.

  • In autumn, photographers and leaf‑chasers flock here for those rust‑red to brilliant gold tones reflected in the still water.

Mt Field National Park
Mt Field National Park. Image Credit: Darren Wright
Mt Field National Park. Image Credit: Darren Wright
Lake Fenton, Mt Field National Park. Image Credit: Darren Wright
Lake Fenton, Mt Field National Park. Image Credit: Darren Wright

What you’ll see and do

Around Lake Fenton you can expect changing moods with every season – bright summer skies, misty moors, frosty mornings and, if you’re lucky, a dusting of snow.

Things to do include:

  • Lake Fenton Fagus Walk: Short, mostly flat track along the lakeshore designed to make fagus viewing easier; expect some rocks towards the end but a well‑made dirt path.

  • Lake Fenton Hut circuit: Easy 550 m circuit from the car park to the lake and historic hut – good for a leg stretch or quick family wander.​

  • Lake Fenton to Lake Webster: An 11 km return walk crossing open moorland to another wild alpine lake; allow a few hours and be prepared for changing weather.​

  • Mt Field East & Seagers Lookout: Longer Grade 4 walks with big views over the Derwent Valley and Rodway Range, with one circuit option passing down to Lake Fenton.

Lake Fenton, Mt Field National Park. Image Credit: Darren Wright
Lake Fenton, Mt Field National Park. Image Credit: Darren Wright

Getting there from Hobart

Lake Fenton is about 1.5 hours’ drive from central Hobart in good conditions.

  • Route: Head north‑west via New Norfolk and Westerway on the Lyell Highway (A10/B62) to the small township of National Park and the Mt Field National Park entrance.​

  • From the visitor centre, take the unsealed Lake Dobson Road up the mountain; Lake Fenton is roughly 10–11 km up this road with a roadside car park.

  • The road is winding and can be icy or snow‑covered in winter and early spring, so drive slowly and check Parks & Wildlife alerts before you go.

You’ll need a valid national park pass, which you can grab online or at the Mt Field visitor centre before heading up the hill.​

Google Map Directions

The magic of the fagus

The star of the show here is Nothofagus gunnii – the deciduous beech, or “fagus”.

  • Fagus is a small, crinkle‑leaf beech that survived from the Gondwanan era and now only grows in pockets of Tasmania above about 800 m.

  • It’s Australia’s only cold‑climate winter‑deciduous tree and turns from green to gold, orange and deep rusty red before dropping its leaves each autumn.

  • Around Mt Field, you’ll find fagus near Lake Fenton, along the Fagus Walk and higher up on the Tarn Shelf and boulder fields.

  • Colours can start as early as late March, usually peak around ANZAC Day, and can linger into early May depending on weather.

Turning of the Fagus
Fagus, Mt Field National Park. Image Credit: Darren Wright
Fagus, Mt Field National Park. Image Credit: Darren Wright
Fagus, Mt Field National Park. Image Credit: Darren Wright
Fagus, Mt Field National Park. Image Credit: Darren Wright
Fagus, Mt Field National Park. Image Credit: Darren Wright
Fagus, Mt Field National Park. Image Credit: Darren Wright
Mt Field National Park. Image Credit: Darren Wright
Mt Field National Park. Image Credit: Darren Wright
Lake Fenton, Mt Field National Park. Image Credit: Darren Wright
Lake Fenton, Mt Field National Park. Image Credit: Darren Wright
Picture of Hobart and Beyond Editorial Team

Hobart and Beyond Editorial Team

The Hobart and Beyond Editorial Team is dedicated to bringing you the best insider tips, local stories, and up-to-date guides to exploring southern Tasmania.

Article Details:

Article Created: 13 February 2026
Last Update: 13 February 2026
Author: Darren Wright
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