Activities
Rock climbing & bouldering near Tower Hill
Climbers know Tower Hill for a small boulder field on a rise below East Tower, listed on the climbing guide theCrag. Camp with us and you have a base nearby for a weekend on the rock. Not on our property: climb at your own risk.
Bouldering on Tower Hill, above the farm
Please read first: The bouldering at Tower Hill is not on our property. It's on nearby land, so climbing is at your own risk, and Primal Pastures doesn't supervise, insure or take responsibility for it. Follow any access rules for that land and climb within your limits.
Our tracks don't lead to the boulders, and we don't own, manage or control that land, so we can't confirm access arrangements. Before you go, check current access and any conditions with the land manager and in a current climbing guide. Bouldering carries obvious risks, including falls and serious injury, and conditions on Tower Hill can change quickly. We don't provide or arrange climbing gear, instruction, supervision, insurance or route information, and grades and descriptions come from third-party guides, not from us. This notice applies to the climbing only and doesn't affect your rights under the Australian Consumer Law for your stay with us.
What you can do
- Climb a compact boulder field. theCrag lists around 10 large free-standing boulders with about 78 problems, from short to tall and slab to steep.
- Check the grades. theCrag lists problems graded from VB to V11. Grades are the guide's, not ours, so check them in a current guide and climb within your experience.
- Check the guides before you go. theCrag has the area listing and approach notes. Local climbers also use thesarvo.com for route updates and access notes, and Climb Tasmania publishes printed guides to venues around the state.
Climbing Wild is for sale in our Larder: a history of rock climbing in Tasmania by local Fingal Valley author Gerry, $49.95 inc GST.
Best seasons and times
- theCrag puts the boulders at about 957 m to 1,003 m, higher than our farm, so expect it to be colder, windier and quicker to change.
- The rock is wet in rain. Pick dry days and give it time to dry after wet weather.
- Cooler, dry days often give the best friction. Summer can still be fine early or late in the day, but some days are simply not climbable.
What to bring
- Your own crash pads, more than one if you can, climbing shoes, chalk and a brush. theCrag notes the rock is good quality but some problems need cleaning.
- A climbing partner to spot you.
- A first aid kit, water, snacks and warm, waterproof layers.
- A downloaded or printed copy of your guide, as phone coverage is patchy.
Safety tips (general only)
These are general tips, not a safety assessment of the site.
- Never climb alone. Always have a spotter and place pads carefully.
- Newer climbers should go with someone experienced.
- Climb within your limits, especially on taller problems.
- Phone coverage in the area is patchy. Tell someone your plans and when you expect to be back.
- Weather on Tower Hill can turn quickly. Bring warm, waterproof gear and be ready to leave.
- Respect the land: follow any access rules or signs, stay on existing paths and take all rubbish home.
- For questions about climbing impacts, contact the Climbers Club of Tasmania through its website.
Pairs with camping
Camping with us gives you a base nearby, so you can climb in the cool of the morning and relax at camp afterwards. Good to know before you stay.
Book your stay and make a climbing weekend of it.
Getting here: come in via Fingal and Mullens Rd. Please don't use the south end of Tower Hill Rd. Full arrival details are sent with your booking. For the boulders themselves, use the approach in a current climbing guide.
Nearby: climbing at Bare Rock
Bare Rock, above Fingal, is a well-known climbing area. theCrag lists well over a hundred routes, from single-pitch sport lines to long multi-pitch climbs, plus a small bouldering area. Most listed routes are mid to upper grades, so it's for experienced climbers.
Not on our property. Climbing is at your own risk.
The cliff is mostly on private land and you can only reach it by crossing private property. Access depends on the landowners, can change or close at any time, and isn't ours to give. Check the current access notes before you go and follow them.
Rock climbing carries obvious risks, including falls, rockfall, equipment failure, hard descents and slow rescue in a remote spot. Primal Pastures doesn't own or manage Bare Rock and doesn't guide, supervise, insure or check conditions there. If you choose to climb, you're responsible for your own safety and your group's.
We're not affiliated with the landowners or the Climbers Club of Tasmania.
Before you go (general tips only)
- Bring your own gear, a partner and the experience to climb and descend safely. There's no guiding or gear hire.
- Check the current access notes on theCrag and thesarvo before every visit.
- At the time of writing (October 2026), the access notes say to park on Legge St in Fingal and walk about 1.5 km to the access tracks. You can't drive to the cliff, and there's no camping at the crag.
- Stay on the marked tracks, keep off private driveways and leave gates as you find them.
- Peregrine falcons nest on parts of the cliff (around July to December). Follow any seasonal closures in the access notes and stay well away from active nests.
- Phone coverage is patchy. Carry a personal locator beacon and tell someone your plans. In an emergency call 000.