Hop-on, hop-off shuttle bus to top of kunanyi/Mt Wellington set to start on October 22

UPDATED: A BUS service for all seasons will soon hit the road to take foot traffic and cyclists to the peak of kunanyi/Mt Wellington. FIND OUT HOW MUCH IT WILL COST

UPDATED: A SHUTTLE bus service for all seasons will soon hit the road to take foot traffic and cyclists to the peak of kunyani/Mt Wellington.

Visitors to Hobart this summer will have the option of paying $35 for an all-day, two-hour tour from the waterfront to the pinnacle for magnificent views over Hobart and beyond.

Starting from October 22, Hobart family-owned company J.P. Gregory Pty Ltd, which runs the Red Decker Company double-decker tourist buses around Hobart, will operate six daily, hop-on, hop-off services in an all-weather “Explorer Bus”.

The two new buses will depart from Brooke Street Pier and Tasmanian Travel and Information Centre before stopping at Fern Tree, the Springs, the Chalet, the pinnacle.

Each bus is understood to be able to carry up to 30 people.

Passengers will have the option of a $35 all-day pass, which will include a two-tour return tour, or a $25 one-way ticket.

The buses will depart from the waterfront at 9am, 10am, 11am, 1pm, 2pm and 3pm during the summer and 9.30am, 11.30am and 3pm during the winter.

Jonathan Gregory, owner of the kunanyi/Mt Wellington Explorer Bus Company, at the launch of their new mountain bus service. Picture: MATHEW FARRELL

“Passengers will be able to get on and off the mountain bus at multiple points, opening up a much wider range of walk options for visitors,” owner Jonathan Gregory said at the launch at Brooke St Pier on Wednesday.

“The shuttle service has been designed to carry bikes and be wheelchair accessible, and will have a GPS-located audio tour guide commentary in eight languages.”

Another purpose-built bus for snow and ice conditions, with chains on board if required, has been ordered will take passengers to the top of the mountain by May 2019.

An interstate company has built the $300,000 all-weather bus, expected to arrive in January, which is similar to those used at Thredbo in NSW, Mt Buller in Victoria and Queenstown in New Zealand.

Destination Southern Tasmania chief executive Alex Heroys said the new service would enable visitors to access the mountain in conditions which would have previously not been possible.

“I believe locals will use this service as much as the visitors, especially in winter,” he said.

“Being atop kunanyi/Mt Wellington when there is snow on the ground, or it’s actually snowing, is a real experience — and for many of our international visitors, a once in a lifetime experience,” he said.

Mr Heroys said the service could work alongside any proposed cable car project.

“Destination Southern Tasmania does support a cable car proposal as long as its supported by the community,” he said.

Hobart Lord Mayor Ron Christie said council parks crew would ensure Pinnacle Rd was accessible for the bus during winter.

Chinese tourists Yanzhu Chen, left, and Nan Hu jump aboard the hop-on, hop-off Red Decker tour bus around Hobart. Picture: PATRICK GEE

EARLIER: A HOP-ON, hop-off bus to the top of kunanyi/Mt Wellington is being launched today by the Hobart City Council.

The new mountain bus service will run six times a day during the summer and take locals, tourists and cyclists from the waterfront to the summit for spectacular views of the city and harbour.

J.P. Gregory Pty Ltd — which runs the Red Decker Company double-decker tourist buses around Hobart — will operate the all-weather kunanyi Mt Wellington Explorer Bus.

ALL-WEATHER MT WELLINGTON BUS ANNOUNCED

“Passengers will be able to get on and off the mountain bus at multiple points, including Fern Tree, The Springs and at the Chalet, opening up a much wider range of walk options for visitors,” owner Jonathan Gregory said.

The shuttle service has been designed to carry bikes and be wheelchair accessible, and will have a GPS-located audio tour guide commentary in eight languages.

‘SIGNIFICANT SHIFT’ IN CABLE CAR SUPPORT SAYS COMPANY

The service will be purpose built for snow and ice conditions on kunanyi/Mt Wellington. Picture: MATHEW FARRELL

Another purpose-built bus for snow and ice conditions, with chains on board if required, has been ordered and is expected to be able to take passengers to the top of the mountain by May 2019.

An interstate company has built the $300,000 bus, which is similar to those used at Thredbo in NSW, Mt Buller in Victoria, and Queenstown in New Zealand.

Each bus is believed to be able to carry 30 people.

Access to the summit can be difficult, particularly in the depths of winter. Picture: PATRICK EE

The service is part of HCC’s efforts to offer better access to walking and riding opportunities on the mountain.

The shuttle will depart from the Brooke Street Pier and the Tasmanian Travel and Information Centre during summer, with the first bus to depart on October 22.

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