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Length: 11.5km
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Duration: 4hrs
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Grade: 3
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Style: Return
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Start: End of Kelly Basin Road
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End: End of Kelly Basin Road
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Location: Macquarie Harbour Historic Site
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Closest Town: Queenstown
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Distance from CBD: 303km
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State: TAS
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Latitude: -42.343074
Longitude: 145.5914
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2WD Access
4WD Access
Public Transport
Bitumen Road
Gravel Road
Steep Road
Winding Road
Speed Bumps
Vehicle Ford
Entry Fee
Large Car Park
Small Car Park
Accessible Parking
Accessible Toilet
Public Toilets
Drinking Water
Untreated Water
Picnic Shelter
Picnic Table
BBQ Facilities
Campfire Pit
Camping Area
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Concrete Path
Timber Boardwalk
Gravel Path
Sandy Trail
Rough Trail
Undefined Trail
Prams & Strollers
Manual Wheelchair
Motorised Wheelchair
Bicycle Trail
Mountain Bike Trail
Historic Rail Trail
Dog Friendly
Urban Walk
Coast & Beach
Historic Lighthouse
Waterfalls & Lakes
Rainforest Walk
Goldfields & Mining
Heritage Walk
Aboriginal Art
Alpine Region
Alpine Huts
Exposed Ledges
Rock Scrambling
Steep Terrain
Bush Bashing
River Crossings
Scenic Viewpoints
Well Marked
Drinking Water
Untreated Water
Fishing Spots
Swimming Spots
Overnight Campsites
Trail Running
Horse Riding
Kelly Basin is a 11.5km, grade 3 Return hike located in Macquarie Harbour Historic Site Tasmania. The hike should take approximately 4hrs to complete.
Summary
Walk with history down the route of the former railway line to Kelly Basin. Where once 1000 people lived, today only historic remnants of the former town of Pillinger can be seen amidst lush green mosses and tree ferns.
Highlights
Standing in East Pillinger in the very early 1900s you would have been in the midst of a bustling port town. Railway carriages loaded with timber, bricks and ore would be shunting past, the sound of shouted instructions ringing out and the smell of wood-smoke hanging thickly in the air.
Today, most of the town has been reclaimed by the forest. There are however some substantial and fascinating relics awaiting your discovery. A full history of Pillinger is available on our web site.
This area is part of the Macquarie Harbour Historic Site and within the Tasmanian Wilderness World Heritage Area.
Region
The Western Wilderness
Getting there
Final 5km of access road is four-wheel-drive only. In Queenstown, turn left at the Empire Hotel and then first right into Conlan Street. Continue along Conlan Street which will lead you out of Queenstown and onto the Mt Jukes Road. Continue on this road for about 30 minutes until the right hand turn to the Bird River walking track.
Tips
Picnic tables near the start of the track. No toilets. Full facilities in Queenstown and Strahan.
Some sections are wet and muddy underfoot.
Supervise children, weather may change quickly.
Pets, firearms or bicycles are not allowed.
Max elevation: 110 m
Min elevation: 8 m
Total climbing: 240 m
Total descent: -240 m
For more information about this hiking trail please visit Parks and Wildlife Service Tasmania
