Words and pictures: Elizabeth Osborne

Waterworks Reserve in South Hobart has walks through forest, woodlands and parklands, beautiful views and is the habitat of a wide variety of birds.

We parked at the entrance gates to the reserve, then crossed the walkway on the southern edge of the Lower Reservoir to reach the Lower Reservoir Loop Track. A flock of gulls perched on a boom near the sluice gates, ducks swam across the water, swallows swept overhead and native hens ran across the grass.

The Lower Reservoir Track winds around the edges of the reservoir, to the Upper Reservoir Track. Both tracks are well formed, passing through woodland with an understory of ferns, lichens and mosses.

Sandy Bay Rivulet flows beside the track, then the track winds uphill, through a shady gully, to join Gentle Annie Falls Track. Two memorial seats on the hill climb offer rest and reflection.

Ants were out and about on the sunny Pipeline Track, as were echidnas hunting for an ant meal.

We turned off the Pipeline Track at McDermotts Saddle, onto McDermotts Fire Trail. After walking downhill for ten minutes, we turned right onto a narrow track that wound uphill to Sixpence Cave. Nature has sculpted the cave’s sandstone into waves of colour. A stone firepit at Sixpence Cave is used by Parks and Wildlife for children’s school holiday activities.

We retraced our steps to return Waterworks Reserve, the tranquility of the bush within a short distance from the Hobart CBD.