StepScape

What is StepScape?

This site is working towards showing every published Tasmanian day walk on a single map.

StepScape is a work in progress, currently showing 2,212 of an estimated 3,000 published bushwalks in Tasmania.

StepScape is also available as an app for iPhone and iPad.

Read about what the StepScape app does differently from this website.

Caution

This site is a list of walks, not a walking guide. Before undertaking any walk, consult the references provided.

Most of the references made every attempt at accuracy but did not guarantee it. Some are books that are now out of print, so information that was once accurate may not remain so. Changes may include:

  • Land becoming private or reserved
  • Tracks being damaged or rehabilitated
  • Road access being blocked
  • Bad weather or bushfires temporarily making a walk unsafe
Sites to check before you walk How do I get started?

Every pin on the map represents a car park with at least one known walk. Click on the pins for information. Or, click on the Filter tab above to only show the walks that interest you.

Every walk includes a References section listing the books, brochures or websites that mention it. Consult those sources for more information.

What are the latest additions?

Latest car park

Mount Saddleback 4WD parking

Latest walk

Mount Saddleback Track by 4WD

Latest change

Added 2WD and 4WD parking options for Mount Saddleback.

Updated on

2023-07-18

Who made this website?

The StepScape website was created by Cowirrie, a small software development company in Launceston. We take information and present it so it is accessible and useful to people. Our other work includes the SepiaScape guide to historic Tasmania and the PBPhonics app for basic English literacy practice.

We have also taken some of these walks ourselves, and written comprehensive walk reports about them.

Data Entry

Jan Horton

Programming

Michael Horton

Maps

Google Maps JavaScript API

Components

jQuery, used under the MIT License

jQuery CSV, used under the MIT License

jQuery UI, used under the MIT License

jQuery UI Touch Punch, used under the MIT License

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The Springs car park

Nearest Road:Pinnacle Rd
Nearest Town:Hobart
Locality:Hobart
Latitude:S 42° 54′ 55″
Longitude:E 147° 14′ 55″
Elevation:695 m
Fee:No charge
Management:Local council
Road Surface:Sealed
Car Park:Good unsealed
Water:Mains tap
Toilets:Flush
Toilet Accessibility:Wheelchair
Shelter:Shelter
Picnic Table:Picnic table
Comment:Continue south on Davey St past Southern Outlet.Becomes Huon Rd. Continue climb on Huon Rd To Fern Tree. Sharp turn up to Mt Wellington. Park at The Springs picnic area 4500m up Pinnacle Rd.

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13 walks from The Springs car park

Lenah Valley walk from The Springs

Goal:Lenah Valley Rd picnic area
Grade:Moderate
Type:One way pickup
One-way distance:6,500 m
Return distance:13,000 m
Comment:Follow Lenah Valley Tk past Sphinx Rock, Rock Cabin, Junction Cabin, North-South Tk, Old Hobartians

References

Jan Hardy & Bert Elson, 50 Family Walks in and around Hobart, Hillside Publishing, Page 58, Number 23, Lenah Valley Track

2 hours 30 minutes one way pickup
“A one-way downhill walk through pleasant open bush.”

Greater Hobart Trails, Derwent Estuary Program, The Springs to Lenah Valley

“A downhill walk with three historic huts, a lookout and a waterfall”

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Milles Track Lookout from The Springs

Goal:Milles Track LO
Grade:Moderate
Type:Retrace route
One-way distance:1,400 m
Return distance:2,800 m
Comment:Steps up to Pinnacle Track. Down Grays Fire Trail to Milles Track. Lookout is above scree slope after about 1 km.

References

Di, Di's Walk a Month, Di, Page 12, Number 2012, December 2012 - Milles Track, Mt Wellington

“The path was pleasant walking, fairly level…”

Greater Hobart Trails, Derwent Estuary Program, The Springs to Milles Track Lookout

“A short and mostly level walk with extended views…”

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Myrtle Gully Track from The Springs

Goal:Old Farm Road
Grade:Some steep
Type:One way pickup
One-way distance:5,500 m
Return distance:11,000 m
Comment:From the Springs, Lenah Valley Track to Junction Cabin. Old Farm Trail then Myrtle Gully Track to car park at top of Old Farm Rd.

References

Jan Hardy & Bert Elson, More Family Walks around Hobart, Fully revised ed., Hillside Publishing, Page 38, Number 13, 13 - Myrtle Gully to Cascades

2 hours 30 minutes one way pickup
“… this is quite a steep descent and may be slippery after rain.”

Jan Hardy & Bert Elson, More Family Walks around Hobart, Hillside Publishing, Page 32, Number 10, 10 - Myrtle Gully to Cascades

2 hours 30 minutes one way pickup
“…downhill walk through myrtle forest with mosses and cascades…”

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North-South Track from south to north (downhill)

Goal:Top of Tolosa Rd
Grade:Moderate
Type:One way pickup
One-way distance:11,000 m
Return distance:22,000 m
Comment:Shared-use track from The Springs to Glenorchy Mountain Bike Track (downhill)

References

Greater Hobart Trails, Derwent Estuary Program, North South Track

“… purpose-built shared-use track … linking The Springs with the Glenorchy Mountain Bike Park…”

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Octopus Tree loop from The Springs

Caution

This site is a list of walks, not a walking guide. Before undertaking any walk, consult the references below.

For additional information about safe walking in Tasmania, go to the StepScape tab.

Goal:Octopus Tree
Grade:Moderate
Type:CircuitRetrace
One-way distance:5,000 m
Comment:Lenah Valley Track, down past Sphinx Rock to Octopus Tree. Back north to junction with Lenah Valley Track. Return to The Springs.

References

Jan Hardy & Bert Elson, More Family Walks around Hobart, Fully revised ed., Hillside Publishing, Page 42, Number 15, 15 - Octopus Tree

2 hours circuit retrace
“… a sign pointing to the Octopus Tree just off to the left of the track.”

Jan Hardy & Bert Elson, More Family Walks around Hobart, Hillside Publishing, Page 36, Number 12, 12 - Octopus Tree

2 hours circuit retrace
“… turn right on the track marked 'To Shoobridge Track via Sphinx Rock'.”

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Organ Pipes Circuit Walk from The Springs

Goal:The Chalet
Grade:Some steep
Type:CircuitRetrace
One-way distance:9,000 m
Comment:Pinnacle Track, Organ Pipes Track to Chalet. Old Hobartian, Hunter, Lenah Valley Tracks to Springs.

References

Di, Di's Walk a Month, Di, Page 8, Number 2018, August 2018 - Organ Pipes Track, kunanyi/Mt Wellington

3 hours 30 minutes circuit
“We appreciated … the newly solid and level trackworks.”

Di, Di's Walk a Month, Di, Page 10, Number 2012, 28 October 2012 - Organ Pipes Circuit

4 hours 40 minutes circuit
“We think taking the anti-clockwise direction was the right choice.”

Greater Hobart Trails, Derwent Estuary Program, Organ Pipes Circuit

“A wonderfully diverse loop walk…”

TasTrails, TasTrails, Page 7, Number 3, Organ Pipes Circuit - 24 Mar 2014

4 hours circuit
“The circuit can be comfortably completed in either direction.”

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Organ Pipes walk from The Springs to the Chalet and return

Goal:The Chalet
Grade:Some Very Steep
Type:Retrace route
One-way distance:3,700 m
Return distance:7,400 m
Comment:Start at The Springs. Walk up Sawmill Track then Organ Pipes Track to Chalet. Return

References

Parks & Wildlife Service Tasmania, 60 Great Short Walks Tasmania, P&WS, Organ Pipes

3 hours retrace route
“Walk leaves from the Springs and takes walkers beneath the fluted columns known as the Organ Pipes.”

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Pinnacle, Organ Pipes, Sawmill, Lenah Valley circuit walk

Goal:Sphinx Rock
Grade:Long climb
Type:Circuit
One-way distance:4,500 m
Comment:Take Pinnacle Track, Organ Pipes Track, Sawmill Track to Sphinx Rock. Return to The Springs on Lenah Valley Track

References

Peter Franklin, Bushwalk Track Notes, Number 2017, Wellington Pinnacle Sawmill Circuit - 2017

3 hours circuit
“Reasonable track though rocky underfoot at times.”

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Sphinx Rock walk from The Springs

Goal:Sphinx Rock
Grade:Fairly flat
Type:Retrace route
One-way distance:1,250 m
Return distance:2,500 m
Comment:Follow the signs from The Springs on the Lenah Valley track to Sphinx Rock. Retrace route.

References

Jan Hardy & Bert Elson, More Family Walks around Hobart, Fully revised ed., Hillside Publishing, Page 42, Number 15, 15 - Octopus Tree

“… a signed turnoff to the right to the top of Sphinx Rock (watch young children here).”

Jan Hardy & Bert Elson, More Family Walks around Hobart, Hillside Publishing, Page 36, Number 12, 12 - Octopus Tree

“The first stretch of the track is very level as it follows the contours…”

TasTrails, TasTrails, Number 3, Sphinx Rock - 16 Jul 2013

1 hour retrace route
“… great views of Mt Wellington, Hobart and the eastern shore…”

Greater Hobart Trails, Derwent Estuary Program, The Springs to Sphynx Rock Loop

“A short, level walk to a sandstone rock platform with great views…”

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The Springs to Pinnacle circuit

Goal:Mount Wellington summit
Grade:Some Very Steep
Type:Circuit
One-way distance:8,200 m
Comment:Pinnacle Track, Zigzag Track. Return on South Wellington Track, Icehouse Track (or reverse circuit).

References

TasTrails, TasTrails, Page 11, Number 3, Ice House Loop - January 20, 2016

4 hours circuit
“… from The Springs ... climbs the Zig Zag Track to summit … descending via Ice House Track.”

Peter Franklin, Bushwalks - Descriptions of various bushwalks, mainly in Tasmania, Page 6, Number 2020, Kunanyi Pinnacle Ice House Circuit - Tuesday 30 June 2020

“Rocks have been added to create a better path for walkers.”

Andrew Bain, Walks in Nature - Tasmania, Hardie Grant Travel, Number 10, 10 - Mount Wellington

“Grays Fire Trail then Milles Track to reach Ice House Track.”

Greater Hobart Trails, Derwent Estuary Program, The Springs to Pinnacle Loop

“The steady climb from The Springs becomes steeper on the sptly named Zig Zag Track…”

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The Springs to Strickland Ave via Radfords, Woods, Rivulet Tk

Goal:Strickland Ave picnic area
Grade:Some steep
Type:One way pickup
One-way distance:3,500 m
Return distance:7,000 m
Comment:Radford Monument, Rocky Whelans Cave, Ogradys Falls Strickland Falls

References

Jan Hardy & Bert Elson, 50 Family Walks in and around Hobart, Hillside Publishing, Page 54, Number 21, Springs to Strickland Avenue

2 hours one way pickup
“A one-way downhill walk along easy tracks.”

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Wellington Falls from The Springs

Goal:Wellington Falls
Grade:Some Very Steep
Type:Retrace route
One-way distance:6,100 m
Return distance:12,200 m
Comment:Grays Fire Trail, Milles Track then Wellington Falls Track. Return

References

TasTrails, TasTrails, Page 12, Number 3, Milles track to Wellington Falls - July 10, 2018

6 hours retrace route
“… The Potato Fields , a long section of boulders which can be difficult to navigate in poor weather.”

Greater Hobart Trails, Derwent Estuary Program, The Springs to Wellington Falls via Milles Track

“Extra care should be taken following the track markers through the scree and boulder fields…”

Waterfalls of Tasmania, Jubec Systems and Design, Wellington Falls

5 hours retrace route
“Medium to hard. Lots of rock scree”

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Zig Zag walk up Mt Wellington from The Springs

Goal:Mount Wellington summit
Grade:Some Very Steep
Type:One way pickup
One-way distance:3,500 m
Return distance:7,000 m
Comment:Start at The Springs. Take Pinnacle Track. At Y-junction veer left onto Zig Zag Track to summit.

References

Greater Hobart Trails, Derwent Estuary Program, The Springs to the Pinnacle

“On the plateau the track levels out and the summit shelter provides a great spot to escape the wind”

Greater Hobart Trails, Derwent Estuary Program, The Springs to the Pinnacle

“The steady climb from The Springs becomes steeper on the sptly named Zig Zag Track…”

Jan Hardy & Bert Elson, 50 Family Walks in and around Hobart, Hillside Publishing, Page 50, Number 19, The Zig-Zag Track

4 hours retrace route
“An exhilarating walk from The Springs to the Pinnacle, and/or vice versa.”

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