Sphinx Rock Circuit

Starting from The Springs picnic area on Pinnacle Road, Wellington Park, this circuit walk takes you to Sphinx Rock via the Lenah Valley Track, then loops back to the start via the Lower/Upper Sawmill and Organ Pipes tracks. Sphinx Rock offers you rewarding views of Organ Pipes, the city and Derwent River. Just make sure you don't slip and fall whilst admiring the views. After soaking in the views, you can give the Rock Cabin side trip a chance if you fancy historic stone structures. Wildflowers blanket the area from late winter to spring. Keep an eye out for closures due to snow. Also, the weather can change dramatically in a heartbeat, so be prepared. Lower/Upper Sawmill tracks are rocky and can be slippery (icy in winter, wet-muddy otherwise). Let us begin by acknowledging the Traditional Custodians of the land on which we travel today, and pay our respects to their Elders past and present.

Downloads GPX PDF

Safer Bushwalks Tips on staying safe on track
Before you start any bushwalk ensure you;
• Tell someone you trust where you are going and what to do if you are overdue
• Have adequate equipment, supplies, skills & knowledge for the whole journey
• Consider the impact of weather forecasts, park/track closures & fire dangers
• Can respond to emergencies & call for help at any point
• Are healthy and fit enough for this journey
If not, change plans and stay safe. It is okay to delay and ask people for help.

Getting There Transport options and directions

Start	(-42.9153167,147.2484354)
Mode	Car
Directions	From Davey Street, A6, South Hobart. Turn on to Davey Street, B64 then drive for 690 m At roundabout, take exit 2 onto Davey Street, B64 and drive for another 6.5 km Turn right onto Pillinger Drive, C616 and drive for another 4.2 km

Track Notes Turn by turn instructions & maps

Turn map	Directions & comments
	Start heading along Lenah Valley Track. Find the toilet at the start. This toilet is wheelchair accessible. This toilet is male, female and equipped with a hand-washing basin. After another 45 m (at the intersection of Lenah Valley Track & Fingerpost Track) continue straight, to head along Lenah Valley Track.
	The starting point of an optional sidetrip. This is the side trip that takes you to Sphinx Rock. To start this optional side trip veer right here. On returning from this side trip veer right when you get back to this intersection. Details below. After another 1.3 km turn left, to head along Lenah Valley Track.
	The starting point of an optional sidetrip. An optional side trip to Rock Cabin, a historic stone hut. To start this optional side trip continue straight here. On returning from this side trip error >360 when you get back to this intersection. Details below. After another 20 m (at the intersection of Lower Sawmill Track & Lenah Valley Track) turn left, to head along Lower Sawmill Track.
	After another 330 m (at the intersection of Pinnacle Road & Lower Sawmill Track) veer right, to head along Pinnacle Road (a road). After another 25 m (at the intersection of Upper Sawmill Track & Pinnacle Road) veer left, to head along Upper Sawmill Track (a walking track).
	After another 610 m (at the intersection of Organ Pipes Track & Upper Sawmill Track) turn left, to head along Organ Pipes Track. After another 670 m (at the intersection of Pinnacle Track & Zig Zag Track) continue straight, to head along Pinnacle Track.
	After another 1.4 km (at the intersection of Pinnacle Feeder Track & Pinnacle Track) veer left, to head along Pinnacle Feeder Track.
	After another 120 m turn right. After another 30 m veer left, to head along Radfords Track.
	After another 115 m turn left. After another 60 m pass the shelter (20 m on your right). Then pass the BBQ (15 m on your right).
	Veer right, to head along Pinnacle Road. After another 6 m pass the picnic table (25 m on your right). Turn left. Then pass the water tap (15 m on your right). About 50 m past the end is a car park. About 15 m past the end is "Lost Freight Cafe". The end.

This is the side trip that takes you to Sphinx Rock.

Turn map	Directions & comments
	Start. After another 55 m come to "Sphinx Rock". Continue another 0 m to find Sphinx Rock at the end. Turn around and retrace your steps back the 55 m to the main route.

An optional side trip to Rock Cabin, a historic stone hut.

Turn map	Directions & comments
	At the intersection of Lenah Valley Track & Lower Sawmill Track Start heading along Lenah Valley Track (a walking track). After another 9 m (at the intersection of Lenah Valley Track & Lower Sawmill Track) continue straight, to head along Lenah Valley Track.
	After another 205 m come to "Rock Cabin". The end. Turn around and retrace your steps back the 215 m to the main route.

Terrain Know the Hills, grading & facilities

Sphinx Rock Circuit

Grading

	Class 3/6 Moderate track
Length	4.7 km
Time	1 h 45 min to 2 h 45 min

Quality of track	Formed track, with some branches and other obstacles (3/6)
Gradient	Short steep hills (3/6)
Signage	Clearly signposted (2/6)
Infrastructure	Limited facilities, not all cliffs are fenced (3/6)
Experience Required	No experience required (2/6)
Weather	Weather generally has little impact on safety (2/6)

Some facilities on route

Shelter: There are 2 on route, on average they are 1.7 km apart with the largest gap of 3.6 km.

Toilet: There is one 10 m from the start.

Order of key facilities on route

Item	From Start	Name & link to notes
Toilet	10 m	[toilet]
Shelter	1.3 km + 225 m	Rock Cabin
Shelter	4.7 km	[shelter]

Weather & Alerts Check forecasts & closures
Weather Forecast
- Kunanyi/Mount Wellington Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat Sun Mon
  
  Monday 28 April
  
  Possible shower.
  
  Cloudy. Medium chance of showers. Winds west to southwesterly 15 to 20 km/h.
  
  Tuesday 29 April
  
  0°C → 4°C
  Cloudy.
  30% chance of rain
  0 → 1mm
  
  Cloudy. Medium chance of showers, most likely in the early morning. Winds west to southwesterly 15 to 20 km/h tending south to southwesterly 20 to 30 km/h early in the morning. Overnight temperatures falling to between 4 and 10 with daytime temperatures reaching between 10 and 14.
  
  Fire Danger Rating: Moderate
  
  UV Alert: Sun protection not recommended, UV Index predicted to reach 2 [Low]
  
  Wednesday 30 April
  
  -1°C → 4°C
  Cloudy.
  20% chance of rain
  
  Cloudy. Slight chance of a shower. Winds northwest to southwesterly 15 to 20 km/h tending south to southwesterly in the morning then becoming light in the late afternoon. Overnight temperatures falling to between 2 and 9 with daytime temperatures reaching between 10 and 14.
  
  Thursday 1 May
  
  -2°C → 5°C
  Partly cloudy.
  10% chance of rain
  
  Partly cloudy. Areas of morning frost. Slight chance of a shower in the far south, near zero chance elsewhere. Winds west to northwesterly 15 to 20 km/h tending west to southwesterly during the afternoon then tending west to northwesterly during the evening. Overnight temperatures falling to between 1 and 8 with daytime temperatures reaching between 10 and 15.
  
  Friday 2 May
  
  -1°C → 7°C
  Partly cloudy.
  10% chance of rain
  
  Partly cloudy. Areas of morning frost. Winds west to northwesterly 15 to 20 km/h becoming light during the afternoon then becoming north to northwesterly 15 to 20 km/h during the evening. Overnight temperatures falling to between 1 and 8 with daytime temperatures reaching between 12 and 16.
  
  Saturday 3 May
  
  1°C → 9°C
  Mostly sunny.
  10% chance of rain
  
  Mostly sunny.
  
  Sunday 4 May
  
  3°C → 11°C
  Windy. Mostly sunny.
  10% chance of rain
  
  Windy. Mostly sunny.
  
  Monday 5 May
  
  5°C → 13°C
  Shower or two. Windy.
  50% chance of rain
  0 → 2mm
  
  Shower or two. Windy.
  
  Forecast data thanks to © Australian Government Bureau of Meteorology
Alerts
- Tasmania Parks & Wildlife service
  When planning and before starting your trip please check Parks Tas closure website for anything that may impact on your plans. It is also worth checking the Parks Facebook page for more timely information.

Weather Forecast

Alerts