Skip to content
Australia Travel EscapesAustralian travel and wellness escapes, revived for a new editorial era

Guide · Tasmania walks ·

Russell Falls walk: Mount Field National Park guide

By the Australia Travel Escapes editorial team · Who we are

Russell Falls walk is the easiest big waterfall walk in Tasmania. It is a short, paved track in Mount Field National Park, about an hour's drive northwest of Hobart. Most visitors finish it in about 20 minutes there and back, and the path is paved and even.

This guide covers the walk itself, what else you can do in the park, when to go and how to plan a day from Hobart.

Sources for this section: Wikipedia, Mount Field National Park; Wikipedia, Russell Falls.

The Russell Falls track

The walk starts near the park's main visitor area at the end of the road in. The track is asphalt and boardwalk for most of the way. It runs through tall, damp forest with big tree ferns beside the creek.

It is listed as an easy walk of about 20 minutes return. Allow longer if you want to stop for photos. The surface is even, so you do not need hiking boots. Sturdy shoes are enough. The track can be wet and cool, so bring a light jacket even on a sunny day.

Russell Falls drops in two tiers over flat benches of rock. The falls are between about 34 and 58 metres high, depending on how you measure them. The water falls over siltstone steps, and the steeper faces are harder sandstone. The falls sit about 295 metres above sea level.

Sources for this section: Wikipedia, Mount Field National Park; Wikipedia, Russell Falls.

A little history

This is one of the oldest protected places in Tasmania. The land around the falls was set aside as a reserve in 1885. The falls were first known as Brownings Falls, after the man who found them around 1856. The name Russell Falls came into use after 1884, when the falls were already a popular sight.

In 1899 the falls were chosen as one of eight pictures for a set of Tasmanian postage stamps. The stamps were meant to attract visitors to the island. The area became a national park in 1916, which makes Mount Field one of the two oldest national parks in the state, along with Freycinet.

Sources for this section: Wikipedia, Russell Falls; Wikipedia, Mount Field National Park.

More to see near the falls

You can add more falls and forest without a long hike. Horseshoe Falls sits only about 100 metres upstream of Russell Falls. It is a smaller fall, and you reach it by continuing along the creek.

The Tall Trees Walk is another easy track. It is listed at about 30 minutes. It passes through very tall swamp gums. Combined with Russell Falls, it makes a relaxed morning of walking.

If you have more time, ask at the visitor centre about the other short tracks that start from the same area. Staff can tell you which tracks are open and how long each takes on the day.

Sources for this section: Wikipedia, Russell Falls; Wikipedia, Mount Field National Park.

A longer walk: the Tarn Shelf

If the Russell Falls walk is too short for you, the Tarn Shelf is the big option. It is a circuit of about six hours return that starts at the Lake Dobson car park, high in the park. It passes Lake Newdegate, Twilight Tarn and Lake Webster. The tarns were carved by glaciers long ago.

This is a real mountain walk. The weather up high can turn cold and wet fast, even in summer. Carry warm clothes, food, water and a rain jacket. Tell someone where you are going, and check the weather before you leave the car park. In autumn and winter, snow can cover the high country, so ask the visitor centre about conditions first.

Sources for this section: Wikipedia, Mount Field National Park.

Getting there and when to go

Mount Field is about 64 km northwest of Hobart. The usual route is by road from Hobart. Plan on a bit over an hour each way by car. There is no need to book a tour. Many visitors drive themselves and make it a half day or a full day.

The forest is green in every season. Summer is the busiest time, and the track can be crowded in the middle of the day. Early morning and late afternoon are quieter. Autumn is a good choice for cooler weather and softer light. Winter can be wet and cold.

Tasmanian national parks usually charge an entry fee. The amount can change, so check with the Parks and Wildlife Service before you go and carry a way to pay. Bring water and a snack for the day.

Sources for this section: Wikipedia, Mount Field National Park; Wikipedia, Russell Falls.

Quick planning list

This guide is general information for planning a visit, not safety or medical advice. Conditions change, so ask the park staff on the day.

Sources for this section: Wikipedia, Mount Field National Park.

Sources

  1. Wikipedia, Mount Field National Park: en.wikipedia.org
  2. Wikipedia, Russell Falls: en.wikipedia.org