South Hobart MTB - Cascades

South Hobart MTB Trails South Hobart is one of the main gateways into the extensive mountain bike network on the lower slopes of kunanyi / Mount Wellington, with a mixture of purpose-built singletrack, technical descents, climbing trails and connecting fire roads beginning only minutes from Hobart’s CBD. Rather than one defined bike park, South Hobart forms part of a much larger interconnected riding area stretching across the mountain foothills. The City of Hobart maintains almost 60 km of MTB and shared-use tracks across its reserves, with South Hobart one of the primary access points. A key riding area is Cascades Track and the surrounding Cascades network. Riders can link sanctioned trails and fire roads into everything from short after-work laps to substantial mountain rides. The terrain is classic Hobart: rocky natural singletrack, roots, forest, technical features and sustained descending, with plenty of climbing required if you’re earning your turns rather than shuttling. Nearby McRobies Gully adds some of the area’s best-known sanctioned riding. Jurassic Shark is a moderate, open and flowing trail connecting into Slides, a fun descent through fern-filled gullies. More experienced riders can tackle Tip Top, a difficult downhill-preferred trail featuring a narrow twisting line and two steep paved rock chutes. Together, Jurassic Shark, Slides and Tip Top can be combined with the surrounding fire roads into an excellent technical South Hobart loop. South Hobart is also an excellent finishing point for a top-to-bottom kunanyi ride. Starting at The Springs Wellington Park, around 720 m above sea level, riders can descend a combination of sanctioned MTB trails and connecting fire roads towards South Hobart, losing roughly 550 m of elevation along the way. For riders wanting an even bigger adventure, the wider mountain network includes connections towards Junction Cabin, the famous North-South Track and ultimately Glenorchy. One thing to be aware of is that the wider South Hobart/Cascades area contains a mixture of sanctioned and unsanctioned trails. Official City of Hobart MTB trails are signed at their entrances, while many informal trails are unsigned. Within Wellington Park, bikes must remain on tracks where cycling is permitted, and riders can be fined for using walking-only trails. RTS Tip: For a first visit, start from Old Farm Road and explore the sanctioned Jurassic Shark, Slides and Tip Top network, choosing Tip Top only if you’re comfortable with difficult technical riding and steep rock chutes. If you want the bigger Hobart experience, organise a lift or shuttle to The Springs and descend back towards South Hobart. Download the current official trail map before setting out and stick to signed, bike-permitted trails — this part of Hobart has a maze of tracks, and not everything visible on the ground is sanctioned for MTB use.