Eldon 1:50,000 Topographic Map – Tasmania

An essential regional map for navigating, planning and exploring Queenstown, Lake Burbury and the rugged mountains and national parks of Tasmania’s west coast.

The Eldon 1:50,000 Topographic Map provides a clear and accurate representation of this dramatic and historically significant landscape. Produced in 2024, Edition 2 features enhanced building symbols, hill shading and simplified vegetation classification, making the terrain easier to interpret both in the field and during trip planning.

At 1:50,000 scale, 1 centimetre on the map represents 500 metres on the ground—an excellent balance between regional coverage and practical topographic detail.

🗺️ Map Coverage

The most prominent settlement on the Eldon sheet is the historic mining town of Queenstown, surrounded by steep mountains with the distinctive exposed appearance for which the district is renowned.

Important locations and landscape features shown include:

• Queenstown and its surrounding mining landscape

• The distinctive mountains surrounding the town

• The Lyell Highway and the locally named 99 Bends

• Lake Burbury, a major hydroelectric storage east of Queenstown

• Mountain ranges, peaks, ridges and deeply incised valleys

• Roads, walking tracks and access routes where mapped

• Franklin–Gordon Wild Rivers National Park

• Cradle Mountain–Lake St Clair National Park

• Rivers, creeks, lake shorelines and drainage features

• Mining, hydroelectric and other infrastructure

European exploration of the area began in the 1860s, with the discovery of alluvial gold at Mount Lyell helping to drive the development of the local mining industry. Queenstown’s surrounding slopes are distinguished by unusual pink and grey hues associated with the conglomerate rock of the nearby mountains, creating the district’s celebrated “moonscape” appearance.

Just outside Queenstown, the winding 99 Bends section of the Lyell Highway is well known among touring motorists and Targa competitors. Its succession of tight curves passes through striking mountain scenery and provides a memorable approach to the town.

To the east lies Lake Burbury, a large hydroelectric lake created following construction of two dams during the 1980s. Beyond the settled and industrial areas, much of the sheet is protected within the Franklin–Gordon Wild Rivers and Cradle Mountain–Lake St Clair national parks.

⛰️ Map Content and Features

The 1:50,000 map series is designed to provide a clear portrayal of topographic information for navigation, recreation and professional fieldwork. Features include:

• Contours and hill shading for interpreting elevation, slope and terrain

• Mountain ranges, peaks, ridges, valleys and other major landforms

• Lake shorelines, rivers, creeks and drainage features

• Roads, walking tracks and access routes

• Towns, buildings and infrastructure

• Simplified vegetation classification

• National-park and conservation-area coverage

• Mining and hydroelectric features where mapped

• Historic, cultural and recreational points of interest

• Standard topographic symbols for efficient map reading

🧭 Who Uses This Map?

The Eldon 1:50,000 Topographic Map is suitable for:

• Bushwalkers and wilderness travellers exploring Tasmania’s west coast

• Independent travellers and touring motorists visiting Queenstown and Lake Burbury

• Tourism operators and local guides interpreting the region’s landscape and history

• Search and rescue teams and emergency services

• Mining, engineering and hydroelectric personnel

• Conservation workers, park managers and environmental researchers

• Land managers and field professionals requiring detailed terrain context

• Geography students and outdoor educators

• Local residents, historians and map enthusiasts interested in the Queenstown district

West-coast weather and road conditions can change rapidly, while much of the surrounding country is steep, exposed and remote. Check current park, track, road and weather information before travelling. Drive the 99 Bends to the conditions, observe posted restrictions and carry appropriate navigation and safety equipment when entering wilderness areas.

💧 Field-Ready Options for Rugged Use

Choose the format that best suits your intended use—from lightweight trip planning to demanding all-weather fieldwork.

✅ Standard Paper

• Printed on 100 gsm FSC® coated paper

• Produces crisp, clear text and finely defined map symbols

• Lightweight and convenient for general reference or protected field use

• An economical choice for trip planning, research and office applications

✅ Waterproof and Tearproof Tyvek®

• Made from genuine DuPont™ Tyvek®, an advanced synthetic material composed of pure polyethylene fibres

• Waterproof, tear-resistant, foldable and extremely lightweight

• Printed using HP pigment-based inks for a permanent waterproof finish

• Suitable for backpacks, vehicles and exposed west-coast conditions

• Ideal for bushwalkers, emergency personnel and outdoor professionals

• Provides exceptional durability without the weight and bulk of lamination

✅ Laminated

• Fully encapsulated between two 80-micron gloss laminate sheets

• Highly resistant to water, stains, smudges and tearing

• Draw on the surface with whiteboard markers for route planning or instruction

• Use Mark-It-Dots to identify access points, hazards or other locations without marking the map permanently

• Wipeable and reusable

• Ideal for offices, classrooms, operations centres and repeated field reference

📐 Map Details

• Title: Eldon Topographic Map

• Series: Tasmania 1:50,000 Topographic Map Series

• Edition: 2

• Production year: 2024

• Scale: 1:50,000

• Ground distance: 1 cm represents 500 metres

• Datum: Geocentric Datum of Australia 1994 — GDA94

• Coverage: Queenstown, 99 Bends, Lake Burbury, Franklin–Gordon Wild Rivers National Park, Cradle Mountain–Lake St Clair National Park and surrounding areas

• Available formats: Paper, waterproof Tyvek® or laminated

• ISBN: 9318923027808

Important Datum Information

This map uses GDA94. When transferring coordinates between the map and a GPS receiver, navigation application or other spatial data source, ensure the equipment and coordinates are set to the same datum.

🔍 Preview the Area in LISTmap

Use the LISTmap coverage preview to confirm that your destination, proposed route or area of interest falls within the Eldon sheet before ordering.

🛒 Choose the Right Format

• Paper: Best for planning, office reference and protected field use

• Tyvek®: Best for wilderness travel, touring and wet or demanding conditions

• Laminated: Best for repeated use, route marking, training and operational planning

🎯 Summary

Whether you are exploring Queenstown’s remarkable mining landscape, driving the 99 Bends, visiting Lake Burbury, conducting professional fieldwork or venturing into the surrounding national parks, the Eldon Topographic Map provides the terrain detail and geographic context needed to understand this distinctive part of western Tasmania.

Plan with purpose. Navigate with confidence. Explore Tasmania’s west coast with accuracy.