Shag Bay Track

Difficulty

• Walking: Easy
• Mountain biking: Easy

Length: 1.9km one way

Time: 45-60 minutes return walk

Parking: DeBomford Lane, Geilston Bay

Dogs: Under effective control (Please obey signage. Effective control means your dog is in close proximity, in line of sight, immediately responds to your voice command. If not, keep your dog on lead.)

This is an easy walk for families, with panoramic views of the Derwent River throughout the length of the walk.

Park at the end of DeBomford Lane in Geilston Bay Regional Park, cross the bridge over Geilston Creek and follow the track along the edge of Geilston Creek Road to where the main track begins at Sarean Court. The track is mostly flat but slightly undulating at the start with a short but fairly steep descent to Shag Bay at the end.

In the colonial era, this land was part of Thomas Gregson’s extensive landholdings which ran from Risdon Vale to Kangaroo Point. Following Gregson’s death in 1874 much of the land was sold off as smaller farms. This area was farmed well into the 20th century by the Langdon and Russell families who planted orchards here. Some of the trees on the reserve are survivors from those orchards. 

In 1890 a ‘bone mill’ was built in neighboring Shag Bay. The mill took waste such as rotten fish, butchers’ refuse, dead animals, blood and offal and turned it into tallow and manure. In 1910 the factory began processing sanitary waste from New Town, Glenorchy and Sandy Bay. This continued until 1915, when a boiler exploded, setting the whole factory ablaze and killing the manager, George Russell and his son William. 

Also of note in Shag Bay is the wreck of the Nelson, once the pride of the British Navy. Launched from the Woolwich Dockyard in 1814, the Nelson was a 126-gun ship of the line which never fired a shot in anger. In 1920, the Nelson was towed into Shag Bay where, over the next ten years, it was broken up for scrap. 

The area is rich in Aboriginal cultural sites as it was one of the shortest crossing distances over the Derwent River. The takara limuna/Sheoak Walk provides interpretation of Aboriginal history of the area, you find more information on this walk here.

The last part of the walk is located in the East Risdon State Reserve and dogs are prohibited.