Halls Saddle Mountain Gateway Precinct Proposal

Hobart needs a high quality and easily accessible 'front door' for people wishing to explore Kunanyi/Mt Wellington's forests, walking tracks and mountain bike trails.

The mountain is our most visited natural asset. It attracts over 500 000 local, interstate and international visitors each year. This is predicted to reach 700 000 by 2028.

Pinnacle Road carries over 2000 vehicles a day peak-load with a weekday average of 960. On weekends and public holidays it carries on average more than 1500 vehicles a day. This includes light vehicles, mini-buses, Winnebagos and heavy coaches.

There are just 280 car park places within Wellington Park, and there are limited expansion opportunities

Already at peak times visitor numbers exceed parking and road capacity.

In September 2019 the Hobart City Council endorsed the investigation of an alternative 'Visitor Access' site. This site is located at Halls Saddle, which is outside of Wellington Park. The aim was to establish its potential role as the primary road-based gateway entrance facility for servicing visitor access to the mountain.

In June 2020, Council endorsed the Kunanyi / Mt Wellington Halls Saddle Visitor Hub Feasibility Study. It is to be used as a basis for further development of the proposal for Halls Saddle.

Halls Saddle, a former quarry site.

Where is Halls Saddle?

Halls Saddle is owned by the City of Hobart. It is a former quarry it sits just outside the Wellington Park boundary, within the Ridgeway Reserve.

Access to the site is from the intersection of Chimney Pot Hill Road and Huon Road. The site features cleared areas comprising three tiered levels of flat ground.

It has exclusive views of the Kunanyi / Mt Mountain emerging from the trees at the higher points of the site. These reveal the beauty and vastness of Kunanyi, and are stunning in all weathers.

Halls Saddle has been identified as a place where additional parking could occur, with the remaining journey travelled by bus.

What is the Halls Saddle Mountain Gateway Precinct Proposal?

In 2024, the City applied for $3.5 million through the Australian Government’s Urban Precincts and Partnerships Program (uPPP). On 17 November 2025, the City was awarded $3.2 million to develop a development‑ready plan for the Halls Saddle Precinct.

This transformative project will enhance the Springs and Summit areas of Kunanyi / Mt Wellington by:

• improving transport
• visitor services
• recreation opportunities
• attractions across the mountain.

The Halls Saddle Precinct as been long identified as a priority by the City. The precinct will integrate tourism, recreation, and essential infrastructure. Its aim is to elevate visitor experience, accessibility, and safety. Central to the concept is a state‑of‑the‑art Visitor Centre and transport hub at Halls Saddle, creating a gateway to the mountain. It will showcase cultural, environmental and recreational experiences, and offer diverse experiences for visitors.

A key component of this work will be extensive community engagement. The project will foster partnerships with:

• government agencies
• the Tasmanian Aboriginal community
• local residents
• businesses.

The aim is to help realise the mountain‑wide vision emerging from the Tasmanian Government’s strategic review of Kunanyi / Mt Wellington.

The development‑ready plan will include construction‑level documentation, engineering drawings, cost estimates, and planning approvals to support future investment and implementation.

The planning and design phase will take approximately 18 months. This allows for comprehensive community engagement, robust planning processes, and detailed design work.

What are the benefits of this proposal?

• Improve the overall visitor experience for all.
• Give visitors the chance to fully explore the mountain and its foothills from a dedicated visitor gateway.
• Improve access and safety concerns.
• Economic flow on effects for neighbouring municipalities.
• Significant health and developmental benefits of nature based recreation.
• Provide greater opportunities in the future for the local community and visitors to be enriched by nature.

Gallery

Location

Chimney Pot Hill Road, Ridgeway 7054  View Map