Take your conference experience further with our exclusive Technical Tours showcasing Tasmania’s rich history, diverse landscapes, and innovative recreation spaces. From walking the historic Hobart Rivulet, exploring kunanyi/Mount Wellington, and cycling the Intercity Cycleway, to visiting award-winning parks, playspaces, and sporting precincts — each tour offers unique insights into planning, conservation, and community engagement in action.
Sunday 9 November
TECH TOUR 1: Explore the History and Nature of Hobart Rivulet!
Time
10:00am to 3:00pm
Transport Type
Meet at Hamlet Café car park, 40 Molle Street, Hobart and walk from there
Cost
$35pp for Cascade Female Factory Entry & Tour.
*Delegates to pay their own cost on arrival.
Limit Numbers
No limit
Description
Join us for a fascinating guided walk along the Hobart Rivulet, where nature and history intertwine.
This 2.7 km long track is a remarkably successful example of long term planning and commitment that has seen an underutilised space become a critical community asset that links the mountain to the city.
This tour will examine the multi layered benefits of this public space including minimising flood risk to the community, well used city and school access linkages, incredible biodiversity and natural values outcomes combined with multiple recreation uses.
Learn about the boulder trap, and see the climbing wall before arriving at the Cascades Female Factory, a World Heritage-listed site rich in stories of the past. Tours on the hour of the Female Factory.
Along the way, you’ll have the unique opportunity to witness the Platypus Guardian, a remarkable presence in the rivulet’s ecosystem.
Your insightful guide for this journey is Peter Walsh, who will share knowledge and captivating stories about this historically and ecologically significant area.
The tour concludes at Cascade Brewery. Delegates can walk back or make their own way back.
An unmissable tour for history buffs, nature lovers, and curious explorers alike!
For more information regarding the Hobart Rivulet Park walking trial, please visit their site below.
Wednesday 12 November
TECH TOUR 2: Discover Hobart’s Sporting and Recreation Treasures!
Time
10:00am to 3:00pm
Transport Type
Bus
Cost
$80 + GST
Limit Numbers
Bus capacity
Description
Join us for an unforgettable bus tour through Hobart’s premier Sporting and Recreation Precincts, where you’ll see firsthand why locals and visitors alike love this vibrant city!
Starting at Kingston Park this nature-based play space for all ages and abilities has nine distinct areas of play representing the aspirations of the community and inspired by native fauna and habitats within Kingborough.
We will then make our way up to The Queens Domain – Hobart’s flagship reserve, renowned for its premier sporting facilities and expansive urban bushland. This tour explores how the City of Hobart manages the Domain as a multi-purpose precinct-balancing elite and community sport, ecological restoration, and public amenity in one of Tasmania’s most iconic open spaces.
Walk through bushland areas where the City is undertaking prescribed burning, thinning, and threatened grassland restoration. Discuss the challenges of managing threatened ecological communities alongside heavy recreational and sporting use.
Queens Domain demonstrates the complexity and innovation required to manage a major urban reserve for both sporting excellence and ecological health. It gives insights into:
- Integrating elite and grassroots sport with bushland conservation and public amenity.
- Adaptive management of fire and ecological processes in a busy, multi-use setting.
- Real-world examples of balancing diverse stakeholder needs in a capital city park.
Includes: the Regatta Ground, the Cenotaph, Doone Kennedy Aquatic Centre, Hobart Tennis Centre, the TCA, Soldiers Memorial Avenue, Legacy Park (nature play), and the Soldiers Memorial Oval, culminating in breathtaking views at the Queens Domain Summit.
We will end the tour out north at the newly completed Giblins Reserve – Regional Playspace which includes a multi-court and table tennis area by the water.
Wednesday 12 November
TECH TOUR 3: Brighton Council Sports and Parkland Tour
Time
10:00am to 3:00pm
Transport Type
Bus
Cost
$80 + GST
Limit Numbers
Bus capacity
Description
Brighton is located approximately 20 kilometres north-east of Hobart on the eastern side of the Derwent River and forms part of the urban-rural interface of Greater Hobart.
The itinerary for this technical tour will include:
- Bridgewater Parkland – This project was a result of extensive consultation and the delivery of a comprehensive masterplan. Some well-planned out play spaces, facilities and walkways. We should have stage 3 well and truly completed by Nov!
- Brighton Regional Sports Centre – This facility opened in late 2021 and is an excellent example of a multipurpose facility. We are also starting work on a Masterplan for this site, which may be in Draft format at that point in time.
- Ted Jefferies Memorial Park – A number of stages in the project should be complete by the time the conference is on. This will include the new parking area, off-lead dog park, sports grounds, clubrooms etc. The new bike skills and pump track will also be under construction at the time.
Wednesday 12 November
TECH TOUR 4: Intercity Cycleway Tour
Time
4 hours
Transport Type
Hire bike – conventional or electric (delegate choice when registering)
Cost
$80 + GST
Limit Numbers
No limit
Description
Participants will join us on a hire bike to ride the Intercity Cycleway. Starting in Sullivans Cove we will follow the river past the proposed Macquarie Point Stadium, the Shine, then follow the path north. If we are lucky we might see the river dolphins. We will stop to inspect playspaces and sports fields. The final destination is the Giblins Reserve Inclusive playspace in Prince of Wales Bay. We will then retrace our journey, returning the bikes to Sullivans Cove. We might then head into Lark Distillery for a well earned whiskey.
Wednesday 12 November
TECH TOUR 5: Explore Kununyi / Mount Wellington
Time
9:30am to 3:00pm
Transport Type
Bus
Cost
$80 + GST
Limit Numbers
27 delegates (plus 2 City of Hobart guides)
Description
Hobart is a small city in a big landscape. Join us on a journey from the sea to the mountain summit 1270m above sea level, where stunning views and alpine landscapes await!
Kunanyi / Mount Wellington is Tasmania’s most visited natural area. This tour explores governance and management issues including visitor experience, tracks and trails, heritage, partnerships with commercial operators and the community. Along the way we’ll stop at key visitor nodes including Hall Saddle, Fern Tree Park and The Springs – perfect places to take in the fresh mountain air. Enjoy short scenic walks to some of Kunanyi’s most iconic spots to experience incredible scenery and learn more about the mountain – an unforgettable way to connect with Hobart’s natural beauty.
