Nelson Falls

Plunging 30 metres into a fern-lined amphitheatre, Nelson Falls is one of Tasmania’s most accessible and photogenic waterfalls. Nestled in the temperate rainforest of the Franklin-Gordon Wild Rivers National Park, the short walk to the falls feels like stepping into a prehistoric world – expect towering myrtles, sassafras and tree ferns dripping with moss. The mist from the falls creates a cool microclimate, and on sunny days you’ll almost certainly spot a rainbow dancing in the spray.

Highlights & What to See

• The waterfall itself – a powerful curtain of water cascading into a deep pool, best viewed from the main lookout platform. Early morning or late afternoon light makes for the most dramatic photos.
• Rainforest walk – the 1.4 km return track (20 minutes each way) is boardwalked and wheelchair-friendly, winding through ancient myrtle and sassafras trees, with interpretive signs about the forest ecology.
• Birdlife – keep an eye out for pink robins, scrubtits and the elusive Tasmanian thornbill; the damp understorey is also home to pademelons and wallabies at dawn and dusk.
• Interpretation panels – learn about the Huon pine logging history and the unique Gondwanan flora that makes this rainforest a living museum.
• Seasonal changes – spring and early summer bring wildflowers, while autumn offers a carpet of fallen leaves; after heavy rain the falls are at their most thunderous.

Suggested Time to Spend

Most visitors spend 45 minutes to an hour at Nelson Falls – enough for the walk, photos and a quiet sit on the bench near the lookout. If you’re combining it with a drive along the Lyell Highway, allow an extra 30 minutes for a picnic at the small grassy area near the car park. The walk is short enough to do as a leg-stretcher on a longer journey between Queenstown and Hobart, but it’s also a worthy destination in its own right for nature lovers.

Nearby Areas Worth Combining

• Franklin-Gordon Wild Rivers National Park – the park offers longer walks, rafting on the Franklin River, and the famous Frenchmans Cap lookout.
• Queenstown – a historic mining town with a stark, moonscape-like setting; visit the Iron Blow lookout and the West Coast Wilderness Railway.
• Strahan – gateway to Macquarie Harbour, Sarah Island and the Gordon River cruise; about 1.5 hours’ drive west.
• Lake St Clair – Australia’s deepest lake, part of the Tasmanian Wilderness World Heritage Area, with walks and water activities.
• Derwent Bridge – home to the iconic Wall in the Wilderness woodcarving and a good stop for lunch or coffee.

Please check official sources for current details.