Poimena Reserve provides a striking natural feature in Austins Ferry: its panoramic views extend east to the Derwent River and west to kunanyi/Mount Wellington. These two outlooks give the area a clear connection to its landscape. The reserve also offers other reasons to visit, so you can choose between taking in the views, hiking or enjoying a sporting activity when planning your visit.

Poimena Reserve: Landscape and Activities

Visitors can hike through Poimena Reserve’s varied landscape of native White Gum, Peppermint and Blue Gum trees, as well as landscaped parkland. The views to the east and west take in the Derwent River and kunanyi/Mount Wellington; while hiking, you can focus on the vegetation and parkland itself. These different perspectives make it easy to choose between a panorama and a trail through the landscape.

Poimena Reserve is also home to southern Tasmania’s only disc golf course. Disc golf is therefore a distinct reason to visit, alongside the views and hiking. As recreational facilities can change, check the course’s current status before visiting. Access to Poimena Reserve is via Wakehurst Road in Austins Ferry; also check local conditions before your visit.

Play Area and Historic Sites

At Roseneath Reserve, modern play equipment invites children to climb, swing, explore and play. The play area is fenced and gives children a designated place to play. For a visit with children, this is a different, specific option from the landscape and disc golf activities at Poimena Reserve: here, the play area itself can be the main focus. Facilities may change; check the current status of the equipment in advance.

Roseneath is a historic site that is now a public park and contains rudimentary remains of a stone bridge. A larger stone bridge, which carries the main road to Austins Ferry and beyond, was completed around 1847. The approximate date places the road bridge in its historical context; the historic site of Roseneath is defined by its status as a public park and the bridge remains.

The cultural context offers another perspective: a 2015 municipal open space strategy classifies Hestercombe Church in Austins Ferry as an open space parcel for the protection of European or Indigenous heritage. This complements the historical links to bridges with the protective function of an area and provides another way to explore Austins Ferry.

Choose Your Main Focus

The differences can be summed up simply: Poimena offers panoramic views, hiking and disc golf; Roseneath Reserve has play equipment and a fenced play area. Those interested in history will find links to bridges at Roseneath, as well as the heritage protection classification of Hestercombe Church. This lets you choose the focus of your visit based on the experiences that interest you most.

Discover more destinations: Waratah, Cradle Mountain, White Beach, Southport, Sheffield, Hagley, National Park, Ringarooma

For the main travel overview: Tasmania.