Tasmania’s most-photographed waterfall and a popular tourist attraction, Russell Falls is arguably the most beautiful waterfall in Tasmania. It’s on the eastern boundary of Mount Field National Park, a part of Tasmania’s World Heritage Wilderness Area, and about 100 metres downstream of the Horseshoe Falls. The waterfall consists of two main drops, which were formed by horizontal beds of soft rock (Permian siltstone) eroding back to more resistant sandtone rock that had vertical faces. The waterfall is in a cool temperate rainforest, and surrounded by ferns, dogwood, musk and myrtle trees.
The waterfall was initially called the Brownings Falls after the original discoverer (around 1856), but became known as Russell Falls after 1884. By this time time the waterfall was already a popular tourist attraction, with the Falls Reserve being established in 1885.
Getting to Russell Falls
The Mount Field Visitor Centre on Lake Dobson Road is about a 1:15min drive from Hobart. From the visitor centre, Russell Falls is accessed via an easy 20min wheelchair-accessible loop walk on a paved track which goes to a viewing platform directly in front of the falls. At night, glow worms can be seen among the vegetation on the approach to the waterfall.
More information
- Tas Parks – Russell Falls
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