Looking for a new hiking challenge or ready to test your fitness up one of Tasmania’s stunning ascents?
An Abel is a Tasmanian mountain at 1100 m or above in height and with a minimum drop of 150 m on all sides. Bagging one, or a few, of these impressive Tasmanian mountains is a great accomplishment and with only one woman currently crowned as an Abelist, it is something exciting and well worth working towards.
So where do you begin?
There are 158 Abels, coined and compiled by Bill Wilkinson and named after the first European explorer to sight them, Abel Tasman. Some mountains are quite remote and take loads of commitment however, we have selected six of the most accessible Abels in Tasmania that can be hiked within a day and located close to city centres which will give you invaluable experience to conquer tougher climbs and multi-day hikes.
Remember though it’s never ‘easy’ to bag an Abel. You will need to be prepared, of reasonable fitness and check the forecast before attempting any of the Tasmanian mountains on the list. We recommend researching full details of routes, as well as information on starting points and terrain, before you decide which matches Abel suits your ability best.
1 Collins Bonnet
1261 m | 5 km return | Abel 78
Trail head located within a 45 minute drive from Hobart.
Why climb this Abel?
From the trail head the trail climbs from 600 m to just over 1200 m altitude.
You can return on the same track or take one of the many loop tracks which includes both Trestle Mountain and Collins Cap.
Allow 5 – 6 hours to climb Collins Bonnet Return and 8 hours if you want to cover two of the three peaks.
The excellent views across the Derwent Valley and Mount Wellington Plateau
Image credit: hailey.grayson via Instagram
2 Mount Roland
1234 m | 9 km return | Abel 92
Trail head located near the edge of Sheffield approximately an hour and a half drive from Launceston.
Why climb this Abel?
- A good day hike that is easy to follow, with a large portion of the walk across the plateau to warm up with a small creek crossing and rock scramble to finish.
- High alpine boardwalk through alpine vegetation.
- Opportunities for side and round trips across the escarpment and 360 degree vistas from summit.
Allow 4 – 6 hours return to climb Mount Roland from Gowrie Park via O’Neil’s Road.
Image credit: adnrew via Instagram
3 Mount Field East
1272 m | 4-6 hour loop/10km trail | Abel 73
Trail head located within an hour and a half from Hobart
Why climb this Abel?
- Diverse range of terrain, vegetation and flora
- New and recent boardwalk and upgrades
- Start from either Lake Fenton or Lake Nicholls car park
Image credit: madeleinetbecker via Instagram
4 Hartz Peak
1254 Elevation | 3-5hour return 8km | Abel 84
Trail head within an hour and a half from Hobart
Why climb this Abel?
- Gorgeous mountain wildflowers.
- Plenty of photo spots and picnic areas.
- Ideal for families on a good weather day.
- Side trails and track to the lakes.
- Open shelter on top for emergencies.
Image credit: genevievewhite_photographer via Instagram
5 Mount Wellington
1271 m | 2.5 to 3.5 hour circuit | Abel 75
Mount Wellington Loop hike , Organ Pipes, Zig Zag and Panorama Track
Trail head approximately 16 kms from Hobart.
Why climb this Abel?
- Accessible and proximity to Hobart.
- Significant views on a relatively flat track to begin and nothing too strenuous.
- Best views of Hobart.
Image credit:@jenswandering via Instagram
6 Cradle Mountain
1545 m elevation | 7 – 9 hours return 13km | Abel 5
Trail head located within a 2.5 hour drive from Launceston and 1.25 hours from Devonport. Allow extra for time for the shuttle bus to Dove Lake.
Why climb this able?
- Cradle Mountain is both exhilarating and astounding, exhausting and morale boosting all at the same time.
- Summiting will give you a huge sense of satisfaction and confidence to start longer and overnight hikes.
- Most photogenic places in the world.
- Alternative return track options.
- One of the Top 5 highest Abels in Tasmania.
Image credit:@andreapavela via Instagram