Visitors to Kunanyi/Mt Wellington should pay, report finds

The report recommends that walkers not be charged, but private vehicles and shuttle buses pay for access. (ABC Open contributor Carmel Boyd)

The body that manages Hobart's Kunanyi/Mount Wellington could be making more than $8 million per year in revenue if it introduces a charge for cars and shuttle buses, a tourism consultancy says.

The report notes an entrance fee would likely dis-incentivise tourism, which it describes as a "deliberate and positive outcome".

The Wellington Park Management Trust Board says it is considering the report and will wait for the final action plan from the Tasmanian government before moving forward.

A tourism consultancy firm has recommended visitors to Hobart's Kunanyi/Mt Wellington be charged for access, in a bid to raise more funds for park maintenance.

Documents obtained by the Tasmanian Greens and seen by the ABC reveal the report delivered to the Wellington Park Management Trust Board said charging people who visit would likely dis-incentivise visitors and "help the natural environment".

The report says the park's "current funding model has remained largely unchanged for decades and is not sufficient to meet current or forecast levels of demand". (ABC News: Luke Bowden)

A business case from March 2026 said that by introducing vehicle fees, shuttle and commercial licences, a potential $8.6 million in revenue could be generated.

"The Park relies heavily on local government funding, particularly Hobart City Council to maintain roads, manage safety risks, respond to snow and bushfire events, and protect sensitive natural and water catchment values," the report, by Evolve Tourism, said.

The report forecasts a drop in visitation, which could happen because of a reluctance of people to pay for access. (Facebook: kunanyi/Mt Wellington Explorer Bus)

The report recommended an "automated licence plate recognition system" to be installed "just uphill of the Pinnacle Track Rd and Pinnacle Rd junction gate, above The Springs".

"Research indicated that adopting a user pays model could reduce visitation by 183,000 or 29 per cent [fewer] people per annum," the report said.

"This will reduce congestion, improve safety and relieve pressure on the natural environment.

"This reduction in demand is a deliberate and positive outcome, acknowledging that pricing is a supportive mechanism for managing visitor load at key sites, aligned with the Park's capacity to safely accommodate visitors."

Evolve Tourism, the author of the report, lists the recently unveiled Cadbury Chocolate Experience alongside other projects it has been invol