Platypus Bay is a serene, shallow freshwater cove on the eastern shore of Lake St Clair — Australia's deepest natural lake and the headwaters of the Derwent River, nestled within Tasmania's Cradle Mountain–Lake St Clair National Park. Surrounded by ancient myrtle-beech rainforest and accessed via a gentle 4.4 km loop trail from the visitor centre, this spot offers cool, tannin-stained waters with good underwater visibility in sheltered conditions. The bay's name comes from the platypuses frequently spotted feeding at dawn and dusk along the shoreline. While primarily a walking destination, the calm, protected bay provides a unique temperate freshwater snorkeling experience amid one of Tasmania's most iconic wilderness landscapes.
Platypus Bay
BeginnerMAYBE
MAYBE
Fair. Experienced snorkellers only.
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Wave Height 0.0 mSwell Period 0.0 sWind Speed 1.5 knPrecipitation 5.3 mmTidal Phase unknown
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Community contribution: submitted by Daniel
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Moderate risk: Cold water temperature
Lake St Clair's water temperature rarely exceeds 15°C even in summer, posing a risk of hypothermia without adequate thermal protection. A wetsuit is essential.
Low risk: Limited visibility after rain
Tannin-stained waters can become significantly murkier after rainfall, reducing underwater visibility and making navigation difficult.
Low risk: Remote location with limited facilities
The bay is a 2.5-hour drive from Hobart with no lifeguards, no on-site rescue services, and limited mobile phone reception in the national park.
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Getting in
Shore entry
Entry
From Hobart, take the Brooker Highway north to New Norfolk, cross the Derwent River, then follow the Lyell Highway (A10) northwest to Derwent Bridge (approx. 2.5 hours). Turn onto Lake St Clair Road and continue to the Lake St Clair Lodge car park. From the visitor centre, follow the Platypus Bay Walk (4.4 km loop, Grade 3) along the Watersmeet Track to reach the bay.
Parking & facilities
Large free car park at Lake St Clair Lodge/Visitor Centre. No parking directly at the bay — it's a walking trail only.
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Parks Pass required for entry to Cradle Mountain–Lake St Clair National Park. A day pass (vehicle) is approx. AUD 40; walk-in/hiker pass is cheaper.
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About this data
- Conditions last evaluated
- Spot data last updated
- Data sources
- Open-Meteo (marine & weather conditions), tide predictions via UTide, community contributors (descriptions, hazards, marine life).
- License
- Spot content licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. How's the Spot is open source.
Weather & swell ┬╖ Open-Meteo marine & weather APIs Tides ┬╖ UTide harmonic analysis Sea & safety ┬╖ community reports