Bike Hire + Shuttle + Ride: Pipeline Track – Mt. Wellington’s Easiest Adventure Ride | Up To 40km | Self-Guided | Skill Level: Easy

Tour Summary

We believe this is the friendliest and most accessible 40 km MTB adventure ride on Mt Wellington. The trail is easy to ride with mostly gentle climbs and descents.

Cruise through beautiful temperate rainforest, with stunning views of the Organ Pipes, Cathedral Rock, Derwent River estuary, and the city.

Duck your head under tunnels of giant ferns, take a break at the Silver Falls waterfall, walk under historic aqueducts, gaze into crystal clear streams, and expect some close encounters with local wildlife.

‘Out & Back Ride’

The total distance of the ride is 40 km and it’s an out-and-back ride. This means you can shorten the ride at anytime, simply by stopping and heading back.

• Duration: 4-6 hours
• Skill level: Easy, green, level 1-2.
  Riders must be comfortable on a bike with good basic bike handling skills
• Fitness level: Medium. (If riding an e-bike, required fitness level is low.)
• Restrictions: Minimum height 160cm. Under 18’s must be accompanied by a parent / guardian.

Itinerary

• Meet at our office to be fitted to your bike. You’ll also collect a helmet, gloves, and trail navigation materials.
• Receive trail navigation instructions.
• Start your ride from our office or take our shuttle to Fern Tree.
• Return the hire bike to the office before 4pm.

Hire Bike Options:

• All our mountain bikes are premium quality with premium components.
• The default bike option for this tour is a front suspension mountain bike (aka hardtail).
• Option to upgrade to a dual suspension mountain bike or a dual suspension e-mountain bike.

Front Suspension Mountain Bike: This front suspension bike is well suited to this gentle trail. It’s light and nimble, and fitted with premium components. Scott Scale 980, front suspension, 100 mm travel, 29 inch wheels, dropper seat, 12 speed, Shimano brakes and drivetrain. Frame sizes: x-large, large, medium, small, x-small.

Dual Suspension Mountain Bike (+$20) : This is a popular bike on Mt. Wellington trails, a great climber and very capable on rowdy descents. On this gentle trail, the dual suspension and premium components will make for a very smooth & comfy ride. Scott Genius 940, dual suspension, 150 mm travel, 29 inch wheels, dropper seat, Shimano brakes and drivetrain. Frame sizes: x-large, large, medium, small.

Dual Suspension E-Mountain Bike (+$70): Extremely capable all-mountain bike, its long travel suspension handles the rowdiest of trails. On this gentle trail, the dual suspension and premium components will make for a very smooth & comfy ride. The electric motor makes climbing an almost effortless experience, and the big battery will ensure you can enjoy a long day on the bike.
Avanti E-Hammer LT2, 625w Bosch motor, dual suspension, 160 mm travel, 29 inch wheels, dropper seat, Shimano brakes, SRAM drive chain. Frame sizes: large, medium, small.

Extra Equipment

• We provide riding helmet, gloves, basic bikes tools, and a spare tube.

Optional Extras:

Minibus Shuttle to Fern Tree (+$20)

The shuttle bus drops you next to the trail in the village of Fern Tree, 400 m above sea level.
Add the minibus shuttle to your booking if you’d prefer to miss out the only challenging climb on the trail. The climb is approx. 1500 m long, up a reasonably steep gravel fire road.
If you upgrade your hire bike to an e-bike, you won’t have any trouble powering up this climb.

Navigating the Trail

There are trail signs to follow and we provide instructions for using an online trail map.

The online trail map is viewed on a web-enabled mobile phone, via the website Trailforks.com.

Trailforks is similar to Google Maps, only it’s for navigating mountain bike trails.

Using the map on the Trailforks website, riders can easily follow the trail and navigate with real-time GPS tracking.

View the trail map on the Trailforks website:
https://www.trailforks.com/ridelog/planner/view/506225

We recommend testing Trailforks before arriving at our office.
When using the map on your phone’s web browser, ‘location services’ need to be enabled.

Points of Interest Along The Way

• Fern Tree Tavern
• Silver Falls waterfall
• McDermotts Saddle
• Historic aqueducts (c1881)
• Waterworks Reserve
• Australia’s oldest brewery – Cascade Brewery (c1824)
• Platypus spotting in the Hobart Rivulet

Take a Break at Fern Tree

At the village of Fern Tree, you’ll find the Fern Tree Tavern. This is a popular spot to take a break, grab a drink, or something to eat.
Be sure to check the Tavern’s opening hours.
There is also a public toilet at Fern Tree. 

Tour Starting Point

Our office, 473 Macquarie Street South Hobart.

What to Bring

• Suitable riding clothes. Mount Wellington is well known for changeable weather conditions, so please dress appropriately and be prepared for anything!
• Gloves are useful, especially if it’s a bit cooler. We provide gloves.
• A small backpack is advisable for carrying any extra clothing, snacks etc.
• Water and snacks – all the bikes are fitted with water bottle holders.
• Mobile phone. If the weather is wet, a small plastic ziplock bag is great for keeping your phone dry.
• Any personal medications.

Useful to know

• There is a great cafe opposite our office, Ginger Brown. Delicious coffee, breakfast, and lunch.
• It’s a 25-minute walk from the city centre to our office.
• Parking – on weekends there is plenty of free parking close to our office. Monday to Friday, there is usually free on-street parking on nearby Washington St.
• The oldest operating brewery in Australia, Cascades, is a 15-minute walk from our office.

Booking Confirmation Process

Once our team receive your online booking, we immediately check your bike selection is available. Once the checking process is completed, you will receive an email with a booking update.

Waiver

For the safety of all tour participants, we require everyone to sign a waiver before arrival. We’ve made the process easy and convenient for you by providing a 100% online waiver form.

Once you’ve made your booking, you’ll receive an email from us with a link to the online waiver form. We kindly ask that you complete the form before your scheduled tour.

Cancellation Terms & Conditions

Customers can cancel their booking without incurring any charges up to 24 hours prior to the tour start time. Cancellations made within this specified period will receive a full refund, less a booking processing fee.

If a cancellation is made after the allowed cancellation period, a cancellation fee will be applicable. The cancellation fee will be 50% of the total booking amount.

Customers who cancel within the permitted cancellation period will be eligible for a full refund of the total booking amount. The refund will be processed within 7 business days after the cancellation request is received.

Customers may request modifications to their booking, such as changing the date, without incurring any fees, subject to availability. However, such modifications must be requested at least 24 hours before the scheduled tour start time.

In the case of delays or unforeseen emergencies, we understand that plans can be disrupted. We will make every effort to accommodate changes to your schedule under these circumstances. Please contact our office as soon as possible to discuss any necessary adjustments.

If a customer fails to show up for the tour without prior notice, it will be considered a no-show. No-shows are not eligible for a refund, and the full booking amount will be charged.

To cancel a booking, customers must contact our customer support team via phone or email. Please provide your booking details and the reason for cancellation.

Photo credit

Stu Gibson