This loop drive is a fabulous gravel road route that takes you from Hanmer up and over one pass, down to the pretty Clarence River canyon north of Hanmer’s Mtns, then back up and over the other pass to complete a loop back to town. This route (or a portion of it) is a must-do for anyone wanting to appreciate Hanmer for more than just its commercialized charms. The entire driving route is about 26km total from Hanmer and would take about 45 minutes if you drove it non-stop. But stop you will because the views and scenery are fantastic! The Jollies Pass viewpoint is almost like being atop Mt Isobel, but without the tramping effort! Any 2WD car is OK, but oversize or larger campervans/RVs may want to skip the steeper-narrower Jollies Pass side (and only go out/back up Jack’s and down to Clarence River).
The best route for normal cars/vans is going counter-clockwise. From Hanmer head up Jollies Pass Rd, setting your odometer in town. In 4km you’ll arrive at the former site of Jollies’ hotel and begin the gravel portion of the route. Up you go for a slow 3.6km more to reach the “Jollies Pass” sign (7.6km). (Detour left here on the powerlines-access road for a short 300m detour to an exceptional view under the powerlines.) Retreating back to the Jollies sign go left and descend to the Clarence River (12km mark). Go left for 6km along the river (upstream) then left again at the next junction to climb to Jack’s Pass (21 km) and then over the pass finish the route back to town (26km.)
