City-edge bushland with wide Derwent views at Rosny Hill

Overview

Rosny Hill Nature Recreation Area is a compact 21.4 hectare reserve in the suburb of Rosny, on the eastern shore of the Derwent River in Greater Hobart. What makes it stand out is the contrast between its setting and its character. It sits within an urban area, yet still holds remnant native vegetation, open hilltop ground and a strong sense of elevation above the river and surrounding suburbs.

The hill is one of those places that helps you get your bearings around Hobart. From here, the outlook takes in the Derwent and its estuary, the Tasman Bridge, Hobart’s western shore, kunanyi / Mount Wellington and its foothills, with the Meehan Range and the South Arm Peninsula also visible from different points.

Highlights

The big drawcard here is the hilltop outlook. Rosny Hill has long been valued as a lookout, and the sweep of the view is unusually broad for a reserve so close to the city. Looking west and north-west, you can see across the Derwent to central Hobart, the Royal Tasmanian Botanical Gardens and Government House, while other angles open up towards Kangaroo Bay, Bruny Island, the Meehan Range and the lower river.

There is also a distinct scenic character to the hill itself. Rosny Hill rises as a prominent landform above the eastern shore, with dry lowland slopes, shallow stony soils and Jurassic dolerite beneath the surface. That mix of open crest, woodland edges and surrounding water views gives the reserve a more exposed, open feel than many larger bush reserves nearby.

Best Time to Visit

Rosny works well year-round because its appeal is tied so strongly to the outlook and the open character of the hill. Clear days are best if you want the full spread of river, city and mountain views.

Late spring into early summer can be especially rewarding for anyone interested in native flora, when some of the reserve’s orchids and other threatened plants are most likely to be noticed. In Tasmania, the leafy sun-orchid is surveyed from early October to late December, with flowering most likely on hot, sunny days.

Plants and Animals

For a relatively small urban reserve, Rosny Hill carries important natural value. It protects remnant native vegetation communities and provides habitat for threatened flora and fauna species, which is a big part of why the reserve matters. The vegetation sits as a small island of bushland within the built-up eastern shore.

The plant life is particularly notable. Threatened species recorded here include the leafy sun-orchid, grassland flax lily, spear grass, tall wallaby grass, shade peppercress and narrow-leaf New Holland daisy. The leafy sun-orchid is especially significant at Rosny Hill, where the hilltop supports the largest known subpopulation in a gazetted reserve in Tasmania.