A couple of minutes walk from the city suburbs of West Hobart and Mt Stuart, and you're into the native bushland that spreads across the slopes and peak of Knocklofty.
Used by early settlers as a source of firewood, quarry stone and for rough grazing land, Knocklofty has changed little, and its heathland and open woodland flora and fauna communities thrive in the rough, steep terrain.
Facilities here are limited - a fire trail threads its way to the 375m summit, and there's a network of fire trails and walking tracks linking West Hobart to Mount Stuart.
There are picnic spots on the West Hobart fringe of the reserve, and the extensive views from the top of the hill over the city, harbour and mountain are well worth the walk. Great views can also be had from the Mount Stuart Lookout.
In Mt Stuart, from the lookout at the end of Mt Stuart Road. In West Hobart, from Kirby Court, Poets Road (turn left from Lansdowne Crescent, or Forest Road).
Bushwalking, no toilets, dog walking off leash, scenic views, picnics.
After four months of toil in the dolerite soils and rocks of Knocklofty Reserve, Hobart City Council has now completed an extensive upgrade to the Summit Track.
The Summit Track links the Mt Stuart Track with the summit of Knocklofty and to fire trails beyond and provides users of the track with wonderful views of the River Derwent, Hobart and Mt Wellington. The Track was built as a replacement for the previous track to the summit due to significant erosion problems and user safety concerns.
The Track has been designed in accordance with the requirements of a Class 3 Track in the Australian Standards for Track Classification and Signage (AS 2156.1-2001). This class of track is designed as an easy to medium grade track and is accessible for people with an average level of fitness. There are no steep or slippery sections on the track and the maximum width of the track is one metre.
The Council's track construction crew put a lot of hard work into rehabilitating the old track by planting locally sourced indigenous plants and by placing fallen logs and branches across the old track. This work will contribute toward the natural regeneration of the old track by trapping wind and water borne soil, organic matter and native seed.
Next time you make your way to Knocklofty Reserve, follow the Mt Stuart Track from either the Mt Stuart Lookout or the Frog Ponds and follow the new signs to the Summit Track.
