Dry eucalypt slopes above the Derwent at Risdon Vale

Overview

Risdon Vale sits on Hobart’s eastern side in Clarence, close to the River Derwent and only a short distance from the city centre. For walkers, the area is best understood as a meeting point between suburb and bush, where dry hillsides, gullies and creek corridors hold onto a surprisingly intact patch of native country.

The standout reserved bushland here is East Risdon State Reserve, a relatively small reserve of about 88 hectares on the river side of Risdon Vale. Despite its size, it protects an important stretch of native vegetation on Hobart’s urban fringe and gives the area much of its distinct natural character.

Highlights

The landscape around Risdon Vale is defined by dry, open eucalypt country dropping towards the Derwent. Shag Bay adds a sheltered inlet and a strong sense of the river, while the reserve’s slopes and ridgelines create broad views across the water and back towards the surrounding hills.

What makes this area memorable is the contrast between rocky, scrubby bushland and the estuarine edge. It feels close to the suburbs, but the landform still has a rough, exposed quality that is very typical of the drier side of greater Hobart.

Best Time to Visit

Autumn and spring are usually the most comfortable times to be out around Risdon Vale, when the weather is milder and the dry bushland is at its most pleasant for walking. Winter can also be a good season for clear air and softer light over the Derwent.

Summer has its own appeal, especially for the stark colours of the grasslands, scrub and river, though the exposed slopes can feel hot and harsh in the middle of the day.

Plants and Animals

Risdon Vale is especially significant for its native vegetation. East Risdon State Reserve supports threatened plant communities including Eucalyptus risdonii forest and woodland, as well as inland forest and woodland dominated by black peppermint on younger deposits. The reserve is also important for several Tasmanian endemic plants, including Morrisby’s gum, Risdon peppermint, moleskin dogwood and Hooker’s daisy bush.

One of the reserve’s most notable plants is heath dustymiller, which survives in Tasmania at a single extant subpopulation within East Risdon. Much of this vegetation sits on the dry western and north-western slopes above the Derwent, helping explain why the bush here feels so different from the wetter forests found elsewhere around Hobart.