Murchison 1:50,000 Topographic Map – Tasmania

An essential wilderness map for navigating, planning and exploring Cradle Mountain country, the northern Overland Track and Tasmania’s spectacular Central Highlands.

The Murchison 1:50,000 Topographic Map by TASMAP provides a clear and accurate representation of this rugged alpine and temperate wilderness. Produced in 2024, Edition 3 features enhanced building symbols, hill shading and simplified vegetation classification, making the terrain easier to interpret both in the field and during detailed 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 Murchison sheet covers the internationally renowned Cradle Mountain walking region, including the northern portion of the Overland Track and some of Tasmania’s most prominent mountain landscapes.

Important locations and features shown include:

• The northern section of the Overland Track

• Barn Bluff

• Pelion West

• Mount Ossa — 1,617 metres, Tasmania’s highest mountain

• Mount Murchison and its walking route

• The Murchison River and its catchment

• The Sophia River and surrounding valleys

• Lake Murchison

• Lake Rosebery

• Mountain peaks, alpine plateaus and deep valleys

• Temperate rainforest and wilderness vegetation

• Roads, walking routes, tracks and access points

• Hydroelectric waterways and infrastructure

The central portion of the map encompasses a large tract of temperate wilderness characterised by rugged peaks, deep valleys and substantial river catchments. The Murchison River feeds Lake Murchison, while the Sophia River flows towards Lake Rosebery. These hydroelectric lakes supply the Mackintosh Power Station and are also popular for trout fishing, kayaking and swimming.

Mount Murchison attracts experienced day walkers with a scenic route that climbs through rainforest into open alpine country, where expansive views extend across Tasmania’s West Coast ranges and hydroelectric lakes.

From the celebrated peaks of the Cradle Mountain region to remote river valleys and highland lakes, this map covers demanding terrain where dependable topographic information is essential.

⛰️ 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 peaks, alpine plateaus, ridges and deep valleys

• Lakes, rivers, creeks and catchment features

• Walking routes, roads, tracks and access points

• Buildings and infrastructure

• Simplified vegetation classification

• National park and wilderness-area coverage

• Hydroelectric lakes and associated features

• Localities and named geographic features

• Standard topographic symbols for efficient map reading

🧭 Who Uses This Map?

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

• Bushwalkers and hikers travelling on the northern Overland Track

• Experienced alpine walkers exploring Mount Ossa, Barn Bluff, Pelion West and Mount Murchison

• Anglers visiting Lake Murchison, Lake Rosebery and surrounding waterways

• Kayakers and paddlers seeking an overview of the region’s hydroelectric lakes

• Search and rescue teams and emergency services

• Conservation workers, park managers and environmental researchers

• Hydroelectric, engineering and field professionals

• Tourism operators and outdoor guides

• Outdoor educators and geography students

This sheet covers exposed alpine and remote wilderness terrain where conditions can deteriorate rapidly. Strong winds, heavy rain, snow, ice, flooding and poor visibility may occur at any time of year. Check current park, track, weather, fire and access information before departure. Carry appropriate clothing, navigation and emergency equipment, leave a trip plan and consider carrying a personal locator beacon.

This is a topographic map, not a nautical chart. Anyone kayaking, boating or swimming in the region’s lakes should also check current water levels, weather, local hazards and official water-safety information.

💧 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 alpine conditions

• Ideal for bushwalkers, anglers, 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 campsites, access points, field sites or hazards without marking the map permanently

• Wipeable and reusable

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

📐 Map Details

• Title: Murchison Topographic Map

• Sheet: TL05

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

• Edition: 3

• Production year: 2024

• Scale: 1:50,000

• Ground distance: 1 cm represents 500 metres

• Datum: Geocentric Datum of Australia 2020 — GDA2020

• Coverage: Northern Overland Track, Barn Bluff, Pelion West, Mount Ossa, Mount Murchison, Lake Murchison, Lake Rosebery and surrounding wilderness

• Available formats: Paper, waterproof Tyvek® or laminated

• ISBN: 9318923027730

Important Datum Information

This map uses GDA2020. 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, walking route or area of interest falls within the Murchison sheet before ordering.

🛒 Choose the Right Format

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

• Tyvek®: Best for alpine bushwalking, expeditions and wet or demanding conditions

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

🎯 Summary

Whether you are walking the northern Overland Track, climbing towards Mount Ossa or Barn Bluff, undertaking the Mount Murchison day walk, fishing on Lake Rosebery or conducting fieldwork within Tasmania’s Central Highlands, the Murchison Topographic Map provides the detail and geographic context needed to navigate this extraordinary landscape.

Plan with purpose. Navigate with confidence. Explore Tasmania’s high country with accuracy.