Visiting beautiful Mount Wellington is one of the best things to do in Hobart, Tasmania. Wondering how to get from Hobart to Mount Wellington without a car? There’s actually an easy way to do this, the kunanyi Mt Wellington Explorer Bus. In this guide, we will share our full experience of Mount Wellington and the Explorer Bus, how it works and what you need to know before you go to Mount Wellington. We will also share the walk we did, which was easy to add to our journey.
Contents
- Do I Need To Book The Hobart To Mount Wellington Bus In Advance?
- Mount Wellington Explorer Bus: How It Works
- Our Experience Visiting Kunanyi/Mt Wellington
- Things To Know Before Visiting Mount Wellington
- Mount Wellington Walks
- Fern Tree To Silver Falls Walk
Do I Need To Book The Hobart To Mount Wellington Bus In Advance?
We visited Mount Wellington on the Explorer Bus. We booked about a week in advance to make sure we could get on the first bus in the morning, to fit in with our toddlers’ naps.
On the day the bus seemed fairly full, however, there were still a couple of spare seats. If you need a specific time or want to guarantee your seat I would recommend booking in advance.
We booked our tickets through Get Your Guide as the app was easy to use and access tickets.
Mount Wellington Explorer Bus: How It Works
The Explorer bus is the official shuttle bus for kunanyi/Mt Wellington. They also have exclusive access to the mountain when Pinnacle Road is closed due to snow.
Although it is a hop-on/hop-off bus, buses only run every 1.5 hrs. So the main reason to get off is if you want to go for a bushwalk (hike). Then you can get on another bus around 1.5 hrs later.
There are a few stops you can get off at on the way up or down, however, you will need to let the driver know if you intend to get off, otherwise the journey will continue.
The Explorer Bus stops include two in the city centre; Brooke Street Pier and Travel & Information Centre, then a few stops on the journey up/down the mountain; Fern Tree Park, The Springs (where you will find The Lost Freight coffee shop), The Chalet, Big Bend and The Pinnacle.
It takes around 45 – 50 minutes to get from the 1st stop in Hobart (Brooke Street Pier) to the top of Mount Wellington (The Pinnacle). Then you will have approximately 40 minutes at the top to explore, then return to Hobart.
There is space for up to four mountain bikes if needed, however you need to book bike freight with your ticket.
More Information | Book Your Explorer Bus Here
Our Experience Visiting Kunanyi/Mt Wellington
We got on the 9.30 am bus, with a friendly and knowledgeable driver David. He gives you some interesting facts on the way up. We stopped for 5 minutes on the way up to see the view and take some photos. Then the bus continued onto the summit of kunanyi Mount Wellington (The Pinnacle), which rises 1271 metres above sea level. Here we had 40 minutes to walk around and take in the views. There are also toilets here.
We first walked around the rocky area in the middle (there is a pram-friendly path most of the way around the side) where there were some beautiful views.
Then we continued around a short wooden pathway to a viewing platform looking towards Cradle Mountain.
Then we went inside the Pinnacle Observation Shelter and continued on the boardwalk down to the viewing platform with spectacular views out over Hobart, the Derwent River, Bruny Island and more. This final viewing platform did have some stairs to get down to, however, with two adults and a light pram, this is possible.
We had enough time to see the main lookouts and go to the toilets in 40 minutes. We would have loved another 20 minutes to explore more and take it slower, but 40 minutes is ok.
Overall, we would recommend the kunanyi Mount Wellington Explorer Bus. It makes the trip very easy, you learn some interesting facts about the mountain, Hobart and Tasmania, and it makes it possible to visit Mount Wellington without a car.
Things To Know Before Visiting Mount Wellington
It’s important to keep in mind that the weather on Mount Wellington can be very different to the city of Hobart, often about 10 degrees cooler.
We were lucky in that we had clear skies, and panoramic views of Hobart and beyond, and it wasn’t that cold at the top of the mountain when we visited. But we did pack puffer jackets and beanies just in case.
Another thing to note is the departure point of the Explorer Bus. Our ticket stated Elizabeth Steet as the departure point. Although this is a departure point, it’s the second stop. If you want more choice of seating then it’s best to get on at the first stop, near Brooke Street Pier.
More Information | Book Your Explorer Bus Here
Mount Wellington Walks
You can do many different walks at Mount Wellington, ranging in difficulty and time. Using the Explorer Bus, you can get off at the best stop for your walk, and hop back on the bus at the other end. It’s a great option for walks on Mount Wellington without a car.
Some popular walks include the Organ Pipes Track, Zig Zag Track, Pinnacle Track, Pipeline Track and the Fern Tree to Silver Falls track closer to the bottom of Mount Wellington, but there are many more to choose from.
Fern Tree To Silver Falls Walk
We got off the Explorer Bus at the Fern Tree stop on the way back down to Hobart. Here we had about 1.5 hours until the next Explorer bus.
We did the Fern Tree to Silver Falls bush walk. This walk is pram-friendly, although the second half is up an incline. We walked through beautiful ferns and springs. After 20 minutes we reached Silver Falls, a small but lovely waterfall.
Once here you simply turn back and walk the 20 minutes to where you started. So in total, it’s a 40-minute hike, however, we took our time and Clara walked most of the way, so it took us about 50 – 60 minutes.
Once back at Fern Tree, we enjoyed a packed lunch at the picnic tables. You can eat at the Fern Tree Tavern if you prefer. And then we caught the next bus back into Hobart CBD, which only takes about 15 minutes.
The walk was a beautiful way to get out in nature, adding more variation to our Mt Wellington trip. It also made good use of the Explorer Bus. Being a short walk it was one of the best things to do in Hobart with a toddler in nature.
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