The Old Hobartian and Hunter Track Circuit via The Lost World

Kunanyi/Mt Wellington is a known breeding ground for the critically endangered Swift Parrot (Lathamus discolor) and is also home to the endangered Tasmanian Masked Owl (Tyto novaehollandiae castanops), Wedge-tailed Eagle (Aquila audax fleayi) and Tasmanian Devil (Sarcophilus harrisii).

Feral cats are a threat to biodiversity within the park, as are other Introduced species including the Superb Lyrebird (Menura novaehollandiae).

The trail starts at the end of Lenah Valley Road, where there is a concrete walkway across the New Town Rivulet. Cross the rivulet and pass a white gate. Continue walking for around 200 metres before coming to a Y intersection. Take the right trail which is the Lenah Valley Fire Trail. Follow the trail through the dry eucalyptus forest for around 550 metres, after which you will reach a signposted intersection. 

Here, you leave the fire trail behind and continue on to the Old Hobartians Track, which begins with a steep incline up stone steps with a handrail. The trail is quite steep in sections. This section of the trail traverses through denser forest, with the New Town Rivulet flowing at the bottom of the valley. 

After walking up hill for around 600 metres you will reach another signposted intersection. Here, there is the ruins of an old hut, one of several that were built throughout the mountain in the late 19th and early 20th century by local Hobartians. 

Continue walking straight at this intersection, following the sign post for the Old Hobartian Track to the Lost World. The trail climbs steadily upwards, and once you are around 2.22km you will come to a large, overhanging sandstone outcrop, which makes a good spot to stop for a drink and a snack.

As you make your way upward increasing in altitude, the flora around you will gradually change, with montane flora beginning to blend in with the eucalyptus forest along the trail, such as the Mountain pinkberry (Leptecophylla parvifolia) and the Mountain snowberry (Gaultheria hispida).

Once you have travelled around 3.3km, you should get a few glimpses of the Lost World above you off to the right, and shortly after you will come to a creek crossing. It is generally easy to cross and is quite picturesque. If there has been heavy rain and the creek is in flood, however, you should only cross if safe to do so, but this is generally not an issue. 

A little further up the hill at around 3.47km into the walk, you will come to a track intersection. By this stage you will likely have been walking for 1.5-2 hours, and while there is not a large distance to cover to the Lost World, there is still significant altitude to gain. 

Take the right-hand turn. Shortly after the intersection, you will come to a large, mostly dry riverbed. Once again, if the river is in flood, do not attempt to cross. This, however, would only be the case after very heavy rainfall.

Cross the riverbed and the trail starts again. Soon after this is where the rock scrambling begins, with the track going steeply upwards on large, Dolerite boulders covered in lichen and Moss. 

This section can often be slippery, especially in the cooler months. Be sure to keep an eye out for orange triangle markers and painted circles on the rocks for the direction, as there are several spots on this section of the trail where it can be unclear which direction to travel in. 

If you are ever unsure if you are going the right way, stop, have a look around you, and if you can’t see any direction markers or if where you are heading doesn’t look safe to cross, you may want to backtrack to the last marker and reconsider your path.

There are several locations along this section where you will get excellent views looking back of Hobart and its surrounds, so be sure to take a break and enjoy the views on your way up.

Just before you reach the Lost World, you will reach a section of very steep rock scrambling, before coming out onto the rock slabs of the Lost World. 

At the back of this area are the large cliffs that are visible from Hobart, and there are multiple large rock slabs that make a great spot to sit, enjoy the view and have some lunch. As you explore the area, be careful when crossing between rock slabs, as there are several large crevasses that should be avoided.

To continue to the road, make your way to the right (northwest) along the Dolerite slabs, keeping an eye out for the orange markers to the trail out of the Lost World.

You will pick up the trail out toward the right hand side of the area, and you will start heading up again with plenty of rock scrambling on the way, with intermittent sections of dirt track through sub alpine eucalyptus forest. 

After travelling a little over 600 metres, you will reach Pinnacle Road. From here you will take a left hand turn, heading down the road. For the next 1.5km, you will be walking on the side of the road, and you should aim to be on the side that has the most space to walk on. There is a section where the road becomes more narrow, and there are two barriers on the left hand side of the road you can walk between on a small trail so as not to be on the road. 

Once you have walked around 1.4km down the road, you will reach the Chalet, where there is a shelter. A short distance further down the road there is a natural spring where you will see water flowing down the rocks on the top side of the road. You can fill up your drink bottle here if needed, however, keep in mind this water is untreated. Across the road from here is the top of the Hunters track.

Take this turnoff onto the Hunters Track. The trail from here is relatively steep, but quite well graded and easy to follow. 

Distinctive flora along this part of the trail includes Silver Wattle (Banskia marginata), with the forest distinctively drier on this part of the mountain compared to where you have come from.

Around 450 metres into the Hunters Track you will come across a scree slope. As long as it is not covered in snow, the trail reminds quite distinct when crossing the slope, ensuring you follow the orange arrows. 

After following the trail for a while, you will come to another scree slope. Once again, follow the markers across. 

Gradually, the forest around you will change to thin, eucalyptus woodlands, dominated by young, thin trees, and around 1.35km down the Hunters you will notice a large rocky outcrop uphill from you, with a sign stating Crocodile Rock, which is sometimes used by rock climbers.

After walking around 1.9km, you will reach Junction Cabin. This makes for a good rest spot, and you will likely come across other hikers, as there are several other tracks that cross over at this location.

After having a break and checking out the hut, head to the bottom left side of the clearing, and look for a sign directing you on to Brushy Hill Fire Trail, which is next to the North South Track. 

If you have been using Google Maps for directions, be careful with which trail you take, as Brushy Hill Fire Trail is incorrectly labelled as Old Farm Fire Trail on Google Maps.

After following the fire trail for around 300 metres, you will reach an intersection with the Breakneck Track. Continue on the Brushy Hill Fire Trail heading to your left for another 500 metres. After which you will find the turnoff for the Lenah Valley Track.

This section of fire trail is well graded and quite easy walking, and the turnoff to the Lenah Valley Track is located just before the fire trail becomes very steep. Take this left hand turn onto the Lenah Valley Track, following it through the dry, open eucalyptus woodland.

From the turnoff it is around 900 metres to New Town falls, which flows across the track. There is generally only a small trickle of water here, however, it can be slippery, so care is required when walking across.

After walking another 800m, you will rejoin the Old Hobartian Track. Take the right hand turn and continue heading downhill. After walking around 1.1km further from this point, you will be back where you started at the top of Lenah Valley Road. 

Sections of this walk are very steep, with long sections of steep rock scrambling, which becomes more dangerous when wet or frozen. As such, it is not an appropriate walk to complete when there is bad weather or heavy snow. 

 Weather conditions within Wellington Park can change rapidly, potentially bringing high winds, rain, and snow, even in summer. Check local weather forecasts before attempting any walks in Wellington Park. 

Ensure you have appropriate sun protection, as UV radiation is stronger in high altitude areas, such as on mountains. The fire danger rating for the area should also be checked. Be aware that Wellington Park is closed on days with a fire danger rating of Extreme or Catastrophic in the Upper Derwent Valley or South East districts. 

For up to date weather forecasting on Kunanyi/Mount Wellington, refer to: http://www.bom.gov.au/tas/forecasts/mtwellington.shtml

There are exposed cliff faces at the Lost World, as well as at several other locations throughout the walk, where extra care should be taken.

There is around 40 minutes of steep rock scrambling for the last section up to the Lost World. As such, this trail is not recommended during bad weather or after heavy snow fall, and extra caution should be taken when rocks are slippery from rain or ice. 

There is also a 1.5km stretch of walking on the side of Pinnacle Road, where walkers should take extra care as they share the space with other users. 

Weather can change rapidly in the region, especially in the top section of the walk around the Lost World, which is fully exposed to the mountain conditions. 

Ensure you have map of the area and pay attention to which direction you are going, especially during the rock scrambling section and during the second half of the walk around Junction Cabin, where there are many trails. 

Ensure you are appropriately prepared for mountain weather conditions, and have warm clothing, a waterproof jacket, sturdy walking shoes or boots, and enough food and water. Be aware that conditions can change rapidly in the area.

Ensure you have informed two other people of the walk you intend to do in case of emergency.

Hikers should also be aware of the possibility of bushfires as this is a forested environment. 

During spring, summer and autumn, be aware that snakes may be active in the area. If encountered, move away from them slowly. 

If you are injured and require emergency medical attention, call 000.

For further information on bushfires in Tasmania, refer to: https://www.fire.tas.gov.au/