Knocklofty

Off-lead and on-lead areas

Location- West Hobart

Access for vehicles is from Forest Road, West Hobart. There are numerous walking tracks into the reserve from various West Hobart streets and Mt Stuart.
Facilities- Dog bags and bins, picnic tables
Freedom- Off lead (on roads and tracks only)

Information

Knocklofty Reserve provides a network of tracks through 140 hectres of bushland and protects a diverse range of native forest communities. Wallabies and other native wildlife are common so dogs must be under effective control. This is one of the better off lead dog walking areas around Hobart.

There are two entrances to Knocklofty on Forest Road and both have dog bag dispensers and bins. The first entrance is located where the road narrows. Limited parking is available on the roadside. Walking from here is on lead for the first ten minutes until you pass the main carpark.

This section provides panoramic views across South Hobart, Tollmans Hill, Sandy Bay, Hobart CBD, the Derwent River and Eastern Shore.

The car park is a kilometre further up Forest Road and is open between 8:00am and 4:15pm. Three picnic tables are provided nearby and a dog bin and bag dispenser is located near the sign which marks the beginning of the off lead zone. Dogs must be under effective control. Keep to the roads and tracks.

After a short walk turn left into the Summit Loop track with it’s rocky features and eucalypt bush. This 4WD track is a bit rough underfoot with exposed rocks. A few minutes later the track veers to the right and climbs steeply upwards.

If you don’t want a difficult climb there is plenty of flat track leading from the car park do so you can walk a while and return to the car park.

Two tracks veer off to the Mt Stuart Circuit but continue along the Summit Loop Track. Near the top there is confusion at a T junction over a sign indicating the Summit Loop and Mt Stuart Circuit, with another pointing to Mt Stuart. Continue along the main path. The Summit Loop Track next turns to the right under the power lines and becomes a narrow track down the hill. This is a narrow rough and steeply descending walk to the Frog Pond Track/ Mt Stuart Circuit junction. Turn right and return to the car park. This section of the track is well formed with wooden steps in the steeper parts

Be mindful of the weather conditions. We were walking in low cloud at times and you need to be prepared for this when it is wet or cloudy. Walking on wet days has advantages. Some of the spectacular views may be missed but walking in misty conditions enhances the colours of bark and foliage and the humidity is quite refreshing.