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How to Visit Nelson Falls in Tasmania & What to Expect

How to Visit Nelson Falls in Tasmania & What to Expect

Olly Gaspar

By Olly Gaspar, full-time traveler for 6 years. I visit every place I write about & share real tips, photos, & advice from my trips.

Are you thinking of visiting Nelson Falls in Tasmania? Find out how to get here from Queenstown and what to expect from this easily accessible waterfall.

Nelson Falls is one of my personal favourite waterfalls in Tasmania. Conveniently located near the Lyell Highway in the Franklin-Gordon Wild Rivers National Park, this epic forest waterfall is a must-visit for anyone driving the scenic route from Queenstown to Derwent Bridge.

This breathtaking cascade is not only one of the most stunning in Tasmania but also easily accessible for families with young children & wheelchair users, ensuring that everyone can experience its beauty!

In this quick guide, I’ll update you on everything you need to know about visiting these falls in Tasmania. I outline how to get here, information about the short waterfall walk, and photos from the waterfall.

Where is Nelson Falls?

This waterfall is accessible via a short waterfall walk just off the Lyell Highway between Queenstown and Derwent Bridge. The waterfall track is located 27 km from Queenstown or 59 km from Derwent Bridge.

Below I've pinned the exact location of the waterfall track to help you find it. More details below.

Location: Nelson Falls

Map of nelson's falls in tasmania

The Nelson Falls Nature Trail

  • Hiking Distance: 1.4 km return
  • Duration: 45 minutes
  • Elevation: N/A
  • Difficulty: Very easy

The walking track to Nelson Falls is very well-maintained and caters to families and even the most unfit of hikers along with wheelchair users. The track follows a wide, wooden boardwalk to the waterfall with an optional short loop around dense rainforest terrain.

There is little to no elevation or uphill pushes on the walk. The track follows the Nelson River, which is surrounded by magnificent moss-covered myrtle and sassafras trees. The trail is a very short walking track but very picturesque! Perfect for a quick stopover on the long Lyell Highway.

The recommended walking time is roughly 45 minutes return. However, you can easily reach the waterfall in about 15 minutes. In saying that, this waterfall is particularly epic and I'll bet you will spend a little more time admiring the scene and snapping some shots.

Nelson falls map showing trail, tasmania
Access to the Nelson Falls trail is along the Lyell Hwy between Derwent Bridge and Queenstown / Tasmania Parks and Wildlife Service
Nelson falls nature trail walk tasmania
Nelson falls nature trail walk
Nelson river franklin-gordon wild rivrers national park tasmania

How to Get to Nelson's Falls

Nelson Falls is quite easy to navigate to. Since the car park is a direct pullover on the Lyell Highway, it's really difficult to get it wrong.

If you're looking to get to Nelson Falls from Queenstown or Strahan, you're in for a treat. This road travels across the famous 99 bends, past the Iron Blow Lookout and the beautiful Lake Burbury, a beautifully maintained sealed road through some of Tasmania's most magnificent scenery.

South tasmania drive 2
The road just before the waterfall car park.

The waterfall carpark is large enough to accommodate 20+ vehicles and there is even a toilet block and undercover information plaque.

Sunset on a winding road in tasmania

Car Rentals in Tasmania

Unfortunately, the cost of bringing your own car on the Spirit of Tasmania has skyrocketed in recent years. Now, it is usually cheaper to rent a car on arrival. I recommend using DiscoverCars in Tasmania to compare rates for different vehicles across dealerships.

(Rentals are limited in Tasmania so it's a good idea to book in advance).

Unfortunately, the only way to get to Nelson Falls is by car since there are no public transport options. However, if you don't have your own transport there's still lots to do in this region. I've included a few of the best-rated experiences in Tassie's Wild West below.

What to Expect at Nelson Falls

Once you arrive at the end of the walking track, you'll pop out at a large viewing platform a few dozen metres from the waterfall. This is a great spot to admire the scene.

Nelson falls queenstown tasmania

The total height of Nelson Falls is approximately 30 m. It's a beautiful cascading waterfall pouring down the sharp, black rocks. The dense forest frames the waterfall on all sides, creating a spectacular scene. You'll often find this waterfall pictured on Tasmanian tourism brochures, television commercials, and prints in hotels and tourism offices around the West Coast.

It's one of my personal favourite waterfalls in Tasmania and one hundred percent worth the quick pit stop.

The flow of the Nelson River is quite dependent on rainfall. Therefore, like many other waterfalls in Tassie, the best time to visit is in Autumn and Winter or after a big downpour.

Nelson falls tasmania
Nelson falls tasmania

Where to Stay In Tasmania's West

The most popular place to stay in Western Tasmania is in Strahan. There's just so much to see and do in this region and it's definitely worth at least a couple of days. Activities like the Gordon River Cruise and the rack and pinion railway are must-dos when travelling in Tasmania.

Below are a couple of my recommended places to stay in nearby Strahan, as well as one in Queenstown.

Wheelhouse apartments

Wheelhouse Apartments - Strahan
Unique apartments located in Strahan, each with river or lake views. These apartments are some of the best-rated online for Western Tasmania!

The boat house

The Boat House - Strahan
Another Strahan favourite, this affordable holiday accommodation option features river views and includes a kitchen and living area.

Penghana bb

Penghana B&B - Queenstown
If you're after the best place to stay in Queenstown, check out this 1898 National Trust Mansion B&B which is just 2 minutes drive from the Wilderness Railway & the Heritage Tours.

I've spent several months documenting and photographing some of Tasmania's best travel and adventure highlights.

If you liked this quick guide to visiting Nelson Falls, then I think you'll love some of my other articles. Below are some great nearby adventures you should check out.

Thanks for Reading

I’m Olly Gaspar, Australian adventure traveler and founder of We Seek Travel. Six years ago, I left home to travel full-time and started this website to share my journey. Today, it’s grown into one of the world’s largest free adventure travel resources, now supported by a team of passionate travelers writing travel guides to the places we visit.

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