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From dry woodlands to windswept summits. Wellington Park is threaded with tracks and trails. Shorter walks in the eastern foothills are well-suited to families, while exposed tracks extend beyond the summit of the mountain to wild and remote places. Walkers should choose a route to suit as tracks vary in condition and gradient. Most are well marked and easy to follow, however, remote and higher altitude tracks may be rough or wet underfoot. Navigation skills may be required on some routes, especially during poor visibility.

Every year, walkers (even experienced locals) get disoriented and delayed or lost when the weather changes or misadventure visits.  Preparation is key for an enjoyable walking experience in the Park. Walks below The Springs (700m above sea level) don’t require special preparation – just always pack warm clothes, wet weather gear and a charged mobile phone if you're planning on walking for more than 30 mins.

Always carry a charged mobile phone. Reception is generally very good, but there will be blackspots in more remote parts of the Park. Download the Emergency+ app to enable critical location details needed to mobilise emergency services.

Generic online maps (eg Google Maps) are unreliable for directions in Wellington Park. The locations of many features, such as Disappearing Tarn, are not shown correctly. Pick up a copy of the fold-out 'Bushwalking in Wellington Park' map and brochure from the Tasmanian Travel and Information Centre (Hobart), the Kunanyi/Mt Wellington Explorer Bus or Lost Freight Cafe (The Springs)

A walk in the remote areas of Wellington Park is a deeply rewarding and memorable experience. You will find yourself in a wild place of spectacular, rugged landscapes, inhabited by a remarkable variety of interesting vegetation and wildlife.  Remote area track types vary, from fire trails to cross country routes with and without marker poles. 

Hope for the best, but prepare for the worst.  You will need moderate experience, fitness and knowledge. Consider all members of your party:  

• Do you know what you’re getting yourself in for (steep rocky terrain, dense scrub, quick changes in weather)? 
• Are you up for it and to it? 
• Do you know what to do if you get lost? 
• Do you know how to use map and compass? GPS? 
• Does your mobile phone have GPS and a navigator and compass and can you confidently use them? (Practise before you set off.) Mobile phone GPS apps work off satellites, not mobile phone networks, so they will work even where mobile reception drops out. 

Prepare for your remote area walk:

• Choose an appropriate route 
• Do your research - AllTrails, Greater Hobart Trails, Tas Trails, Hiking South East Tasmania, Leave No Trace Australia. 
• Gain experience: start young, get base fitness; get the right gear/equipment; join a club e.g. Hobart Walking Club, Pandani Bushwalking Club. 
• Check the Kunanyi / Mount Wellington detailed weather forecast the day before and on the morning of your walk; consider rescheduling as necessary 
• Allow plenty of daylight and pack a torch with fresh and spare batteries just in case.
• Tell someone your plan and estimated time of arrival/return 
• Have at least one companion, preferably 2-3 
• Use a checklist 
• Allow time to be thorough – ideally pack the day before 
• Give yourself space: put all your gear out on a big table/floor/bed and tick it off a list 
• Check each other’s preparation

BASIC gear list:  

• Comfy sturdy boots 
• Long pants or gaiters 
• Long sleeve shirt 
• Spare thermal / woollen layer 
• Spray jacket 
• Hat 
• Sunglasses 
• Sunscreen 
• First aid kit including compression bandages 
• Charged mobile phone 
• Map and compass, or GPS with fresh batteries 
• Sufficient food and drink 
• Personal medication (for allergies, asthma etc) 
• Matches – fires allowed in an emergency 
• Torch – in case you are caught out after dark and to signal. 

ADDITIONAL gear to consider for more extended walks and poorer weather:

• All of the above
• Goretex type jacket 
• Waterproof overpants 
• Extra warm clothes e.g. fleece, woollen jumper 
• PLB (Personal Locator Beacon) or EPIRB (Emergency Position Indicating Radio Beacon): not essential, but many solo and remote walkers appreciate the security of carrying a Personal Locator Beacon (PLB) to activate in the event of a life-threatening emergency. PLBs can be hired from Service Tasmania shops (Mon-Fri only) in Hobart, Launceston, Burnie and Devonport. Phone 1300 135 513 for further information. ​​There are also independent hire companies.​ 

Be warned!

• COTTON – don’t rely on it for warmth when wet. Pack wool/warm synthetics. 
• Complacency – assumption is the mother of all stuff-ups. 
• Constrained time – allow time to prepare, get there and get back. Go by Mountain time not city time. Consider available light. 
• Climate – check weather before and during if possible. 
• Confidence – experience can be as hazardous as inexperience. 
• Caution – allow more time than you think you need, particularly on longer walks in more remote areas. 
• Concentrate – keep to the track. Natural forces can work to conceal signs and markers and tracks. The way ahead is not always clear on natural surfaces like rock. 
• Keep together – If you are walking in a group, stay together, walk at the speed of the slowest member.