Hobart - Tahune Airwalk (One Way, One Day - 91kms)

Ride Description

This is an enjoyable, but fairly hard ride starting in Hobart and heading down to the Tahune Airwalk. The route I choose was to follow the Huon road up to Ferntree, Neika and back down to Longley, thereby missing the busy Southern Outlet and Huon Highway. I continued on the back roads to Vince's Saddle, before following the main highway, though Huonville (late Brekkie stop) and on to Geeveston for a coffee stop before the final 30kms to the Airwalk.

An excellent trip if you're meeting friends at the Airwalk - I left Sandy Bay just before 7am, and at a fairly cruisy pace, including stops for breakfast and coffee still managed to make it to the Airwalk by lunch time. I choose to continue on back to Cygnet for the night, making a total ride of 162kms, and I think it is entirely possible that you could return to Hobart in a day if you are very fit. However if considering this option, I would recommend a weekend trip to have more time to soak up the places around you.

The scenery is magnificent with the climb along the side of Mt Wellington, some amazing gardens and houses, I passed rowers out for their morning paddle near Franklin (which is a treasure trove in itself) and finally a beautiful ride through the working forests past Geeveston.

The entire route is on bitumen roads. The Airwalk costs are: Adults - $11.00; children - $7.00 (5-16 years old); family $30.00 (two adults and all children). There's free BBQs, lots of picnic sites, and a café at the Airwalk. From memory there's no public phone, and no mobile phone coverage (including no CDMA coverage) past Geeveston. Go to www.forestrytas.com.au for more information about the airwalk.

Getting There

Start anywhere in Hobart.

Distance and Ride Time

The total distance was 91kms. It took me 3hrs 50mins of riding time, and approximately five hours elapsed time, including breakfast in Huonville, coffee and snacks in Geeveston and a rest break at the Arve River Picnic Area.

I rode a Trek 500 touring bike with road tyres and had no problems.

Difficulty

There are four major climbs along the way. The last of which has some particularly steep pinches. Given the distance, I would say this ride is for the moderate to very fit cyclist only. Others could do part of this route (eg. Cycle to Franklin and meet friends there).

Maps

You don't really need maps for this ride as it's fairly well sign-posted the whole way. If you have no idea where you're going then pick up a Tourist Map of Tasmania or the Huon area.

If you want to do some side routes, then pick up the 1:100,000 series covering the Derwent and Huon, but be warned that these maps are pretty out of date when it comes to Forestry Roads.

Route Milestones

KM	Description
Start	From Hobart, head towards the Southern Outlet (Kingston / Mt Wellington) along Davey Street, but instead of heading left towards Kingston, continue through the lights and on up to Fern tree and Mt Wellington. I started near Woolworths in Sandy Bay.These roads are fairly quiet in the morning, but get busier during the day. Proceed past the turn off to Strickland Avenue, and past the turn off to Mt Wellington. That's a ride for another day.
	Fern Tree. There's a small shop, public toilet and a pub here. Continue straight ahead along the B64 towards Neika and Longley.
12.8km	Near Neika. Climb number one, is under your belt, tighten up your helmet and get ready for the downhill …
19.2km	Longley. A pub here, and a small park. Turn right at T Junction. Left takes you out onto the Huon Highway which we're trying to avoid due to heavy traffic. Be ready for a steady climb up to Vince's Saddle. Beautiful area, so take the time to appreciate it.
25.0km	Vince's Saddle. Climb number two is under your belt already. Turn left onto Huon Highway (A6). It's busy from here as you soar down to Grove, and the cycle along the straight to Huonville. There's a good shoulder most of the way.
39.7km	Huonville. Bakeries, Shops, Toilets. From here to Geeveston (22km) it's mostly flat, undulating riding alongside the Huon River.
46.7km	Franklin. A beautiful little town, fast going the way of Strahan with lots of café's, eateries and a good feel to it.
61.7km	Geeveston - last chance to refuel and restock for the coming road out to the Airwalk. Be prepared for a determined climb for the next few kilometres.
69.0km	Approx distance only. You'll come to a well signed turnoff - go left. Ipod battery ran flat - be warned!!!
70.6km	Top of climb number three - only one more to go.
75.0km	Arve Picnic Area. Toilets. I filled up water flasks here from creek. Undulating ride for next 5 or 6kms. There's a turn off to the left a km or two past this picnic area heading up to Hartz Peak.
80.7km	Edwards Road Turnoff. Be prepared for a very steep climb. There's a lookout a km or two up that is a good place for a breather.
84.1km	It's all downhill from here …
90.0km	Ignore turn off to left. Just keep following the bitumen road.
90.6km	Turn left. You can't miss this turnoff.
91.0km	Airwalk - Cappuccino time!

Route Profile

Alternate Routes

There's so many alternatives to my route. Here are some options to get help with planning.

Strickland Avenue

Instead of heading straight up Huon Road to Fern Tree, those wishing a less trafficked route, can head up through South Hobart, past the Cascade Brewery and on up Strickland Avenue, rejoining the Huon Highway about 2 or 3kms before Fern Tree.

This is a slightly more scenic route, but also slightly longer.

Taroona - Margate - Sandfly

You could also head out along Taroona to Kingston, down to Margate and then along the C622 to Sandfly. Another longer route (or alternate return option) which misses the climb up to Fern Tree. Just cross the Huon Highway at Sandfly and join the route at kilometre 25 (Longley).

The Judbury Option

For those wishing an alternate route into or out of the Airwalk, or wish to minimise time on the Huon Highway, you could turn off half way along Grove Straight on the well signed C619 to Ranelagh (look for the Home Hill Winery signs),. At Ranelagh, turn right out to Judbury, and from there following the signs out to the Trout Fishery, turning off before hand onto the Weld Road, past the Southwood Site, across the Huon River, and then either Following Lidgerwood road out to kilometre 69 of the main route, or if you have good maps (I'm pretty sure) you can cut across to Edwards Road and follow the back roads into the Airwalk perhaps skipping the steepest climb.

I did notice that there is a sign just before the Airwalk pointing to the Trout Fishery, along Edwards Road indicating that this should be an option. I just haven't travelled it myself in the last 10 years so can't vouch for it. You would want to check with the Geeveston Forestry Option before doing this route to check that the area isn't under active timber extraction.

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