Waterfalls in Tasmania

Planning a waterfall trip in Tasmania

Russell Falls in Mount Field National Park is the best-known waterfall in the state. A short, sealed path leads through tall trees to the base, and Horseshoe Falls is a few minutes further up the track. It is an easy day trip from Hobart and good with kids.

The north and north-east have some of the tallest falls. St Columba Falls near Pyengana drops about 90 metres through rainforest, and Liffey Falls on the edge of the Great Western Tiers is an easy detour from Deloraine. Further west, Montezuma Falls near Rosebery is one of the highest in Tasmania, reached on a long, flat walk along an old tramline with a suspension bridge near the end.

The west coast and highlands have falls right beside the road. Nelson Falls on the Lyell Highway is a short boardwalk from the car park, and Hogarth Falls is an easy stroll from Strahan. Cradle Mountain has Knyvet Falls and Crater Falls on its shorter walks.

The west gets heavy rain year-round, so most falls there never stop. Winter and spring bring the biggest flows across the state, while late summer can slow the eastern falls to a trickle. Snow and ice can close high roads such as the Lake Dobson Road in Mount Field, and the weather turns quickly on the plateaus, so pack a warm layer even in summer.

You need a Parks Pass to enter any national park in Tasmania. A daily pass suits a single visit, and a Holiday Pass covers every park for up to eight weeks, which is usually the better deal for a road trip. Buy one online or at a visitor centre before you arrive.

We don’t yet have a live park-alerts feed for Tasmania, so the access badge reads Check park alerts. The Parks and Wildlife Service Tasmania website lists track closures, which are common after storms on the west coast.