Little Blue Lake, Tasmania

Tasmania’s Little Blue Lake is a former mining hole. This bright blue Tasmanian lake, found off the B82 between Derby and Gladstone, gets its strangely vivid colour from minerals at the base.

Little Blue Lake in Tasmania doesn’t look natural. And that’s at lease partly because it isn’t. The lake was created during the days of the tin-mining industry in north-eastern Tasmania. It was originally a mine hole, and has filled with water over the years.

Is it safe to swim at Little Blue Lake, Tasmania?

It’s this past that gives the water its vivid aqua blue colour. The colour comes from the minerals at the base of the lake. The tin mines churned the rock up, leaving the minerals near or on the surface. In time, that surface has become covered with rainwater and mixed in.

The striking colour of Little Blue Lake makes it fabulous for photography, but not so good for swimming. Indeed, swimming in Tasmania’s Little Blue Lake is strongly discouraged due to the high mineral content. Frankly, the water looks pretty, but it’s a little bit toxic.

This doesn’t deter local waterskiiers, who like to strut their stuff on the lake. But everyone else is better off taking pictures from the safety of the shore.

How to get to Little Blue Lake in Tasmania

There’s a viewing area for the Little Blue Lake in Tasmania just off the B82 from Derby to Gladstone. It’s just to the north of Tassie Tiger Lodge in South Mount Cameron.

From Launceston, Little Blue Lake is just under a two hour drive. Obviously, it’s not worth driving all that way just to take a photo of a lake. But it’s arguably worth a shorter detour if you’re already doing a road trip around north-eastern Tasmania.