Warrawee Conservation Area

Warrawee Conservation Area is a large reserve on the Mersey River off Shale Road in Latrobe, about ten minutes from Devonport, and it is a well-known platypus habitat. With a dog, the deal is specific: most of the reserve is a no-go zone, and the one dog-legal strip is short, riverside and strictly on-lead.

The walk

Dogs are permitted only in the designated Shale Road section, from the car park boom gate to the suspension bridge, and only on lead. That makes it a stroll to the bridge and back rather than a big hike. The longer 2.6km Shale Trail and the 5km Fern Gully loop sit inside the no-dog zones, so plan a separate walk if you want distance.

The paths through the permitted section are well formed, and picnic tables and barbecues near the entrance make it an easy family stop. The riverbank here is one of the better places in the north-west to watch for platypus at dawn or dusk.

Worth knowing

Latrobe Council signs the on-leash and no-go zones at the entrance, so read them before you set off. This is a conservation area protecting platypus, which is exactly why the restrictions bite: keep quiet near the water, keep the dog close, pick up after them and use the bins.

Leash status

On lead at all times in the dog-permitted Shale Road section; dogs prohibited elsewhere in the reserve, including most walking and bike tracks.

Water

There are no dog-specific facilities, so carry your own water and bowl for the dog.

Hazards

The tracks are shared with mountain bikers, so expect passing traffic, and the riverbank can be slippery after rain.

When to go

Weekday early mornings are quietest, and dawn or dusk gives the best chance of a platypus sighting from the bank.

Max: keep the lead short and stick to the permitted Shale Road strip. The no-go trails look inviting, but the rules are there for the platypus, and rangers do check.

Getting there and parking

From Gilbert Street in Latrobe, take Hamilton Street and turn onto Shale Road to the reserve entrance, roughly 3.5km out. There is a car park at the end of Shale Road and no public transport to the entrance, so you will need to drive.

More walks nearby

For an off-lead run the dog can actually enjoy, Latrobe Fenced Dog Park on Stanley Street has separate fenced sections for big and small dogs. Afterwards, Shadows Cafe on Gilbert Street does coffee with outdoor seating where dogs are welcome.

More options are on the Tasmania dog friendly trails guide and the Latrobe destination page.