LATEST NEWS: The Meehan Range is getting a makeover from Dirt Art, the crew who built Maydena Bike Park! With a bunch of new trails, a cafe, hire bikes and an uplift service, it’s going to be exciting! 

Just a short hop over the Tasman Bridge from Hobart, the Meehan Range is a favourite for local shredders and visitors who have a day spare and don’t fancy travelling too far to ride. The trails are all public – totally free to ride, with free parking at the Mornington side and also at the quieter Cambridge end (Belbins Road).

Plenty of options for all skill levels (map via Trailforks).

There is a good mix of cross country, downhill, climbing and jump trails – although the condition can vary greatly as trail maintenance is patchy. Don’t turn up expecting wide, smooth, machine cut and well groomed trails here. It’s pretty raw, which for many is part of the appeal. Signs are also lacking in places so download TrailForks to guide you!

If it’s your first time, I’d recommend parking at the Mornington side and exploring from there. Out of the car park, swing onto the New Friends Track for a short warm-up. This one takes you up a few easy switchbacks followed by a gentle singletrack descent into the centre of the park, where there are a multitude of trail options.

Busting a quick wheelie along New Friends Track!

From here, ride up the switchbacks of the XC Loop climbing trail and then keep climbing up K’s Climb. K’s is currently a two-way trail, so be alert to riders bombing it back down! This is going to change as Dirt Art are planning a second trail alongside to set up a one-way system.

Turn left at the top of K’s, then left again along Clifftop. Here you will find the absolute best view of Hobart. Only mountain bikers and hardcore walkers will ever see the city from this perspective. On a clear day it is magical.

Take a photo for Instagram, have a snack and carry on.

It’s left again at the end of Clifftop and along the Ridgeline, then a sneaky right before being spat out at a junction. It’s downhill from here with a sharp right onto Stringy Bark Creek Descent. This flows nicely back onto the fire road and links to Fun Time (one of my favourite trails) ending in the Belbins Road car park.

A sharp climb out of the car park back to the base of K’s Climb will test your legs, it’s steep, rocky and did I mention steep? At the top you’ve got two choices – back up K’s Climb for some more exploring or shoot down XC Lower back to the Mornington trail head and the car park.

That should give you a great taste of the Meehan, but there are plenty of other trails if you have more time, including the entire Meehan Monster route. It’s all forest away from the trail head so it can be easy to get little lost. Once immersed in the trails it’s hard to believe the city is only a couple of kilometres away. Happy shredding!

Tempo’s Top Tips

– Go early, the car park gets busy on the weekend
– Come prepared with ALL your food, water and spares
– Watch out for snakes in the summer!