Tasmania is one of the wettest places in Australia — and that is very much a feature rather than a bug when it comes to waterfalls. The island state receives enormous amounts of rainfall on its western and central highlands, and that water tumbles off mountains and through gorges in some of the most spectacular cascades in the country. I have been lucky enough to visit Tasmania several times over the years, and the waterfalls here consistently surprise me — not just for their beauty, but for their variety. There are delicate threads of water dropping from fern-draped cliffs, there are thundering curtains of white water plunging into deep green pools, and there are multi-tiered cascades that fill entire valleys with the roar of falling water.
The best waterfalls in Tasmania range from easily accessible roadside stops to remote multi-day hiking destinations. Some require nothing more than a five-minute walk from a car park; others reward those willing to spend days on foot in the wilderness. This guide covers the full range, with practical advice on how to reach each one and what to expect when you get there.
📋 TL;DR – Best Waterfalls in Tasmania: Stunning Cascades You Must See
- ✅ Russell Falls is Tasmania’s most beautiful and accessible: A 20-minute return walk in Mount Field National Park leads to this stunning tiered cascade — do not miss it.
- 🌊 Horseshoe Falls is right next to Russell Falls: A short extension of the same walk — equally beautiful and far less photographed.
- 🏔️ Cradle Mountain area has superb waterfalls: Cradle Mountain Lodge area and Lake St Clair both have excellent waterfall walks within the stunning Cradle Mountain–Lake St Clair National Park.
- 🌿 Lilydale Falls is an easy northern Tasmanian gem: A short walk through temperate rainforest leads to a beautiful double-tiered falls near the town of Lilydale.
- 🗺️ Meander Falls is one of Tasmania’s highest: A challenging 5-hour return hike in the Central Highlands leads to one of the tallest and most remote waterfalls in the state.
- ⛰️ The Tarkine wilderness has incredible cascades: The remote north-west of Tasmania has some of the state’s most dramatic waterfalls in pristine cool-temperate rainforest.
- 💧 Flow is highest in winter and spring: The best time to see Tasmanian waterfalls at their most dramatic is July to October, when rainfall is highest.
🌊 Russell Falls — Tasmania’s most iconic waterfall
Russell Falls in Mount Field National Park is the waterfall that most people think of when they think of Tasmanian waterfalls — and it fully earns that status. Located about 80 kilometres north-west of Hobart and just inside the entrance to Mount Field National Park (Tasmania’s oldest national park, established in 1916), Russell Falls drops in two spectacular tiers through a cathedral of tree ferns and swamp gums, the light filtering through the canopy to illuminate the water in a way that seems almost designed for photography.
The walk to Russell Falls is only about 20 minutes return from the car park at the national park entrance, on a well-formed and entirely accessible path. This makes it achievable for virtually everyone, including families with young children and people with limited mobility. Despite — or perhaps because of — this accessibility, Russell Falls is genuinely beautiful: the combination of the multi-tiered falls, the enormous tree ferns (some over 40 years old), and the dense Gondwanan rainforest create a scene that is primordial and peaceful simultaneously.
From Russell Falls, a slightly longer walk (about 40 minutes return from the car park) leads to Horseshoe Falls — another beautiful cascade that is less photographed than Russell but equally lovely, with a distinctive curved cliff face that channels the water into an elegant arc. Combining both falls makes for a perfect morning at Mount Field. The national park also has a beautiful alpine area (accessible by car) with lakes, alpine heath and ski slopes in winter — a worthwhile combination trip from Hobart.
👉 Book a Mount Field National Park Tour from Hobart on GetYourGuide →
🌿 Lilydale Falls — a northern gem
Lilydale Falls is one of the best and most accessible waterfalls in northern Tasmania, located just outside the small town of Lilydale about 30 kilometres north of Launceston. The falls cascade in two stages through beautiful cool-temperate rainforest rich in tree ferns, mosses and myrtle beech — the path to the falls is as beautiful as the destination itself, winding through forest that feels ancient and almost impossibly green after rain.
The walk to the lower falls takes about 15 minutes return from the car park at the Lilydale Falls Reserve. The upper falls require a slightly longer and steeper walk (about 30 minutes return from the lower falls) but are well worth the extra effort — the upper cascade drops through a narrow rocky cleft in a way that focuses and amplifies the sound of the water into a satisfying roar. Visiting after a period of good rain (which is most of the time in the Tasmanian highlands) ensures the falls are running at their most dramatic.
Lilydale itself is a charming small village with a reputation for being one of Tasmania’s prettiest rural settlements, surrounded by orchards and farmland. The village is an easy 30-minute drive from Launceston city centre, making Lilydale Falls a perfect half-day excursion when staying in or around Launceston.
Pair this with Best Hikes in Tasmania to round out your trip.
🏔️ Waterfalls near Cradle Mountain
The Cradle Mountain–Lake St Clair National Park is world-famous for its dramatic alpine scenery, ancient pencil pine forests and the iconic Overland Track walk. But it also has several excellent waterfalls that are easily reached and strikingly beautiful. Cradle Mountain Lodge, the resort at the northern entrance to the park, sits near Kitchen Creek where a beautiful series of cascades drops through button grass and native bush — a short walk along the creek reveals multiple photogenic falls within a few hundred metres.
Pencil Pine Falls and Knyvet Falls are located at the Waldheim area of the national park, a short drive from the main visitor centre. Both are relatively small but extremely beautiful — the combination of the waterfall itself with the ancient pencil pine forest that surrounds them creates a scene that feels genuinely otherworldly. In winter (June to August) these falls are sometimes partly frozen, creating spectacular ice formations around the cascades.
The Lake St Clair end of the national park (in the Central Highlands, about three hours from Cradle Mountain) has Hugel Falls, a dramatic cascade that drops into the forest above the lake. The walk to Hugel Falls is about 90 minutes return from the Cynthia Bay visitor centre and passes through some of the most beautiful mature myrtle beech forest in Tasmania. A boat shuttle across Lake St Clair opens up additional walking options for those based at Derwent Bridge.
⛰️ Meander Falls — for serious hikers
Meander Falls is one of the highest and most dramatic waterfalls in Tasmania, dropping approximately 120 metres in a single spectacular plunge from the Central Plateau. Getting there is a genuine commitment — the walk from the end of the road near Deloraine is about 12 kilometres return with around 500 metres of elevation gain, taking most walkers five to six hours. But for those willing to put in the effort, the reward is one of the most impressive natural sights in the state.
The walk passes through beautiful eucalypt forest before climbing into subalpine vegetation near the falls. The final approach to Meander Falls is through dense myrtle beech rainforest draped in moss and lichen, and the sound of the falls builds gradually as you approach until you round a corner and the full dramatic curtain of water appears ahead of you. There is a good viewing area at the base of the falls that gets thoroughly spray-drenched in high flow conditions — bring a waterproof layer. This is a serious day walk that requires appropriate clothing, footwear, and planning.
🌲 Tarkine Wilderness waterfalls
The Tarkine (or takayna) in north-western Tasmania is one of the largest temperate rainforests in the southern hemisphere and home to some of the most remote and spectacular waterfalls in Australia. The Arthur and Savage rivers that flow through the Tarkine create a series of powerful cascades in deep forest gorges that are rarely visited by tourists and almost completely untouched by human development. The ancient myrtle, sassafras and leatherwood forest surrounding these falls feels genuinely primeval — walking here feels like travelling back in time tens of millions of years.
Accessing the Tarkine waterfalls requires a 4WD vehicle for some tracks and is typically done as part of a longer Tarkine wilderness experience rather than a simple day trip. Several guided tour operators run multi-day 4WD and walking tours through the Tarkine that include waterfall visits alongside other natural highlights. The Julius River Forest Reserve and the Sumac Lookout area are good accessible starting points for those exploring the Tarkine independently. The Tarkine is also home to the largest Huon pine stands in Tasmania — a spectacular backdrop to any waterfall visit.
Worth adding to your itinerary: How Many Days in Tasmania.
👉 Book Tasmania Wilderness Tours on GetYourGuide →
💧 More spectacular Tasmanian waterfalls worth visiting
Tasmania has so many excellent waterfalls that any list risks becoming merely a list. But a few more deserve mention. Nelson Falls, located right on the Lyell Highway between Queenstown and Derwent Bridge in the heart of the island, is a stunning 35-metre cascade through cool-temperate rainforest that is accessible on a 20-minute return walk from the highway. It is one of the most beautiful easy walks in Tasmania and is often overlooked because it sits between more famous destinations.
Montezuma Falls, near Rosebery on the west coast, is the tallest waterfall in Tasmania at 104 metres and requires a 4-kilometre return walk along an old tramway line through rainforest. The walk itself is fascinating — the rusting remains of the mining tramway that once carried ore from the mountains to the coast are everywhere along the path — and the falls are genuinely dramatic. Ellenborough Falls, in the Fingal Valley in north-eastern Tasmania, is one of the state’s most beautiful but least-visited falls, dropping 104 metres in a single elegant plunge from a basalt cliff.
🏡 Practical tips for chasing Tasmanian waterfalls
The best time to visit Tasmanian waterfalls is during and after the wetter months — typically June through October — when rainfall is highest and falls are running at their most dramatic. Many of the best waterfalls are accessible year-round, but summer (December to February) can see some smaller falls reduced to a trickle after dry periods. Always carry rain gear when visiting waterfalls in Tasmania — the weather can change quickly in the highlands, and standing near a powerful waterfall in driving rain is a much less pleasant experience than it sounds.
National park entry fees apply at several of the sites in this guide, including Mount Field and Cradle Mountain. A Tasmania National Parks Pass ($70 for an 8-week pass at time of writing) is excellent value if you are planning to visit multiple parks during your stay and covers entry to all of Tasmania’s national parks. Driving yourself is the most practical way to reach the majority of Tasmania’s waterfalls — hire cars are available at Hobart and Launceston airports, and Tasmania has an excellent and very driveable road network once you get beyond the main highways. Allow yourself to get lost on the back roads — Tasmania rewards slow, exploratory travel in a way that few places in Australia can match.
