New tracks: Connecting Knocklofty Reserve to the mountain

Work has started on two brand new tracks linking Knocklofty Reserve in West Hobart with Wellington Park. 

The new tracks will create a direct route between Knocklofty Reserve and the foothills of kunanyi/Mt Wellington.  

 A new shared use track will begin at the edge of Knocklofty Reserve and drop down to Noahs Saddle, before traversing above McRobies Gully to the top of Slides Track. 

 It will be a gentle, shared use track that solves a gap in Hobart’s recreational trail network, creating a link from the western edge of the city towards Wellington Park. The track is designed for all track users – walkers, runners and mountain bike riders.

 The second new track is part of implementing the Riding the Mountain plan and is for mountain bike riders only. The single direction, downhill-only track will start at Main Fire Trail and dip alongside the ridgeline, providing a fun intermediate link from Wellington Park to the top of Slides Track.

Photo: Competitor taking part in kunanyi Trail Series. Photo: Ryan Slater

We are building the new track in three sections 

Section 1. A new dual direction, intermediate shared use section alongside Yellow Hippo Track. 

Section 2. A new dual direction, easy, shared use section between the Yellow Hippo and Slides tracks.  

 Section 3. A single direction (downhill only) mountain bike only track from Main Fire Trail to the top of Slides Track.  

 The new tracks will improve recreational access for a wide range of the community and avoid using fire trails on private land. 

•  In total four kilometres of new track is being built. 

•  The new, intermediate shared use track section starting in Knocklofty Reserve will provide a link towards Wellington Park that parallels the existing Yellow Hippo mountain bike track.

•  An easy shared use track section will traverse the hillside above McRobies Gully, passing Noahs Saddle and connecting to the top of the Slides mountain bike track. This track will provide a gentle, dual-direction route for walkers and riders.

•  The new mountain bike only track will be for intermediate riders and is a descent-only track. It will connect Main Fire Trail at the Wellington Park boundary to the top of Slides track, creating an exciting new connection to a popular track.