Location: Wellington Park
Length: 7 kilometres return
Elevation gain: 950 meters
Grade: 4 (bushwalking experience recommended for steep grades and uneven surfaces)
Distance from: Hobart - 10 km, Launceston 202 km, Devonport 283 km
The Old Hobartian Track is aptly named. This is one of the steepest and most difficult hikes in the Wellington Park area and it seems to have long been forgotten. Not many hike it and even less write about it. It's a shame because the well-earned summit gives you Wellington Park's most stunning views of Hobart and the River Derwent below. And the summit is very well-earned as you climb over 950 meters during the trail's 3.5-kilometer one-way length up to the breathtaking dolerite cliffs of the Lost World.
Follow Wellington Park's Lenah Valley Road to its end to find the Old Hobartian Track's trailhead. The drive from Hobart CBD takes only 30 minutes making it a great one-day escape from the hustle and bustle of Tasmania's biggest city. A drive from the inland city of Launceston should take you two hours and 40 minutes while the drive from Devonport takes more than three and a half hours.
The trail will fork after you cross the concrete bridge at the trailhead and push through the gates. Take a right to follow the Lenah Valley Fire Trail that ascends gently for the next 500 metres. You'll hit a section of the New Town Rivulet before climbing up rock steps to follow the Lenah Valley Track. You'll continue to ascend for more than 20 minutes before reaching a small ruined building at the junction for the Old Hobartian Track.
You'll continue to climb through thick eucalyptus forest for the next 45 minutes as you hug the New Town Rivulet. You'll have to crouch under a sandstone cliff face where you'll notice hundreds of signatures from visitors over the years. You'll then hit another junction. Right takes you to The Chalet while left takes you to the Lost World. Take the left as the trail becomes even steeper and rougher.
You'll climb a little more than 600 metres in the span of 1.5 kilometres on a rocky track marked by cairns and red dots of spray paint. This is where the track can get a little tricky. Keep an eye out for the small stacks of rocks and dots of paint so you don't get lost.
You'll eventually break out into the Loss World area where you'll find towering dolerite cliffs and jagged boulders. When the weather cooperates, you get clear views to the northern suburbs of Hobart and the River Derwent beyond. It's arguably the best view of the city within Wellington Park.
Now you have a choice to make. You can descend the same way you came or you can continue along the track. The track cuts to the right-hand side of the plateau where another 30 minutes of steep hiking takes you to Wellington Park's Pinnacle Road.
This is a seriously steep and strenuous hike with jagged surfaces and a trail that can become unclear at times. Share your hiking itinerary with a friend or loved one before venturing out and always hike with a partner.
Do not attempt this track if it is covered in snow. It'll be easy to lose your way and parts of the trail should prove on impassable.
Weather in Wellington Park you can change dramatically in a short period of time. Weather becomes even more unpredictable as you near the summit. Always check the forecast and pack warm clothes good for precipitation.
Pets and campfires are prohibited.
Snakes have been seen on walking tracks in Wellington Park. Note that all Tasmanian snakes are venomous so you should seek medical attention immediately if you are bitten.
