Mt Hobbs
2-10 Mins
Dolerite
Introduction
Mt Hobbs is a dolerite mountain north of Buckland.
The bouldering area is formed by the dolerite columns of Mt Hobbs falling down the southern side providing slabs, vertical and overhanging faces on the one outcrop, literally something for everyone. The boulders range in size from low balls to massive highballs that will require special trousers, with everything in between.
The potential looks enormous but it’s hard to know without trying a range of the available boulders, so get a brush and a shovel/spade to clean the toupee of ferns off the top out holds and put your name to something!
The boulders are featured on almost all faces and the dolerite texture is like coarse sandstone and the landings are generally, surprisingly good.
So far exploration has covered a 300m x 300m area that looks to have 50+ boulders and some sport routes.
A track to Reality Rift boulder leading from the carpark area has now disappeared. There is no sign of it except a hard-to-see faded pink tape above the road at the start. A cairn by the roadside was built in Oct.2025. Head straight up the hill for 5 minutes to the first boulders.
Note: If you find loose rock or dirty holds on a problem use your judgement and make it safe and give it a clean.
History
Jon Nermut and Dave Humphries had a look at the dolerite for sport climbing in 2014 but then moved their attention to Kempton. During that trip a couple of freestanding boulders on the western side of the road were noticed. But the area eventually developed is up a steep hill to the east.
Dave went back in 2018 to explore the bouldering potential and found a lot of likely problems within a couple of hundred metres of the road on the eastern side, some visible from the road at that time. However, due to growth of the bush these are barely visible (2025), if at all from the road.
Access
The most straightforward method is to drive to Buckland, about 60km NE of Hobart on the A3, then turn left on the C318 (Buckland Rd).
Keep on the C318 (Buckland Rd) after it turns to dirt.
At 17.5km from Buckland there is a large cross road with no markings or signs, turn left towards Mt Hobbs. Drive along this road for 5km. At 5km the road forks, take the right fork up the hill for 300m and look for a roadside cairn (2025).
In 2025 there was no sign of the original pink tapes (except a faded one at the start) which led to Reality Rift boulder (about 5 minutes walk) or the double taped markers which were on the R to The Golden Greek and Emasculator boulders.
The journey takes a little over 75 minutes(84km) from Hobart.
GPS
Vitamin D area
Follow the pink track to Reality Rift boulder. Then head up hill for about 50m.
Start both hands on low rail.
Start with both hands on the low rail and finish through the roof.
Dave Humphries Oct 2018
Starts under the overhang with both hands on the incut flaky jug then climbs the roof directly to the jug on Vitamin D. Finish as for Vitamin D.
Dave Humphries Oct 2018
Shady Boulder
Shady boulder is about 20m behind Reality Rift Boulder.
Start on the big jug then head left.
Start on the double-handed side-pull, surprisingly burly.
Reality Rift Boulder
Follow the track up from the car park.
Start on crimps and crimpy side pull.
Start on low jugs and follow the diagonal line left.
Mike Hitchcock Dec 2018
Great line and climbing!
Mike Hitchcock Dec 2018
Start on jugs and follow the crack to the top.
Dave Nov2018
Start on pinch, cross Crack On and finish up wall.
Start on rail with feet in hollow. Bust up to crack junction, without using the crack.
Joe Schwarz, 2021
Same start as Hupfen but instead of going straight up jump left to jugs in the large crack.
Joe Schwarz, 2021
Start on jugs in bottom of crack. Follow cracks to the top. A nicer start is on the rail of problem 8.
Start from the crack directly below the high incut, gain the high incut then the top.
Dave Humphries Apr 2019
Start on jugs at bottom then straight up.
Dave Nov 2018
Predator Boulder
Predator Boulder is 20m East of Reality Rift Boulder.
Start on low jug. Jugs almost all the way!
Start on low jug with feet under. Great problem.
Dave Humphries Apr 2019
Start on the lowest slopey ramp. Better if you don’t use the crack at the top.
Head for the huge lip jug.
Dave Humphries Apr 2019
Nice if you like that sort of thing. Start on the low jug and huck to the lip jug.
Start on the stack o' flakes jug, roll out right.
Dave Humphries Apr 2019
The Golden Greek Boulder
The Golden Greek boulder is about 20m along the double taped track that branches from the Reality Rift track. It is the lower of the two boulders visible from the carpark.
Climb the saw-tooth slab. Top needs a little more cleaning.
Spiros Arion level moves, great steep jug hauling.
Dave Humphries Apr 2019
This boulder is directly below The Golden Greek. Climb up on good holds.
G. Nermut, April 2019.
The Emasculator
This area is below Reality Rift boulder. Follow the track back to the double taped markers then under the Golden Greek boulder to The Emasculator. This area has a range of walls and overhangs, the biggest of which is The Emasculator.
Currently no problems have been done in this area.
Elementary Boulder
The Elementary boulder is downhill from Reality Rift and is a moderate sized boulder with some entertaining problems and good landings.
The unmarked track heads down the hill from the eastern end of the Reality Rift boulder. Head down and around the lower fallen column with a big overhang on its southern side. The Elementary boulder is down and right of this boulder.
Follow the arete to the top.
Follow the crack to the top.
Start with side pulls and big foot.
1m Right of Easy as.
Right of Void
Start on side pulls and pop to crimp.
Start on left of shallow dihedral.
Start on right of shallow dihedral
Start on opposing side pulls with poor feet.
Start on the big undercling.
Start on the slopey rail.