In the far north-east of Tasmania, a former tin-mining pit has filled with water so improbably blue it looks rendered. Little Blue Lake, near South Mount Cameron, owes its cyan colour to light scattering off fine white clay suspended in the water — a leftover of the mining era that makes it one of the most photographed "secret" spots in the state.
Look, don’t swim
The colour that makes the lake famous is also the reason to stay dry: the water is acidic and holds dissolved minerals from its mining past. Authorities advise against swimming, and the photographs are the entire point of the visit — especially mid-morning when the sun angles across the water and the blue is at maximum intensity.
Getting there
Little Blue Lake sits directly beside Gladstone Road (B82) at South Mount Cameron, about 90 minutes east of Launceston and 20 minutes from Derby. There’s an informal gravel pull-in and a short walk to the rim — one of the easiest "hidden gems" in Tasmania to reach.
Need to know
- No facilities on site; the nearest cafes and fuel are in Derby.
- Overcast days flatten the colour — save it for sun.
- Drones are commonly flown here; keep under 120m and respect other visitors.
Nearby
Combine it with the mountain-bike town of Derby, the Blue Tier’s Halls Falls (where you can swim), and the beaches of the Bay of Fires. More ideas in our Tasmania directory.
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