Cheap Accommodation In Great Lake, Tasmania, Australia
Great Lake sits high on Tasmania’s Central Plateau, a windswept expanse of water surrounded by button grass plains, dolerite rock and some of the best trout fishing in the country. It’s not a place people visit for nightlife or shopping strips – they come for the fishing, the solitude and the raw, high-country scenery that feels a world away from anywhere else in Tasmania. Because it’s a small, sparsely populated area, accommodation options are limited but genuinely affordable, especially compared to the more heavily touristed parts of the state. Anglers, hikers and travellers looking for a quiet base between Launceston and Hobart all find their way here, and most are happy to trade five-star comforts for a simple, warm room and easy access to the water. Use the search box above to compare accommodation options in Great Lake and find the best deal for your dates.
Getting to Great Lake
Great Lake isn’t served by public transport, so the only realistic way in is by car. From Launceston, the drive takes around ninety minutes via Deloraine and the Lake Highway, climbing steadily up onto the plateau. From Hobart, it’s roughly two hours via Bothwell, following the Highland Lakes Road. Both routes are sealed but wind through open, exposed country, so it pays to check road conditions before you leave, particularly in winter when snow and ice are common at this altitude. Fuel up before you arrive, as options around Great Lake itself are limited to what’s available in the small township of Miena. If you’re combining the trip with other parts of Tasmania, renting a car in Launceston or Hobart is by far the cheapest and most practical way to reach Great Lake.
Best Time to Visit Great Lake
Summer, from December through to February, is the most popular time to visit Great Lake, with mild days, long daylight hours and the best conditions for trout fishing. This is also when accommodation is in highest demand, so booking ahead is worthwhile if you want to avoid missing out. Autumn brings crisp, still mornings and good fishing without the summer crowds, while spring can be unpredictable but rewards visitors with wildflowers and quieter roads. Winter is a different story altogether – Great Lake sits in one of the coldest parts of Australia, and snow is a regular occurrence. It’s a striking time to visit if you don’t mind the chill, and accommodation prices tend to drop, but come prepared with warm clothing and check that your chosen stay has reliable heating.
Top Attractions Around Great Lake
The lake itself is the main attraction, one of Tasmania’s largest freshwater bodies and a drawcard for anglers chasing brown and rainbow trout. Even if fishing isn’t your thing, the drive around its shoreline offers sweeping views across the plateau that cost nothing to enjoy. Nearby, the historic Steppes Sculptures, a series of bronze figures set among the button grass, make for an easy and free stop that tells the story of the district’s grazing history. The small settlement of Liawenee, close to Great Lake, holds the record as the coldest inhabited place in Australia, and it’s worth a quick stop simply to say you’ve been there. For those keen to explore further, the Central Plateau Conservation Area stretches out around the lake, offering free access to some genuinely remote and rugged scenery.
For Families and Kids
Great Lake is a quieter, more adult-oriented destination than most Tasmanian holiday spots, but families who enjoy the outdoors will still find plenty to do. Kids can try their hand at fishing from the shoreline, spot native birdlife around the water’s edge, or simply enjoy the novelty of open, uncrowded space to run around in. There are no theme parks or playgrounds here, so this destination suits families who are happy trading structured entertainment for fresh air and simple outdoor fun.
Outdoors and Nature at Great Lake
This is the real drawcard of Great Lake. The surrounding highland country is popular with hikers, birdwatchers and anyone keen to experience Tasmania’s alpine landscapes without the crowds found in busier national parks. The nearby Walls of Jerusalem National Park offers walking tracks through ancient pencil pine forests and dolerite peaks, and while it requires a walk-in from the car park, there’s no entry fee. Wildlife around Great Lake includes wombats, wallabies and a wide range of native birds, and on clear nights the lack of light pollution makes for excellent stargazing. Bring layers regardless of the season, as weather on the plateau can change quickly.
Local Culture and Heritage
Great Lake’s modern history is closely tied to hydro-electric power and the graziers who once ran stock across the plateau in the warmer months. The Steppes homestead ruins and sculptures reflect this pastoral past, while the broader Central Highlands region carries a long history of use by Tasmanian Aboriginal people, who moved through these highland areas seasonally. The area’s remoteness has kept much of this history intact and relatively undisturbed, giving visitors a genuine sense of stepping into Tasmania’s rural and Indigenous past rather than a polished tourist version of it.
Eating Around Great Lake
Dining options at Great Lake are limited but practical. The local pub in Miena is the main hub for meals, offering hearty, no-fuss pub food that suits the cold climate, think steaks, chips and warming soups. Many visitors choose to self-cater, especially those staying in shacks or cabins with kitchen facilities, picking up supplies before heading up onto the plateau since options for groceries directly at the lake are minimal. For budget travellers, this is easily the cheapest way to eat well here, and it also means you can cook a proper meal after a long day of fishing or walking without paying restaurant prices.
Accommodation Options in Great Lake
Accommodation in Great Lake is straightforward and largely functional, built around the needs of anglers and outdoor travellers rather than luxury seekers. That said, there’s still a good range of budget-friendly choices depending on how self-sufficient you want to be.
Budget and Cheapest Options
The most affordable way to stay at Great Lake is in one of the simple fishing shacks or cabins scattered around the lakeshore, many of which are privately owned and rented out to visitors. These are basic but comfortable, usually with heating, a kitchenette and enough beds for a small group. They represent excellent value for anyone planning several days of fishing or hiking.
Pub Accommodation
The historic pub in Miena offers straightforward rooms above the bar, a practical option for solo travellers or couples passing through. It’s an easy, no-frills choice, and staying here also puts you within walking distance of a hot meal at the end of a cold day.
Self Contained Accommodation
Self-contained cabins are popular around Great Lake, particularly with anglers who want to cook their own catch or families who prefer the flexibility of their own space. These options tend to offer the best value for longer stays, since cooking your own meals cuts down significantly on overall costs.
Long Stay Accommodation
Many of the shacks and cabins around Great Lake are set up with extended stays in mind, and owners will often offer better nightly rates for guests staying a week or more. If you’re planning a serious fishing trip or simply want to settle in and explore the plateau at a slower pace, asking about long-stay pricing directly is worthwhile.
Shopping Near Great Lake
Don’t expect boutiques or markets here. Miena has a small general store stocking basic groceries, fishing supplies and essentials, which is genuinely useful given how far it is to the next town in either direction. Most visitors do their proper shopping in Deloraine, Bothwell or one of the larger towns before making the climb up to the lake, picking up anything from tackle to warm clothing along the way.
Nightlife and Free Fun
Evenings at Great Lake are quiet by design. The local pub is the main social hub, offering a fire, a drink and conversation with fellow anglers after dark. Beyond that, the real entertainment is free: clear, star-filled skies, the sound of the wind across the plateau, and the simple pleasure of switching off from mobile reception and city noise. For many visitors, this quiet is exactly the point of coming here.
Suggested Budget Itinerary for Great Lake
Start the day early with a walk along the lakeshore before the wind picks up, taking in the quiet stillness of the water and the surrounding plains. Spend the late morning fishing from the bank or a hired boat, packing a simple lunch to eat lakeside rather than paying for a sit-down meal. In the afternoon, drive out to see the Steppes Sculptures or take a short walk into the edge of the Walls of Jerusalem National Park if you’re up for a longer outing. Head back to your cabin or shack in the late afternoon to cook a hot meal using supplies picked up on the way in, then finish the evening at the local pub for a drink by the fire before an early night. It’s a simple, low-cost day, but at Great Lake, that’s exactly the appeal.