These are the Hobart cycling routes we would hand a mate flying in for a week: six rides from a flat river path to the kunanyi / Mount Wellington summit, each with checked distances, a coffee stop that opens early, and what to wear. The forecast in town tells you little about the top of the mountain, so pack for both.
- 6routes
- 6coffee stops checked
- Nov to Marbest months
Coffee stops confirmed open in October 2026. Distances and elevation are approximate. Plot a route before you rely on it.
Hobart cycling routes at a glance
| Route | Distance | Climbing | Level | Coffee stop |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Intercity Cycleway to Claremont | 31 km | Minimal | Easy | District B |
| Hobart to Richmond via Grasstree Hill | ~50 km | Hilly | Moderate | The Richmond Bakery |
| Bruny Island: ferry to The Neck | ~45 to 50 km | Rolling | Moderate | Steamhouse Cafe |
| Tasman Peninsula: Sorell to Eaglehawk Neck | ~95 km | Rolling | Hard | The Lanterns |
| Huon Valley Loop | ~130 km | Hilly | Hard | DS Coffee House Cafe |
| kunanyi / Mount Wellington Summit | ~35 km | ~1,160 m | Epic | Jackman & McRoss |
Short on time? The Intercity and Richmond rides start in the city. Bruny and the Tasman Peninsula need a car to the start. For the mountain, read the weather notes, then our guide to layering for cold starts.
Intercity Cycleway to Claremont
Flat, car-free and right on the river. The easy spin out of town.
- Distance
- ~31 km return
- Climbing
- Minimal
- Start
- Hobart Regatta Grounds
- Effort
The Intercity Cycleway is the backbone of easy bike rides in Hobart. It runs 15.6 km from the Regatta Grounds on the city waterfront to Claremont in the north, a shared path that follows the River Derwent upstream, slips under the Tasman Bridge, skirts the Royal Tasmanian Botanical Gardens and Cornelian Bay, then heads inland through Moonah, Derwent Park, Glenorchy and Montrose.
There are no climbs worth the name, so it suits a recovery spin, a family outing or a commute that keeps you off the Brooker Highway. It is also the quiet way out to the Richmond ride.
The catch is the crossings. There are many along its length, so ride it at chat pace and ring the bell early.
District B
A small coffee roaster a short hop off the cycleway at Moonah, which puts it roughly halfway along the path. Mostly a grab-and-go counter with limited seating, so think egg and bacon brioche on the footpath.
DirectionsRide notes: traffic, surface and bail-outs
- Traffic: none on the path itself, but you cross plenty of side streets and driveways. Watch for walkers, prams and kids around Cornelian Bay and the Gardens.
- Surface: sealed shared path suitable for prams and wheelchairs, so any bike works.
- Water: council lists drinking water, toilets and parking along the route.
Kit for this one: a light summer jersey and a bidon is all you need here.
Hobart to Richmond via Grasstree Hill
One honest climb, a convict-era village and a bakery at the far end.
- Distance
- ~50 km return
- Climbing
- Hilly
- Start
- Hobart Cenotaph
- Effort
Richmond is the classic half-day road cycling destination in Hobart. The village sits in the Coal Valley north-east of the city, built around the sandstone Richmond Bridge, and the ride there crosses one proper climb in Grasstree Hill.
Head north from the Cenotaph on the Intercity Cycleway to Elwick Road, then follow Goodwood Road and cross the Derwent on the Bowen Bridge toward Risdon Vale, where Grasstree Hill Road starts to climb. From the south the climb is about 5.3 km at roughly 5% with pinches near 8%. The northern side is shorter, about 4 km at just under 5%, so the ride home is the easier direction.
Most riders go out and back over Grasstree, which is the version we have plotted. Allow a full morning with the coffee stop.
The Richmond Bakery
The obvious turnaround stop in Richmond, a couple of minutes from the bridge. It is a bakery first, so think scallop pie rather than table service. It fills with day-trippers from late morning.
DirectionsRide notes: traffic, surface and bail-outs
- Traffic: generally low to medium on Grasstree Hill Road, but the road is popular with motorcyclists and some drivers are impatient. Ride single file on the climb and descent.
- Surface: sealed all the way. Descend single file and expect motorbikes on the bends.
- Water: refill at Richmond. There is not much between Risdon Vale and the village.
- Bail-outs: Risdon Vale is the last easy turnaround before the climb.
- Wind: a northerly in the Coal Valley makes the way out hard work.
Kit for this one: bib shorts you trust for three hours, plus a gilet for the descent.
Bruny Island: ferry to The Neck
A short ferry, quiet roads and the best lookout in the south.
- Distance
- ~45 to 50 km return
- Climbing
- Rolling
- Start
- Kettering ferry terminal
- Effort
Cycling Bruny Island starts with a boat. The vehicle ferry leaves from Kettering on the Channel Highway, and the crossing to Roberts Point on North Bruny takes around 15 to 20 minutes. Tickets are open-ended returns and you board in queue order, so there is no booking a set departure.
From Roberts Point, follow Bruny Island Main Road south past Great Bay to The Neck, the narrow sandy isthmus joining North and South Bruny. Climb the stairs at Truganini Lookout for the view down both coastlines, then roll back to the ferry. Call it roughly 20 to 25 km each way.
Traffic is light away from the ferry rush and the road rolls rather than climbs. Adventure Bay on South Bruny adds roughly another 10 km each way.
Surface matters here. Riders who tour the island say at least half its roads are unpaved, so stay on the main road if you are on a road bike and take wider tyres if you plan to wander.
Steamhouse Cafe
Coffee before the boat. It sits on the Channel Highway a few minutes from the ferry terminal and opens early enough to fuel up before a morning crossing. On the island, Bruny Island Cheese Company at Great Bay is on the route but does not open until 10am.
DirectionsRide notes: traffic, surface and bail-outs
- Ferry: crossings run daily but queues build on weekends and holidays, especially for the last boats home. Leave a buffer.
- Surface: main road for road bikes. Many side roads are gravel. See our gravel kit guide if you want to go off the seal.
- Water: fill up at the ferry terminal before you start. Services on the island are spread out.
- Spares: carry two tubes and a pump.
Kit for this one: spare TPU tubes, arm warmers for the crossing and a pair of sunnies.
Tasman Peninsula: Sorell to Eaglehawk Neck
Sea cliffs, oyster country and a long, exposed day on the Arthur Highway.
- Distance
- ~95 km return
- Climbing
- Rolling
- Start
- Sorell
- Effort
The Arthur Highway is the one road onto the Tasman Peninsula. It runs about 70 km from Sorell to Port Arthur, and for most riders the sensible turnaround is Eaglehawk Neck, roughly 47 km in. That gives a ride of around 95 km out and back.
Drive or ride to Sorell. The approach from Hobart over the Tasman Bridge and the causeways carries a lot of fast traffic, so most people start here. From Sorell the highway rolls through farmland to Copping, then drops to Dunalley, about 30 km in, where you cross the Denison Canal on a swing bridge.
Past Dunalley the road follows the water to Eaglehawk Neck, a strip of land barely wider than the road. Pushing on to Port Arthur makes it a 140 km day.
The Lanterns
Right on the highway at Dunalley, so it works on the way out or the way home. Public toilets are across the road. If you reach Eaglehawk Neck after 9am, cubed espresso bar at the Pirates Bay lookout is a good second stop.
DirectionsRide notes: traffic, surface and bail-outs
- Traffic: the Arthur Highway carries Port Arthur tourist traffic, caravans and trucks. Shoulders vary. Ride with a daytime rear light and avoid school holiday weekends.
- Exposure: the peninsula is open to wind from the south and east. Check the forecast and expect the return leg to be harder.
- Phone coverage can be patchy. Tell someone your plan.
- Bail-outs: Dunalley is the halfway point. Turn there for a 60 km ride.
Kit for this one: a windproof gilet, a base layer and two full bidons.
Huon Valley Loop
Over the shoulder of kunanyi, down to the Huon, home along the Channel.
- Distance
- ~130 km loop
- Climbing
- Hilly
- Start
- Hobart CBD
- Effort
The big Saturday loop for Hobart riders building fitness. Leave the city on Huon Road, climb past Fern Tree and Neika, then drop through Longley toward Huonville. Ridden the other way, the Neika side is a steady climb of about 4 km through tall ferns.
From Huonville, follow the Channel Highway south along the Huon River to Cygnet, then over the hills to Woodbridge and Kettering and up the coast through Snug, Margate, Kingston and Taroona. The Channel Highway alone is 88 km from Taroona to Huonville and never sits still: short climbs, quick descents and plenty of corners.
For a shorter day, drive to Huonville and ride the Cygnet section, or turn at Kingston Beach for a coastal out-and-back.
DS Coffee House Cafe
Huonville is the hinge of the loop, and this is the most reliable stop in town: open seven days on the main street, with pies in the cabinet when you just need calories. Refill bottles here.
DirectionsRide notes: traffic, surface and bail-outs
- Traffic: Huon Road is narrow and winding with light traffic. The Channel Highway is busier near Kingston and Margate, especially on weekend afternoons.
- Surface: sealed throughout, with some rough patches and damp, shaded corners on Huon Road.
- Water: Huonville, Cygnet, Kettering and Kingston all have shops. Little in between.
- Bail-outs: from Kingston you are a short ride from the city. Metro buses run along the Channel Highway corridor if things go wrong.
Kit for this one: Pinnacle bib shorts for the long hours, plus arm warmers you can peel off at Huonville.
kunanyi / Mount Wellington Summit
From the CBD to 1,271 m in under 18 km. Australia has few climbs like it.
- Distance
- ~35 km return
- Climbing
- ~1,160 m
- Start
- Hobart CBD
- Effort
The kunanyi / Mount Wellington climb is the reason many riders come to Hobart. Climbfinder measures the main route from the city at 17.7 km, gaining 1,162 m at an average of 6.6%, with the steepest 100 m section touching about 9.5%. The summit sits at 1,271 m.
The popular line takes Davey Street onto Huon Road, then Pillinger Drive up to Pinnacle Road. Once you are on Pinnacle Road there is about 11 km left, and the top section is narrow, exposed and often damp, with no centre line. Strickland Avenue is a popular alternative for the lower slopes.
Most riders need well over an hour to reach the top, and two hours or more at an easy pace is normal. The descent is the real hazard: tourist buses, cold hands, potholes and wet patches that never seem to dry.
Jackman & McRoss
A Battery Point bakery that opens early every day, a few minutes from the bottom of the climb. Start here, or come back down for the scallop pie. Partway up, Lost Freight at The Springs is a warm place to thaw out, but it does not open until 8:30am on weekends.
DirectionsRide notes: traffic, surface and bail-outs
- Weather: the Bureau of Meteorology summit station averages a January maximum of about 14°C and an October maximum of about 7°C. That is 8 to 10 degrees colder than the city on average, before wind chill.
- Road closures: council closes Pinnacle Road with a gate at Bracken Lane or The Springs when snow or ice makes it unsafe for vehicles. It can happen outside winter. Check the City of Hobart Pinnacle Road status page before you go.
- Surface: sealed, but the upper road is rough and often wet. Descend well inside your limits.
- Bail-outs: The Springs is the natural turnaround if the summit is in cloud or the wind is wild.
Kit for this one: a gilet, arm warmers and full-finger gloves in your pocket, even in January.
What to wear cycling in Hobart
Hobart is mild at sea level and properly cold up high. Dress for where the ride ends, not where it starts.
Warm afternoons in town, cool mornings, and a summit that averages about 14°C at best. The sun still burns in cool air, so cover up even when it does not feel hot.
- Summer jerseys for the river and Richmond rides
- A gilet in the pocket for any descent
- Our summer kit guide
Prime riding, but the day can swing ten degrees and the summit sits near freezing. Arm warmers and a base layer let you start cold and finish comfortable.
Cold, often damp, with short days. The kunanyi summit averages below freezing overnight and Pinnacle Road can close for snow or ice. Stick to lower routes and dress for wet roads.
Temperatures are Bureau of Meteorology averages for Hobart and the kunanyi summit station. Not sure what a gilet adds? We covered it in what a cycling gilet does, and why the layer under your jersey matters in our base layer guide.
Core GiletThe kunanyi descent, every season
Thermal Arm WarmersCold starts, warm finishes
Overspray Long Sleeve JerseyHobart spring and autumn
Core BaselayerFirst layer, all year
Hobart bunch rides and clubs
Want company on the climbs? These groups are active right now.
- Hobart Wheelers Dirt Devils Cycling ClubHobart's largest club: road, track, cyclocross, mountain bike and juniors. You do not have to race to join.
- Bicycle Network Tasmania social ridesFree social rides around Greater Hobart, from city loops to backroads near Richmond. Good for newer riders.
- Eudaimonia Tasmanian Cycling Tours: The Locals EditionA local tour company that lists free weekly Hobart bunch rides at different paces, including a women-only ride. Check their page for current start points.
Frequently asked questions
What are the best cycling routes in Hobart?
The core six are the Intercity Cycleway to Claremont, Hobart to Richmond over Grasstree Hill, Bruny Island from the Kettering ferry, the Tasman Peninsula from Sorell to Eaglehawk Neck, the Huon Valley loop, and the kunanyi / Mount Wellington summit climb. They run from a flat, car-free path to one of the biggest road climbs in Australia.
How long is the bike ride up Mount Wellington?
The main route from the Hobart CBD via Huon Road, Pillinger Drive and Pinnacle Road is about 17.7 km and gains roughly 1,160 m at an average of 6.6%. Most riders need well over an hour, and two hours or more at an easy pace is normal.
Do I need warm clothes to ride kunanyi in summer?
Yes. The summit averages a January maximum of about 14 degrees and can be much colder in wind or cloud, while the city may be in the mid 20s. Carry a gilet, arm warmers and gloves for the descent even on a warm day.
Can you ride a road bike on Bruny Island?
Yes. Most road riders stick to Bruny Island Main Road from the ferry to The Neck. Riders who tour the island say at least half its roads are gravel, so wider tyres help if you plan to wander. Bikes travel on the Kettering ferry, which takes about 15 to 20 minutes to cross.
What is the best time of year to cycle in Hobart?
November to March gives the longest days and the mildest weather, with Hobart averaging maximums around 19 to 22 degrees. Spring and autumn are good too if you carry layers. Winter riding is fine in the city, but kunanyi can be closed by snow or ice and the summit sits near freezing.
Cold summit, warm valley, same ride
Hobart asks more of your kit than most Australian cities. Build a layering setup that copes with a 10 degree drop between the waterfront and the top of kunanyi.
More Australian route guides
Route details checked October 2026. Roads, closures and cafe hours change. Spotted something out of date? Email us and we will fix it.