Little Blue Lake Tasmania

Little Blue Lake, Tasmania…..

From Tin Mine to Turquoise Treasure…..

Little Blue Lake, Tasmania, is tucked away in Tasmania’s northeast. Little Blue Lake is the kind of place that makes you question reality—and your camera settings. This impossibly turquoise lake looks like it’s been plucked straight from a tropical island, but nope, it’s right here in Tassie. Once a tin mining site, the lake’s vibrant blue hue is thanks to mineral deposits and white clay. It’s nature and history teaming up for a spectacular show.

Little Blue Lake is off the beaten track, which adds to its secret, hidden-gem vibe. This vivid blue wonder is a must-see slice of Tasmania that proves some of the most magical places are the ones you least expect.

Tin Mining Days

Little Blue Lake in Tasmania has its origins rooted in the region’s tin mining history. Located near South Mount Cameron in the state’s northeast, the lake is actually a former open-cut mine site. During the late 19th and early 20th centuries, this area was heavily mined for tin. It was a booming industry in Tasmania at the time.

The mining process involved removing large amounts of earth and rock, leaving deep pits. Over time, these pits filled with water, and due to the presence of white clay and mineral deposits in the surrounding soil, the water took on its now-famous vivid turquoise-blue colour. The striking hue is not due to pollution but rather to natural minerals, such as kaolin clay, that uniquely reflect light.

The lake isn’t considered safe for swimming due to potential residual mineral content and steep, slippery banks. Still, it remains a stunning visual reminder of Tasmania’s rich mining past. Today, Little Blue Lake has transitioned from a site of heavy industry to a popular photo stop and tourist attraction. It offers a fascinating contrast between Tasmania’s natural beauty and its industrial history.

Little Blue Lake, Tasmania: History

Location: Near South Mount Cameron, northeast Tasmania

• Late 1800s – Early 1900s:
  The area around Little Blue Lake was a hub for tin mining, part of the booming mining activity that put Tasmania on the global resource map. The site was originally a large open-cut mine, where tin ore was extracted using water sluicing and mechanical methods.

• Mining Methods:
  The process involved washing away topsoil and clay to expose tin-rich gravel. This created deep, vast pits and massive environmental disruption. Waste material, rich in kaolin clay, was left behind in the soil and surrounding area.

• Mid-1900s:
  As the tin industry declined, mining operations gradually ceased. The abandoned pit filled with rainwater and groundwater over time.

Transformation into a Tourist Attraction

• Natural Filling:
  As the mine pit filled with water, the presence of kaolin and mineral deposits turned the lake a striking turquoise-blue—a colour created by light scattering through the fine clay particles.

• Modern Use:
  While not safe for swimming due to steep banks and potential water quality concerns, Little Blue Lake has become a popular photo spot and a symbol of Tasmania’s industrial-to-natural evolution.

• Today:
  It’s now celebrated as a hidden gem for road-trippers and Instagrammers alike—proof that even a scarred landscape can evolve into something spectacular.

Pepper Bush Adventures visit Tasmania’s Little Blue Lake on several tours that visit the area – see Bushie’s Wildlife Getabout and Bushies Wildlife Safari