The best walks and hikes in Gordons Hill Nature Recreation Area

This is a nice little green space with a dirt walking trail along the coast. The trail takes a shady route back to the beach at Cornelian Bay from a bench overlooking the ocean here at its eastern end.

A paved path along the coast takes you past the park and playground as you parallel the beach. You get a great view south across the water to Tasman Bridge as you walk.

Derwent River is a large estuary flowing from inland Tasmania into Storm Bay, forming the main waterway through Hobart. The river is tidal in its lower sections, with a mix of freshwater and seawater shaping its flow and conditions. It’s used for shipping, recreation, and transport, with wide stretches of open water and long sightlines across to the surrounding shoreline.

Queens Domain is a large reserve set on a ridge above the Derwent River, directly opposite the city centre. The area has been protected as public land since 1811, making it one of Hobart’s oldest reserves. It includes a network of bush tracks through dry eucalypt forest, along with open spaces and landmarks such as the Hobart Cenotaph. Elevated sections provide views across the river, the city, and toward kunanyi / Mount Wellington.

Maxs Infinity Loop is a 2 kilometre multi-use track encircling the summit through bushland. The loop features a dual-surface design, with one side laid in soft-fall bark for runners and walkers, and the other sealed for cyclists and prams. Distance markers run along the track, which can be accessed from points like Crossroads and Grassland Gully. The loop is named after Maxwell George Cherry OAM, a Hobart-based athletics coach, and was previously known as the Domain Joggers Loop before being upgraded in 2019.

Running along the Derwent River in Hobart, the Intercity Cycleway is a shared path linking the city with northern suburbs. The route follows a mostly flat, sealed surface with long stretches beside the river and sections set slightly inland. It’s used by cyclists, walkers, and runners, with open views across the water in parts and more enclosed sections through urban corridors.

Tasman Bridge is the city’s main link between the eastern and western shores. Opened in 1965, the bridge includes pedestrian walkways on both sides running directly beside traffic lanes. Walking across feels exposed and noisy, but the elevation gives wide views over the river, Hobart skyline, and surrounding hills. The bridge is also closely tied to Hobart’s history following the 1975 Tasman Bridge disaster, when a cargo ship collision caused part of the bridge to collapse and temporarily split the city in two.

Named after the famed Dutch explorer who was the first European to reach these shores, this found was unveiled in 1988 by Queen Beatrix of the Netherlands. It stands 14 metres tall and contains elemental representations of earth, air, fire, and water.