Alum Cliffs Kingston To Taroona Shot Tower

by Elizabeth Osborne

The popular Alum Cliffs Track follows the coastline from Kingston to Taroona, with panoramic vistas. Kingston is a fifteen minute drive from Hobart.

We parked in Balmoral Street, near the pedestrian bridge over Browns River, to walk to the Shot Tower at Taroona, an eight kilometre round trip. The track starts at Tyndall Beach (the dog walking beach). The start of the track, at the base of the cliffs, is clearly marked. The walk is classified as moderately difficult. Walkers are advised to not approach cliff edges and closely supervise children. Some of the cliffs are up to thirty metres above sea level.

The beginning of the Alum Cliffs Track is a steady climb through coastal blue gum forest and tall silver banksia. The undulating path winds through dry bushland with slender peppermint gums, passing into picturesque fern filled gullies. Several headlands have seats at lookout points that afford sweeping views across Storm Bay and the Derwent Estuary, including Bruny Island.

The final stage of the walk to the Shot Tower is via a steep gully. There are approximately five hundred steps that descend then ascend to the historic sandstone tower. Built in the 1870s, the Shot Tower is 58 metres high. An internal circular staircase of 259 steps takes visitors to the top of the tower where 360- degree views reward the climb. However, we chose to relax in the garden below the heritage tower, under a shady oak tree.

We returned to Kingston on the same track, enjoying the opportunity to see the spectacular views from a different perspective.

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