Refurbished historical kunanyi/Mt Wellington walking track reopened by Hobart City Council

A historic kunanyi/Mt Wellington walking track with unrivalled views of the summit and Organ Pipes has been reopened to the public after remaining dormant for decades. SEE THE ROUTE

The revived historical walk is a 15-minute loop from The Springs. Picture: MATT THOMPSON

A HISTORIC walking track that has remained dormant for decades has been reopened as part of a series of improvements for visitors and locals on kunanyi/Mt Wellington.

The Exhibition Gardens Perimeter Track at The Springs has been refurbished and will officially be opened by the Lord Mayor and local historians at 2pm today.

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The revived walking track offers unrivalled views of the Organ Pipes and the kunanyi/Mount Wellington summit. Picture: NIKKI DAVIS-JONES

The easy 15-minute walking loop links with an existing lookout and provides unrivalled views of the summit and Organ Pipes.

The 150m track — established in the 1930s — bounds the site of the former Exhibition Gardens, which were created in the 1931-32 Depression years with the intention of publicly showcasing Tasmania’s spectacular native flora.

Map of the Historic Exhibition Gardens Perimeter Track. The yellow and orange lines are the reopened sections, having been overgrown for some time. Picture: Hobart City Council

But the site was later impacted by bushfires and many surviving plants were relocated.

Lord Mayor Anna Reynolds said the council had spent $2.5 million on tracks and facilities over the past three years to make The Springs more visitor-friendly and ensure Tasmania’s number one visited natural attraction was well managed and well maintained.

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“The track offers stunning views of the mountain summit and Organ Pipes and is suitable for all ages and people with limited mobility,” Cr Reynolds said.

“The location is an important part of the mountain’s history and it’s wonderful that it can now be enjoyed by visitors.

“The view of the mountain from this track is a lovely surprise and I imagine it may become a popular place for photos.”

Lord Mayor Anna Reynolds and former lord mayor Sue Hickey on one of kunanyi/Mt Wellington’s walking trails.

The reopening comes a few months after a major refurbishment of the iconic Great Short Walk that connects The Springs and The Chalet.

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The City of Hobart has also revitalised The Springs area through new picnic tables and visitor information signage, improved carparking and upgrades of about 500m of walking tracks.

“The Springs is a great starting point for people to explore the mountain on foot and to escape some of the climate extremes of the summit,” Cr Reynolds said.

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