Nearly a third of the WHA is comprised of moorland vegetation, dominated by buttongrass sedge Gymnoschoenus sphaerocephalus on very acid peaty nutrient-poor soils and typically surrounded by scrub and heath communities with ti-trees Leptospermum spp.
Some threatened vascular plant species are found. The vegetation has developed in response to fire partly due to Aboriginal practices over the last 30, years and more recently, to logging contractors and prospectors. Grassland is limited to small patches, some of which result from the firing of rain forest, the rest probably being edaphic or climatic in origin. Specialist communities occur in more restricted habitats.
There is a wide range of flowing and still water ecosystems. Owing to their unusual hydrological properties, Lake Sydney and Lake Timk have developed interesting marginal herbaceous communities, and the Snowy Range contains dynamic string bog systems characterised by bolster plants. Lakes with permanently stratified layers of water and coastal lagoons with their unusual micro-organisms, are also of ecological importance.
The southwest coast has a wide range of plant communities peculiar to salt marsh, coastal cliffs, coastal sand dunes and sea bird breeding colonies, also areas fire-cleared by fishermen. These offer specialised niches for rare and restricted endemic plants. Limestone and dolomite substrates, whether on lowland plains, riverine cliffs or at high altitude, are also important habitats for restricted endemics Nomination document, The fauna is of world importance because, protected by isolation, it includes an unusually high proportion of endemic species and ancient relict groups.
The varied topography, geology, soils and vegetation together with the harsh and variable climatic conditions have combined to create a wide array of habitats and a correspondingly diversely adapted fauna: the scrubland, heath and moorland animals have many unusual adaptations.
The insularity of Tasmania and of the southwest wilderness has protected them from the impacts of the exotic species that have seriously affected the mainland fauna. Two main faunal groups co-exist there: one that includes the marsupials and burrowing freshwater crayfish that are relicts of the Gondwanan fauna; the second, including rodents and bats, that invaded Australia from Asia millions of years after the break-up of Gondwanaland.
The invertebrate fauna, including cave-adapted species, is outstanding: many are ancient relict species such as the velvet worms Euperipatoides and Ooperipatellus spp.
They are considered a missing link between the annelids worms and the arthropods crustaceans and insects Nomination document, Of Tasmania's 32 mammal species, 27 are present in the area. The Tasmanian wolf Thylacinus cynocephalus EX was last seen in Four of these mammals are endemic to Tasmania including the somewhat dog-like Tasmanian devil Sarcophilus harrisii EN: , mature individuals the world's largest extant carnivorous marsupial, the cat-like eastern quoll Dasyurus viverrinus , Tasmanian pademelon or rufus wallaby Thylogale billardierii and the rodent-like Tasmanian betong Bettongia gaimondi.
The duck-billed platypus Ornithorhyncus anatinus and short-beaked echidna Tachyglossus aculeatus also occur. There are 11 reptile species, of which four are endemic and of six frog species two are endemic. The moss froglet Crinia nimbus is a recently discovered species. The Tasmanian tree frog Litoria burrowsi is mainly restricted to the area. There are 15 species of freshwater fish including four endemic species.
In , 28 vertebrate and 3 invertebrate species were listed as nationally endangered PWS, The alpine regions have a specialised fauna of great zoogeographic interest, with high endemicity and local phenotypic variation. Three endemic species of lizards of the genus Leiolopisma occur on mountain tops with unusual adaptations to the locale. Many of its insects are adapted to pollinate the alpine vegetation. Diurnal moths of the primitive sub-family Archiearinae occur on some peaks.
Alpine grasshoppers are common and include four monotypic endemic genera. The rare endemic dragonfly Archipetalia auriculata which breeds in alpine streams is the most archaic member of an ancient family, the Neopetaliidae, and has strong Gondwanan affinities. The million year old mountain shrimp Anaspides tasmaniae is one of the most ancient of crustaceans.
Old-growth sclerophyllous forests contain the greatest diversity of living plants and animals in Tasmania. The rain forest invertebrate fauna includes many groups of Gondwanan descent. Among mammals, only the endemic long-tailed mouse Pseudomys higginsi occurs principally in the rain forest though the eastern spotted-tail quoll Dasyurus maculatus and Tasmanian pademelon are found there.
The lack of a distinct rain forest mammal fauna has parallels with the Nothofagus -dominated rain forests of New Zealand and Southern America. No birds, reptiles or amphibians are confined to this habitat type. Closed forests are inhabited by three species of arboreal mammals, common ring-tail possum Pseudocheirus peregrinus , common brush-tail possum Trichosurus vulpecula and eastern pygmy-possum Cercartetus nanus ; also many birds such as the endemic green rosella Platycercus caledonicus and swift parrot Lathamus discolor EN.
Some of the rainforest communities have an open verdant, cathedral-like quality: silent, cool, dark and damp places where both the trunks of trees and the forest floor are covered with a luxuriant carpet of mosses and lichens. Open eucalypt forest supports a greater diversity of mammals and birds than rain forest, scrub, heath, moorland or alpine areas, among them forty-spotted pardelote Pardalotus quadragintus EN and eastern barred bandicoot Perameles gunnii.
Within aquatic habitats, the freshwater crustaceans are of global significance, as are many amphipods, isopods, crayfish and shrimps which are relictual Gondwanan fauna. Three lakes on the Lower Gordon River are of international repute for being permanently stratified meromictic yet relatively shallow and inhabited by diverse and unusual aquatic micro-organisms. Streams, rivers, coastal lagoons and estuaries support many species of native fish such as the Swan, barred and clarence galaxias Galaxius fontanus CR , G.
However, introduced species, such as brown trout Salmo trutta and eastern brook trout Salvelinus fontinalis have contributed to the decline of several native species of fish. Major rivers, such as the Old and Davey rivers in the south-west and New River in the Southern Forests, are of importance for scientific reference because of their pristine state.
Many of the Tasmanian invertebrates listed as rare or threatened are protected within the WHA. These include such species as freshwater snails, caddis flies, stoneflies and dragonflies.
In buttongrass moorland the critically endangered orange-bellied parrot, the ground parrot Pezoporus wallicus, and the rare broad-toothed mouse Mastacomys fuscus are found. The rare Ptunarra brown butterfly Oreixenica ptunarra is found on the central grasslands. Both of these species have very restricted distributions near the inundated Lake Pedder. The monotypic and endemic Tasmanian spot-wing dragonfly Synthemiopsis gomphomacromioides breeds in the mud surrounding buttongrass tussocks.
Caves are inhabited by many endemic invertebrates including crickets, spiders, beetles and aquatic crustaceans. Displays of Tasmanian glow-worm Arachnocampa tasmaniensis can be seen at several places, particularly at Exit and Entrance Caves Nomination document, In coastal areas and on offshore islands, vast numbers of short-tailed shearwater Puffinus tenuirostris return to breed each year.
Port Davey is the site of an unusual marine community including new species of skate and sea slugs. Offshore the fin-walking spotted handfish Brachionicthys hirsutus CR , southern right whale Eubalaena australis and the New Zealand fur seal Arctocephalus forsteri are found.
The WHA contains most of the last great temperate wilderness in Australia, most of it in a natural or near natural condition. It has the most extensive glaciated landscapes in Australia, and a great diversity of habitats: islands, jagged coastlines, major estuaries, alpine plateaus and mountain peaks, turbulent rivers, sheltered lakes, rain forest and moorland.
These support a flora and fauna that include many primitive groups of Gondwanan origin, related to similar fragments in South America, Africa and India. Endemism is high and there is a large number of threatened species though protection has led to an increase in several populations. The property also contains Pleistocene archaeological sites, Holocene aboriginal sites and historic evidence of the past years of European activity including colonisation by transported convicts.
Tasmania was cut off from mainland Australia by the flooding of Bass Strait at least 8, years ago, isolating the aboriginal inhabitants. The Tasmanian Aborigines were, until the advent of the European explorer Abel Tasman, the longest isolated human group in world history, surviving hundreds of generations without outside influence.
Current archaeological evidence indicates a significant Ice Age Pleistocene hunter-gatherer society inland in the southwest, which existed from at least 30, years ago until the end of the Ice Age some 11, years ago, when the vegetation changed with warmer conditions from open grassland-woodland to rain forest. Several inland valleys are rich in Aboriginal sites. The discovery of Ice Age art in the Kitikina cave in the Franklin River valley helped to secure protection of the area from damming.
Some 30 caves have been located: Judds Cavern Wargata Mina , with over 3. Coastal occupation by Aborigines dates from at least 3, years ago until the Europeans arrived in the 19th century, but may date from around 6, years ago when the sea stabilised at its present level Nomination document, At the time of the first European arrivals, the area was occupied by two main kinship groups - the Big River group in the central highlands and the Port Davey group who inhabited mainly the southwest and southern coastal regions.
Each group is estimated to have had to people. Much of the aboriginal population was evacuated in the s by the missionary zealot G. European incursion into the area started in the early s, mainly for Huon pine logging and whaling.
Whaling ceased before the turn of the century but felling pine trees continued up to recent times in some places Nomination document, The remains of the first penal settlement in Tasmania, at Macquarie Harbour between , are a notable example of the colonisation of remote parts of the world by the transportation of convicts.
Sarah Island Penitentiary Historic Site in Macquarie Harbour was chosen for a convict settlement in because of its remoteness and the availability of Huon pine for shipbuilding on site. The WHA contains the remains of many sites related to exploration, Huon pine logging, mining, sheep-herding, hydro-electric development and recreation PWS, in litt. The waters of several valleys are used for hydro-electric power generation. Some telecommunications facilities exist within the area.
Beekeeping for the production of leatherwood honey occurs along the Lyell Highway, the Mt. Port Davey is used for shelter by professional fishermen PWS, in litt.
Visiting is markedly seasonal, peaking in January and low during winter and spring. Most tourists are day visitors and follow a similar circuit route around Tasmania, visiting Cradle Mountain, Strahan and Lake St Clair. The most popular single site in the area is Cradle Mountain which received , visits in to , a substantial increase over the approximate 80, annual visits of the late s.
In the Gordon River received at least , visitors per annum and in the Lake St Clair visitor service zone received about , Other popular access routes include the Lyell Highway, and the Strathgordon and Scotts Peak roads into the centre of the Area. The site provides a range of recreational and wilderness activities, including bushwalking, fishing, boating and canoeing, riding, licensed hunting of wallabys , camping, caving, mountaineering, climbing, rafting, and cross-country skiing.
The Area is well publicised and the tourism and tourist developments are well monitored. Commercialised tourism, in cooperation with the Parks Service, is on the increase. Archaeological surveys have been conducted: coastal areas were investigated in the early s and more recently the south coast and Port Davey areas have been surveyed.
Since , preliminary surveys of a number of inland river valleys have been carried out including one of the caves of the Gordon-Franklin river system Middleton, Mineralogical studies of the impact crater near Mount Darwin are conducted by the University of Tasmania, as are limnological studies of meromictic and other lakes Nomination document, Surveys of the vegetation over the whole Area and its susceptibility to fire and to disease are ongoing, coordinated by the Parks Service.
Sudden changes in weather can make walks difficult and dangerous at times. The entrance to the park is via a 30 min walk from the car park at Lake Rowallen. A campsite is available at Wild Dog Creek where a platform and toilet facilities are available. Climbing the peak can be challenging but the spectacular views of the park and surrounding areas make the effort more than worthwhile.
The park occupies an area of 65 km sq and became a part of the World Heritage in The landscape of the park includes glacial lakes, waterfalls, towering peaks, deep gorges and alpine moorlands.
The main physical feature of the Hartz Mountains National Park is the dolerite range that runs centrally through the entire length of the region. The park has diverse vegetation that changes with altitude. Rainforest, including many species of eucalypt are found in abundance at lower altitudes while alpine species dominate the upper areas. There are no camping facilities within the park but basic facilities like shelters, toilets, picnic tables and barbecues are available.
The Hartz Mountains National Park is a wonderful escape from civilization as there are many isolated and scenic spots to be discovered… but be prepared for sudden weather changes, rainfall, strong winds and extreme temperature fluctuations. Macquarie Harbour is the largest natural harbor in Tasmania and is globally recognised for its ancient untouched forests, diverse geological features and cruel convict history. Visitors can tour of the ruins of Sarah Island, travel through Hells Gates and see a Huon Pine tree with roots 20, years old.
The Tahune AirWalk is a carefully constructed steel walkway suspended high amongst the trees in the Tahune Forest, located in the Huon Valley. Since its opening in , the AirWalk has become a major regional attraction and is one of the most visited destinations in Tasmania. The AirWalk is m steel walkway suspended above the Huon and Picton Rivers amongst a majestic canopy of tall trees. The height of the walk varies between 25 meters and 48 meters above the ground and it usually takes half an hour to walk through.
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