The 10 best hikes around Hobart

The Knocklofty Reserve Summit Loop is a rewarding bushwalk through peaceful eucalypt forest with sweeping views over the city, the River Derwent and kunanyi / Mount Wellington. Make sure to stop by the Frog Ponds, a restored wetland teeming with wildlife, where you can listen for the chorus of native frogs. And while you're out and about, keep your eyes peeled for echidnas, parrots and colourful wildflowers (yup, there are more than 300 native plant species found throughout the reserve). While the climb to the summit is steep in parts, the views are so worth the huffing and puffing. Our tip: consider walking the loop anti-clockwise for the best experience.

Where: Starts at Forest Road car park 
Drive time from CBD: 20 mins
Distance (return): 4km
Duration: 1 hr 15 mins
Difficulty: Moderate 

Secret Falls and Myrtle Gully Falls combine to create a lush rainforest escape that's ideal for families and anyone wanting an easy nature fix. The well-marked trail follows Cascade Track and Myrtle Gully Track through the forested foothills of kunanyi / Mount Wellington. Along the way, you'll pass towering tree ferns, listen for native birdlife and discover two beautiful waterfalls. While it’s no longer a secret, Secret Falls is tucked away in a narrow, overgrown crevice that many walkers stroll straight past – hence the secret. Visit after rain or snow when both waterfalls are at their most spectacular, then finish your adventure with a refreshing drink at the nearby Cascade Brewery.

Where: Starts at the end of Old Farm Road, South Hobart
Drive time from CBD: 15 mins
Distance (return): 5.6km
Duration: 2 hrs 15 mins
Difficulty: Moderate

For a serene walk that starts in the CBD, the Hobart Rivulet Walk is a popular choice with locals and visitors. Starting at Molle Street in the city, the trail leads you to the foothills of kunanyi / Mount Wellington. You’ll pass through a dark tunnel in the city before strolling through South Hobart, past the historic convict site, Cascades Female Factory. Keep an eagle eye on the waters of the Rivulet for the elusive platypus that lives here! At the end of the walk, treat yourself to a picnic at the picturesque Cascade Gardens – or continue on and tackle the Cascade Track bushwalk.

Where: Starts at Cascade Gardens or Molle Street entrance near Hamlet Café
Drive time from CBD: Less than 5 mins
Distance (return): 5.2km
Duration: 1 hr 20 mins
Difficulty: Easy

One of Tasmania’s 60 Best Short Walks, we couldn’t not include this hike that takes you right up to one of Hobart’s most beloved landmarks: the striking 'Organ Pipes' rock formation on kunanyi / Mount Wellington. Formed in the Jurassic period as molten dolerite rock cooled down, some of these imposing columns are 120 metres high, and you’ll likely end up with a crick in your neck from staring up at them on this walk. This popular track begins at The Springs in Wellington Park and ends at a rustic stone structure known as the Chalet.

Where: Starts at The Springs car park, kunanyi/ Mount Wellington
Drive time from CBD: 20 mins
Distance (return): 7.4km
Duration: 3 hrs
Difficulty: Medium

Another of Tasmania’s 60 Best Short Walks is the Hartz Peak summit hike, just a 1.5-hour drive from Hobart. Located in the Hartz Mountains National Park, this hike is best tackled on a clear day to give you optimum views once you reach the top of this majestic dolerite peak. You’ll climb about 400m elevation, passing through alpine terrain carved by glaciers, and though most of the trail is well-made boardwalk, there’s a degree of rock scrambling at the end to reach the peak. Worth it though: you’ll be gifted an unforgettable panorama of Hartz Lake, Federation Peak and Precipitous Bluff. Take a jacket, as the weather up here can be wildly different to the weather 1,254 metres below.

Where: Starts at the end of Hartz Rd, Hartz Mountains National Park
Drive time from CBD: 1 hr 30 mins
Distance (return): 7.4km
Duration: 3–5 hrs
Difficulty: Medium to hard

Sphinx Rock is one of the easiest ways to soak up spectacular views of kunanyi / Mount Wellington and Hobart below. This family-friendly walk follows a flat, well-maintained three-kilometre return trail to a sandstone outcrop overlooking the city, the River Derwent, the eastern shore and the striking Organ Pipes. It's particularly beautiful on a sunny winter day and during spring wildflower season. Our tips: pack water and wear sturdy shoes, but also bring a warm jacket, as the mountain weather gets chilly even in summer.

Where: Starts at The Springs car park, kunanyi/ Mount Wellington
Drive time from CBD: 20 mins
Distance (return): 3.5km
Duration: 1 hr 20 mins
Difficulty: Moderate 

History buffs will love the Battery Point Sculpture Trail, an urban walk that takes you through one of the oldest neighbourhoods in Hobart. The trail is dotted with nine numerical sculptures that represent notable moments in the history of Tassie’s capital. You’ll have fun spotting the sculpture floating in the Derwent River, the one that glows in the dark and the one that’s cut into a hedge – and the bonus is, you’ll learn something from each of them. Starting from Castray Esplanade in Salamanca and continuing up through Battery Point to Sandy Bay, this stroll combines scenery and history, and is a lovely way to spend an arvo in Hobart. 

Where: Starts at Salamanca Place, Hobart
Drive time from CBD: Less than 5 mins
Distance (return): 4km
Duration: 1 hr
Difficulty: Easy

If you’re spending a few days in Hobart, a trip to Bruny Island is a must-do. Leave early enough to catch one of the first ferries at Kettering and you’ll have plenty of time to tackle the Fluted Cape Circuit, shortlisted as one of Tasmania’s 60 Best Short Walks. The trailhead is located at the southern end of Adventure Bay Beach and is a steep but rewarding hike that gives you an unbeatable birds-eye view of spectacular ocean scenery from some of the highest sea cliffs in Australia. Budding bird-watchers will love being surrounded by native Tasmanian birdlife, and more animals come out to say “hi” as the day goes on. Make sure you take plenty of water for this challenging uphill climb.

Where: Starts at car park off Adventure Bay Rd, Bruny Island
Drive time from CBD: 40 mins to Kettering ferry terminal, then 40 mins to Adventure Bay
Distance (return): 6.3km
Duration: 2 hrs 30 mins
Difficulty: Medium to hard

You guessed it – it’s another one of Tasmania’s 60 Great Short Walks (this is the last one, we swear!). The Three Falls Circuit is a well-deserved inclusion as it treats hikers to not one stunning waterfall, but three. Located in Mount Field National Park, this walk is perfect to do in the cooler months when the waterfalls are at their most dramatically cascading best. You’ll start at the visitors’ centre and follow the path to Horseshoe Falls before continuing on to the famously beautiful Russell Falls. The hike then takes you through the Tall Trees Circuit, lined with, funnily enough, the world’s tallest flowering plant, the swamp gum. You’ll wrap up at Lady Barron Falls before following the loop back around to where you started. Don’t forget your camera for this one.

Where: Visitor Centre, Mount Field National Park
Drive time from CBD: 1 hr 30 mins
Distance (return): 6km
Duration: 2.5 hrs
Difficulty: Medium

We had to include another kunanyi / Mount Wellington hike because the area is home to so many excellent ones. The Pipeline Track is a highlight because it’s easy enough to be family-friendly and long enough for you to choose how far you go. Beginning at Fern Tree, you’ll find little side quests along the way, including the easy detour to Silver Falls, if you want to tick “see a waterfall” off your Hobart bucket list. You’ll also spot the historic remnants of the original water pipeline, and as you start the gentle uphill climb, you’ll glimpse views of the Derwent in the south and spot the imposing Cathedral Rock in front of you. The perfect way to tackle kunanyi if the challenging summit hike is too much to ask.

Where: Starts opposite Fern Tree Tavern, Hobart 
Drive time from CBD: 18 mins
Distance (return): 24km
Duration: 7 hrs
Difficulty: Easy