Cape Deslacs Nature Reserve

- Friday, February 03, 2023

PUFF-O-METRE

Level 1 out of 5 - Easy

OVERVIEW

Cape Deslacs Nature Reserve is located above and to the East of Clifton Beach. It is home to a broad range of wildlife however it's best known as a breeding ground for the Short-tailed Shearwater Tasmanian Muttonbird. Their nests are dotted all over the cliffs and scrubland that overlook the Eastern side of Clifton Beach.

To access the trail, from Hobart, head down the South Arm Highway and turn down Clifton Beach Road. Take the left turn into Bicheno Street and then right into a gravel road called Cape Deslacs Track. Follow the dirt road for about 300m and there is a large gravel carpark. Just before reaching the carpark, on the left hand side, is the trail head for the original trail which is marked with a steal cable between two metal posts. The main trail is marked by a barrier gate at the carpark. Both of these entrances are in the images below.

There is a recently built viewing platform that allows great access to see the Muttonbirds' homes while giving you a breathtakingly beautiful view of Clifton Beach from above. To access this platform and then later access to the beach, you can take two different paths. The first being the original trail that is longer and not maintained other than by those that walk it. This trail gives you some stunning cliff views of the North-Eastern side of Cape Deslacs and then brings you down to the viewing platform over Clifton Beach. The other (main) trail is a newly built road that is more direct and certainly makes for easier access. Both of these trails meet near the Muttonbird platform and then there is a single trail down to Clifton Beach.

The main trail is made up of well maintained gravel that is smooth enough for all walking abilities. There is a barrier at the start otherwise it could be considered wheelchair and pram friendly. The other (original) trail is more natural, narrow and built in a mixture of dirt, gravel and sand. This trail has better views but is more challenging. From the point that both trails meet, the single pathway to Clifton Beach is a combination of gravel and sand.