What Are the Abels in Tasmania?

Tasmania has no shortage of ways to measure your commitment to its mountains. But for serious peakbaggers, one list stands above the rest: the Abels.

Named after Abel Tasman, the first European to sight Tasmania’s mountainous coastline in 1642, the Abels are a defined collection of 158 peaks that meet specific criteria for height and prominence. They range from well-known summits accessible as day hikes to remote, serious objectives deep in the South West Wilderness that require multi-day expeditions and strong off-track navigation skills. Taken together they represent a comprehensive survey of Tasmania’s genuine mountain terrain.

What Qualifies as an Abel?

The criteria were developed in the 1960s by Tasmanian bushwalker Bill Wilkinson, who wanted a clear and objective way to identify Tasmania’s authentic mountains and distinguish them from subsidiary peaks, elevated plateaus, and lesser hills.

Wilkinson settled on two conditions that must both be met:

1. Minimum elevation of 1,100 metres. This sets a meaningful threshold that excludes the majority of Tasmanian peaks while capturing those with genuine mountain character. For reference, Mount Ossa, Tasmania’s highest point, stands at 1,617 metres.
2. Minimum prominence of 150 metres. The peak must drop at least 150 metres on all sides before reaching higher ground. This eliminates false summits and satellite peaks, ensuring each Abel is a distinct and independent mountain rather than a shoulder of something higher.

Applying these criteria systematically, Wilkinson compiled a list of 158 qualifying peaks and documented them in the Abel Tables, which remain the reference resource for anyone planning Abel ascents. The full list and accompanying guides are available at The Abel Mountains website.

The Significance of the Abels

Completing all 158 Abels is one of the more serious challenges in Australian bushwalking. Many of the peaks are straightforward by Tasmanian standards, reachable on day walks from established trailheads. Others are among the most remote and demanding objectives on the continent. Federation Peak and Precipitous Bluff in the South West Wilderness require extended expeditions into terrain that sees relatively little traffic and offers no margin for poor preparation.

Philip Dawson became the first person to climb all 158 Abels in 2011. Maureen Martin was the first woman to complete the list in 2017. Both achievements involved years of effort across the full spectrum of Tasmanian mountain terrain.

For most people the goal isn’t to climb all of them. It’s to use the list as a framework for deeper exploration of Tasmania’s mountains, working through peaks progressively as fitness, experience, and ambition allow.

The Top 10 Abels by Elevation

If you’re looking for a place to start, the higher peaks are a natural entry point. Several are accessible as challenging day hikes and sit within or adjacent to established walking areas like the Overland Track corridor.

1. Mount Ossa (1,617m)
2. Legges Tor (1,575m)
3. Mount Pelion West (1,560m)
4. Barn Bluff (1,559m)
5. Cradle Mountain (1,545m)
6. Stacks Bluff (1,528m)
7. Du Cane Range High Point (1,520m+)
8. Mount Massif (1,514m)
9. King Davids Peak (1,499m)
10. Mount Gould (1,485m)

For the complete list, route notes, and planning resources, visit The Abel Mountains website. Building your hiking skills before tackling the more remote Abels is strongly recommended — some of these peaks are serious undertakings in genuinely wild terrain.