Majestically sky-high or mysteriously shrouded in cloud, 1271m-high Kunanyi / Mt Wellington (wellingtonpark.org.au; free) is so large it generates its own weather patterns. Dappled with winter snow, Kunanyi is Hobart’s beacon, its protector, its playground and its weather barometer…and the views from the top are awesome! At the summit car park, put on every layer of clothing you own and dash to the curvy-roofed observation shelter. Pinnacle Rd is often closed due to winter snow: check hobartcity.com.au for live road-closure updates.
The mountain is crisscrossed by a web of hiking paths, bike tracks, horse-riding trails and fire roads. Popular tracks include the Radfords Track, Pinnacle Track, Fern Glade Track, Pipeline Track, the steep Zig Zag Track and the excellent Organ Pipes Circuit (9.2km; four hours), looping below Kunanyi’s trademark dolerite cliffs. Check out greaterhobarttrails.com.au for info. Expect rapid weather shifts: this ain’t no walk in the park (well, it is, but you know what we mean – be prepared, even for the shortest mountain walk).
