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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Fern Tree Park parking area

Nearest Road:Huon Rd
Nearest Town:Hobart
Locality:Hobart
Latitude:S 42° 55′ 20″
Longitude:E 147° 15′ 35″
Elevation:430 m
Fee:No charge
Management:Local council
Road Surface:Sealed
Car Park:Sealed
Water:Mains tap
Toilets:Flush
Toilet Accessibility:Unknown
Shelter:Nearby
Picnic Table:Picnic table
Comment:Park near the Fern Tree Tavern in the centre of the small town. Walks start in the gardens on the west side of Huon Rd. There are several offroad parking areas.

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12 walks from Fern Tree Park parking area

Fern Glade Circuit at Wellington Park

Goal:Silver Falls (Mt Wellington)
Grade:Moderate
Type:Circuit
One-way distance:1,700 m
Comment:Walk up Fern Glade Track beside Dunns Creek. Left onto Silver Falls Tk to the falls. Down Browns River and back left onto Pipeline Track

References

Greater Hobart Trails, Derwent Estuary Program, Fern Glade Circuit, Fern Tree and Wellington Park, Hobart

“Shady forest, towering tree ferns, moss covered rocks and a small waterfall…”

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Fern Tree Bower walk from Ferntree

Goal:Fern Tree Bower
Grade:Fairly flat
Type:Retrace route
One-way distance:750 m
Return distance:1,500 m
Comment:Follow Pipeline track west to Fern Tree Bower. Return. Track suitable for pushers.

References

Greater Hobart Trails, Derwent Estuary Program, Fern Tree to Silver Falls

“… a popular picnic spot in the past…”

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Fern Tree circuit walk to kunanyi (Mt Wellington)

Goal:Mt Wellington summit
Grade:Some Very Steep
Type:Circuit
One-way distance:14,400 m
Comment:To Radfords Track via Silver Falls. Continue to The Springs, Pinnacle + ZigZag track to top. Return via Hunters Tk, O'Gradys Falls, Bower Reserve

References

John Chapman and Monica Chapman, Day Walks Tasmania, 2 ed., John Chapman, Page 40, Number 6, 6 - Fern Tree to Mt Wellington

6 hours
“Public transport can be used to get to the start of the walk. (48 or 49 bus)”

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Fern Tree to Neika on Pipeline Walk

Goal:Neika
Grade:Flat
Type:Retrace route
One-way distance:4,500 m
Return distance:9,000 m
Comment:Follow the Pipeline Track to Neika and return.

References

Greater Hobart Trails, Derwent Estuary Program, Fern Tree to Neika, Fern Tree

“… level shady track”

Jan Hardy & Bert Elson, 50 Family Walks in and around Hobart, Hillside Publishing, Page 48, Number 18, Pipeline Track to St Crispins Well

2 hours 30 minutes retrace route
“A beautifully long flat and wellmade track.”

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Fern Tree to The Springs Circuit

Goal:The Springs
Grade:Long climb
Type:Circuit
One-way distance:3,900 m
Comment:Via Pipeline Tk, Silver Falls Tk, Middle Tk, Radfords Tk to Springs. Return Via Radfords Tk and Fern Glade Tk.

References

Greater Hobart Trails, Derwent Estuary Program, Fern Tree to The Springs Loop

“Ferns, mossy gullies and glimpses of ... History”

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Fern Tree Walk to kunanyi/Mt Wellington Summit

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:Mt Wellington summit
Grade:Some steep
Type:One way pickup
One-way distance:6,000 m
Return distance:12,000 m
Comment:via Pipeline Tk, Silver Falls Tk, Middle Tk, Radfords Tk to Springs. Then Pinnacle Tk, ZigZag Tk to summit.

References

Tyrone Thomas & Andrew Close, 100 Walks in Tasmania, Explore Australia, Page 22, Number 1, Fern-Tree - Mount Wellington

4 hours 30 minutes retrace route
“One day, hard”

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Pipeline Walk to Waterworks Reserve

Goal:Waterworks Reserve
Grade:Moderate
Type:One way pickup
One-way distance:3,200 m
Return distance:6,400 m
Comment:Follow Pipeline Track across Huon Rd. Continue to Waterworks Park.

References

Jan Hardy & Bert Elson, 50 Family Walks in and around Hobart, Hillside Publishing, Page 44, Number 16, Fern Tree to Waterworks Reserve

1 hour 30 minutes one way pickup
“A one-way downhill bushwalk on a well-graded track.”

Greater Hobart Trails, Derwent Estuary Program, Pipeline Track - Fern Tree to Waterworks Reserve

“… historic features highlighted by interpretation panels along the way.”

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Silver Falls Circuit walk from Fern Tree

Goal:Silver Falls
Grade:Moderate
Type:Circuit
One-way distance:4,000 m
Comment:Pipeline Tk to Fern Tree bower, then Silver Falls Tk to falls and then on to Middle track and return past water supply tank down to Fern Tree.

References

Waterfalls of Tasmania, Jubec Systems and Design, Silver Falls - Browns river

“Easy, with uphill walking”

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Silver Falls Walk, Wellington Park

Goal:Silver Falls
Grade:Moderate
Type:Retrace route
One-way distance:850 m
Return distance:1,700 m
Comment:Pipeline Track to Fern Tree Bower, then up Silver Falls Track to falls. Return same way.

References

Greater Hobart Trails, Derwent Estuary Program, Fern Tree to Silver Falls

“… short, mostly flat walk to a small waterfall”

Tyrone Thomas & Andrew Close, 100 Walks in Tasmania, Explore Australia, Page 22, Number 1, Fern-Tree - Mount Wellington

Jan Hardy & Bert Elson, 50 Family Walks in and around Hobart, Hillside Publishing, Page 46, Number 17, Silver Falls

40 minutes retrace route
“A short and easy walk to a waterfall.”

Raelene and Rod Newell, Thirty-Five Walks to Waterfalls in Tasmania, 1st ed., Raelene and Rod Newell, Page 78, Number 30, Silver Falls

TasTrails, TasTrails, Page 5, Number 3, Silver Falls - 21 Nov 2013

45 minutes retrace route
“…a short and enjoyable stroll for walkers of any ability…”

Waterfalls of Tasmania, Jubec Systems and Design, Silver Falls - Browns river

“A small bridge crossing the Browns River provides a wondeful view of Silver Falls”

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Sphinx Rock walk from Fern Tree

Goal:Sphinx Rock
Grade:Some Very Steep
Type:Retrace route
One-way distance:3,400 m
Return distance:6,800 m
Comment:From Fern Tree via Pipeline Track, Middle Track, Radfords Track, Lenah Valley Track to Sphynx.Return

References

Tyrone Thomas & Andrew Close, 100 Walks in Tasmania, Explore Australia, Page 25, Number 2, Fern Tree - Sphynx Rock

3 hours circuit

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St Crispins Well Walk from Ferntree

Goal:St Crispins Well
Grade:Fairly flat
Type:Retrace route
One-way distance:9,500 m
Return distance:19,000 m

References

Jan Hardy & Bert Elson, 50 Family Walks in and around Hobart, Hillside Publishing, Page 48, Number 18, Pipeline Track to St Crispins Well

5 hours 30 minutes retrace route
“A beautifully long flat and wellmade track.”

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Wellington Falls via Pipeline Track

Goal:Wellington Falls
Grade:Some steep
Type:Retrace route
One-way distance:8,300 m
Return distance:16,600 m
Comment:From Ferntree, follow Pipline Track and then Wellington Falls Lower Track. Return same way.

References

Greater Hobart Trails, Derwent Estuary Program, Fern Tree to Wellington Falls

“This is a long, full day walk.”

Tyrone Thomas & Andrew Close, 100 Walks in Tasmania, Explore Australia, Page 27, Number 3, Wellington Falls

6 hours retrace route
“Forest and waterfalls in sub-alpine surrounds”

Raelene and Rod Newell, Thirty-Five Walks to Waterfalls in Tasmania, 1st ed., Raelene and Rod Newell, Page 90, Number 36, Wellington Falls

Raelene and Rod Newell, Thirty-Five Walks to Waterfalls in Tasmania, on website, Raelene and Rod Newell, Number 45, Wellington Falls

“A very long walk on the Pipeline Track.”

TasTrails, TasTrails, Number 3, Wellington Falls - 18 Jul 2013

5 hours retrace route
“lengthy but pleasant 16km return via the historic Pipeline Track”

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