17/06/2026
Where are all the cable car haters who lied about wanting the mountain to be free?
The Wellington Park Management Trust is considering charging visitors to drive up kunanyi/Mount Wellington under a new funding model that could raise up to $8.6 million a year.
Consultants have recommended vehicle access fees, an optional shuttle and commercial licences for the park, which draws 583,000 visitors annually while relying largely on Hobart and Glenorchy council funding.
Trust general manager Amy Russell said the current model was “not sustainable”, with revenue needed for safety, amenities, traffic, toilets, boardwalks and signage.
Walkers, runners and cyclists would keep free access, but any vehicle fee must apply equally to Tasmanians and interstate visitors. The trust awaits the state government’s Our Mountains Future review before finalising its position.
