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Walkers on the Donaghys Hill Nature Trail, Franklin-Gordon Wild Rivers National Park
Walkers on the Donaghys Hill Nature Trail, Franklin-Gordon Wild Rivers National Park (photograph: Joe Shemesh)
60 Great Short Walks

Donaghys Hill

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  • Fuel stove only
  • Parking
  • Short walk
  • World Heritage Area

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    40 minutes return, 2.2km
    Grade 2: Suitable for most ages. The track has a hardened or compacted surface that may have a gentle hill section or sections and occasional steps.
    Supervise children, unprotected track edges. No fires allowed—this is a Fuel Stove Only Area.
    A valid parks pass is required for entry to Tasmania's national parks.
    Located on the Lyell Highway (A10) between the Franklin and Collingwood rivers.

    About

    ​​You’ll want to take your camera on this wonderful walk. Apart from being a great leg stretch for those driving the Lyell Highway between Derwent Bridge and Queenstown, this walk offers superb wilderness views. 

    The 1.1km one-way track climbs gradually through forest and scrub to a high lookout perched on rocky Donaghys Hill. From there, in clear weather, you can look down into the Franklin River valley and out to the impressive Frenchmans Cap and its neighbouring peaks. Return via the same track.


      Buy a map from TasMap
      ​​​

      ​​The Lyell Highway (A10) connects Hobart in the south-east of Tasmania with Queenstown in the west. It runs through the Franklin-Gordon Wild Rivers National Park.

      From Hobart, travel west for 2.5 hours via the Lyell Highway. From Launceston, travel south via Longford and Poatina on the Highland Lakes Road (A5) to Miena and the B11 to Bronte Park. Join the A5. King William Saddle, west of Derwent Bridge, marks the eastern boundary of the park. A further 56 km along the highway, Nelson Falls marks the western boundary, a 3 hour drive from Hobart.

      The park can also be accessed via the lower Gordon River on one of the daily cruise boats from Strahan. 

      ​The Lyell Highway may occasionally be closed by snow in winter.

      ​

      Where possible, please avoid driving in our reserves at night. You are sharing the roads with our native wildlife, so take it slow and watch out for animals on the road.

      This is a Fuel Stove Only Area. Fires are prohibited. Please see our Fuel Stove Only Areas webpage for more information.

      There are toilet and picnic facilities at the Franklin River, 9km away.

      Find out other essential information for visiting Tasmania's parks and reserves on our know before you go section.

      Walker safety - day walks

      Even for a short walk on a fine day, carry a light pack with a weatherproof jacket, warm hat, water (1 litre per person for every 3 hours of walking), some high energy food and a first aid kit that includes an emergency space blanket. At the same time, be prepared for bright sunshine—carry a sunhat, sunglasses, sunscreen. Insect repellent can also make your walk more comfortable and be sure to take a rubbish bag and carry your rubbish out with you.

      If your mobile phone has a signal take it with you. Limit use of your phone to conserve the battery. If your short walk takes you into very remote areas it would be wise to pack extra food and an emergency shelter or tent.

      For full safety information please refer to Safety in parks.