Natural Areas

Wellington Park

Wellington Park dominates our city skyline with over 4000ha of bushland and making up around one third of our municipality. The Glenorchy section of Wellington Park has large parts that cover protected drinking water catchments.

There are no public roads and the feel is less busy compared to the Hobart side, which attracts most of the visitors via The Springs and Pinnacle Road.

The main access to Wellington Park is via the Glenorchy Mountain Bike Park at the end of Tolosa Street. Several fire trails suitable for walking extend from the Glenorchy Mountain Bike Park to other areas within Wellington Park.

There are some spectacular views for those willing to walk up the trails to Mt. Arthur, Tom Thumb and nearby points.

Wellington Park Tasmania has an interactive dog walking map.

Dogs on a lead, of no more than 2 metres, are permitted in several areas in Wellington Park. These areas are defined in the Management Plan and allow for substantial dog recreation and exercising opportunities in both the Hobart and Glenorchy municipal areas while preserving the natural values of Wellington Park.

Click this link to check out the interactive dog walking map.

Nestled between kunanyi / Mount Wellington and the River Derwent, Humphreys Rivulet winds its way through the Glenorchy municipality, tracing a path from its steep upper catchments down into the heart of the urban area.

Steep terrain in its headwaters means that heavy rainfall can turn the rivulet into a fast-moving force, prone to flash flooding and capable of carrying debris downstream. Overflows from Humphreys Rivulet are a major contributor to flood risk in parts of Glenorchy, particularly across the flatter floodplain around the CBD.

At the same time, the rivulet is more than just a drainage channel. It offers potential as a green corridor and community amenity. Plans are underway (or under discussion) to rehabilitate portions of its course, improve its environmental quality, and better integrate it into urban open space. There is particular interest in creating a shared walking / cycling path along or near the rivulet as a safer and more pleasant alternative to busy roads like Tolosa Street.

Humphreys Rivulet thus sits at the intersection of natural hazard and opportunity — a waterway that demands respect, careful planning, and offers a chance to enrich Glenorchy’s landscape, resilience, and connection to nature.

We’re preparing to upgrade the path along Humphreys Rivulet.

The N.R. Pierce Reserve is a significant bushland reserve donated to the people of Glenorchy by the Pierce family in 1988 in memory of Norman R. Pierce and his significant contribution to the community.

The reserve is an important native bushland backdrop to Glenorchy.

The reserve covers 449ha behind Berriedale and Montrose and to the east of Collinsvale. It borders Wellington Park to the south-west.

The reserve contains a wide variety of vegetation types and the reserve provides important habitat for a variety of birds, mammals – including bettongs, bandicoots, Tasmanian devils and wallabies – reptiles, amphibians, and insects.

Access to N.R. Pierce Reserve is on existing fire trails which connect through to Wellington Park. The Zig Zag Track from Collinsvale Road is the main access point for visitors. 

Poimena Reserve is situated on top of a small hill in Austins Ferry. It is 29ha and offers panoramic views of the Derwent River to the east, and kunanyi/Mount Wellington to the west. Visitors can enjoy a diverse walking experience through a mix of native white gum, peppermint and blue gum woodland and managed parkland.

The reserve supports a range of fauna including bandicoots and over 70 native bird species. Several rare beetles and herbaceous plants also occur there.

There are BBQ facilities and the reserve is home to southern Tasmania’s only disc golf course.

Access is via Wakehurst Road, Austins Ferry.

Gould’s Lagoon in Granton was designated as a wildlife sanctuary in 1938 at the request of the owner at the time, Arthur Gould. It is a particularly important refuge for water birds which use the area for resting, feeding and breeding. A viewing platform can be accessed by a boardwalk across the water. This is a great place to observe the birdlife visiting the lagoon. The car park is located off Hestercombe Road.

Jim Bacon Memorial Reserve in West Moonah contains a mix of open parkland and a 2ha remnant patch of rare black gum forest. Several rare plants are found here including Blue Devil, a small, prickly herb with distinctive blue foliage.

The reserve also provides habitat for several bird species including the threatened Swift Parrot. 

Access is from Devines Road, Thornleigh Street and Hudson Crescent.

This 5ha reserve of remnant bushland is situated at the top of Amy Street in West Moonah. The reserve contains some significant native grassland, white gums, peppermints and she-oak forest. It provides a quiet walking location as well as great views towards the east and north from its elevated position.

Access is from several points in Moonah and West Moonah including Amy Street, Seventh Avenue, Wilkie Court, Walch Avenue and Bermuka Street.

Lutana Woodlands Reserve provides one of the best panoramic vistas in the city, with sweeping views over Glenorchy, nearby suburbs and the Wellington Range.  Tracts of remnant native grassland support over 40 native plant species including grasses, herbs, orchids, shrubs and trees.

In recent years we have worked with the local community on restoration works, planting hundreds of trees and shrubs, removing rubbish and clearing weeds. 

The park is popular with dog walkers. 

A car park is located off Bowen Rd and there is also access from Lennox Street.

The foreshore from Claremont to Berriedale is a varied landscape. Several local reserves are linked to make an extended walking trail stretching along the Derwent from Cadbury through to Mona at Berridale.

The track passes environmentally significant salt marsh, open parkland, headlands, sheltered bays, and bush tracks containing she-oaks. There are some spectacular views along the walk. The area also has significant Aboriginal heritage importance.

Fringing Elwick Bay from Montrose Foreshore Community Park to Wilkinson Point, is the Glenorchy Art and Sculpture Park (GASP!). The sealed path and boardwalk guides you past open parkland, a regenerating dune, tidal wetlands and saltmarsh. Highlights include scenic vistas, art displays and sculptures and bird watching opportunities.