St Columba Falls

St Columba Falls is a magnificent, powerful waterfall in Tasmania's northeast, plunging 90 metres into a lush fern-filled gorge. It's an easily accessible natural wonder that rewards visitors with a short walk through towering myrtle and sassafras forest to a close-up viewing platform where the spray cools your face on a warm day. This is a must-stop for anyone driving the Tamar Valley or the Tasmanian Trail.

Highlights & What to See

• The waterfall itself – one of Tasmania's highest single-drop waterfalls, thundering into a deep pool surrounded by mossy rocks and temperate rainforest.
• Short rainforest walk – a gentle 15-minute return track (about 500 metres) through giant tree ferns and eucalypts, with interpretive signs about the local flora and birdlife.
• Picnic area – a grassy clearing with tables and BBQs near the car park, ideal for a lunch stop before or after the short walk.
• Birdwatching – look out for green rosellas, black currawongs, and the occasional wedge-tailed eagle soaring above the gorge.

Suggested Time to Spend

Most visitors spend 30 minutes to an hour here – enough for the walk, photos, and a quiet moment soaking in the sound and sight of the falls. It's a perfect quick stop on a driving day, and can easily be combined with a longer visit to the nearby Mount William National Park or the Bay of Fires.

Nearby Areas Worth Combining

• St Helens – the charming fishing town is about 20 minutes south, offering great seafood, the Binalong Bay beaches, and access to the Bay of Fires.
• Pyengana – a small dairy valley known for the Pyengana Cheese Factory and the quirky Pub in the Paddock, just a 15-minute drive away.
• Mount William National Park – rugged coastal heathland with kangaroos and stunning ocean views, about 30 minutes north.
• Bay of Fires – world-famous for its orange-lichen-covered granite boulders and crystal-clear turquoise water, a 30-minute drive south-east.
• Launceston – the regional hub is 1.5 hours west, with Cataract Gorge, the Tamar Valley wine region, and historic architecture.

Please check official sources for current details.