Sandy Bay Road
Location: Hobart
Access: Plenty of options.
Parking: Actual car parks Marieville Esplanade, Long Point Rd, Long Beach bbq area, and further along at Hinsby Beach Taroona)
Facilities: Marieville Esplanade, Nelson Rd (near the Queenborogh Sports Oval), Long Point Rd, Long Beach bbq area, and further along at Hinsby Beach Taroona)
Distance:
Terrain: Footpath/gravel/road (Bonnet Hill does not have proper footpaths and is not advised in traffic)
Slope: Gradual uphill on the way south, gets quite steep over the Bonnet
Map:
Details:
Sandy Bay road runs (ha) for approximately 7km from Davey St in the Hobart CBD to Cartwright Reserve (which leads up to Mt Nelson via Truganini Reserve) in Sandy Bay where it becomes Channel Highway and continues on through Taroona, over Bonnet Hill to Kingston<
While this entire stretch (over the Bonnet) can make for a great run (just be weary of cars!), it’s the 2.5km stretch from Marieville Esplanade to Lower Sandy Bay which serves as the most utilised by recreational runners and walkers alike. In summer, there is never a shortage of runners, walkers and cyclists soaking up everything that Sandy Bay has to offer.
It’s not hard to understand why this is such a popular place for runners in Hobart There is ample parking, plenty of toilets, water, shops, cafe’s, wide footpaths and on a hot day, there’s also the temptation of finishing off with a quick dip in the ocean at Lower Sandy Bay.
Even at 5:30am on a cold winter’s day you’re likely to see a few keen runners out training along Sandy Bay Rd – making it arguably Hobart’s unofficial ‘training track’ for recreational runners.
References/ more information:
https://www.bicyclenetwork.com.au/general/better-conditions/2802/
https://www.bicyclenetwork.com.au/general/better-conditions/3137/
http://www.cyclingsouth.org/index.php/component/k2/item/113-channelhwy-bonnet