kunanyi/Mt Wellington Explorer Bus- Return Tour (2.5 hours)

Optional hop-off at Fern Tree Park bus stop. A sheltered grassy area with toilets, picnic areas, wood-fired barbeques and children’s play equipment. The starting point for shaded walks through fern gullies and alongside bubbling streams. Take the Pipeline Track to Silver Falls (40-min return), which follows the route of the water pipeline supplying some of Hobart’s water. A short, easy walk, also suitable for mountain bikes. Visit Fern Tree Tavern for lunch, coffee and cake or a refreshing cold beverage. Open Tuesday to Sunday.

Optional hop-off at The Springs bus stop. A level picnic area with toilets, picnic tables, gas-fired barbeques and the starting point for a range of walking tracks and mountain bike trails on the eastern foothills of kunanyi/Mt Wellington. Take the Lenah Valley Track to Sphinx Rock (45-min return), great views of the Organ Pipes above and Hobart and the River Derwent below. A short, easy walk through eucalypt forest to the impressive sandstone rock platform of Sphinx Rock (caution: 10 metre cliff drop). Visit Lost Freight Cafe for hot drinks, light meals and snacks. Open 7 days.

Optional hop-off at The Springs or The Chalet bus stops. The Organ Pipes Walk (3-hr return) is one of Tasmania’s 60 Great Short Walks. A difficult walk that follows the contour of the mountain around the base of the 120-metre-high dolerite columns of the Organ Pipes to The Chalet. Rock climbers are sometimes seen in action. Spectacular views. Walk uphill on well-marked tracks from The Springs to The Chalet, or downhill from The Chalet to The Springs (1.5-hr one-way).

Travel to the summit of kunanyi/Mt Wellington, 1270 metres above Hobart. Here you'll have 30 minutes to take in the spectacular views over Hobart and the east coast, and to the west, looking over the World Heritage Area of Southern Tasmania. The summit of kunanyi/Mt Wellington features a sheltered observation area with interpretive signage, multiple lookouts and toilets, including disabled access toilets. Take the Zig Zag Track across the plateau to a lookout (20-min return), taking in spanning views of Tasmania’s alpine environment. A short, easy walk. Take a short, difficult walk downhill on the steep stepped Zig Zag Track and Pinnacle Track to The Springs (1.5-hr one-way). Great views of the Organ Pipes and Hobart and the River Derwent below. Hop-on a later bus at The Springs to return to Hobart. Hop-on and hop-off the kunanyi/Mt Wellington Explorer Bus to explore a variety of short alpine walks and mountain bike trails on the mountain. Bus stops include Fern Tree Park, The Springs, The Chalet and Big Bend.