Explore Tasmania’s most photographed and accessible waterfall often regarded as the state’s favorite, Russell Falls.
If you’re searching for waterfalls in Tasmania, Russell Falls will often be the first image to pop up. Its popularity dates back to the late 1800s when it was first selected as one of eight images to be used on a set of pictorial postage stamps promoting Tasmania’s growing tourism industry.
While times may have changed since then, the waterfall hasn’t. Its original beauty of this picturesque, double-tiered cascade has been preserved in the Mount Field National Park, for everybody to enjoy.
This walk also connects to the well-known Horseshoe Falls and Lady Barron Falls creating the Three Falls Walk that can be done on a single circuit.
Below I’ll explain everything you need to know before visiting.
Facts About Russell Falls Tasmania
Below I've included some facts that you might want to know about this iconic Tassie waterfall.
- Waterfall height: 54 m tall
- Levels: 2 primary drops, only the bottom is accessible via the viewing platform
- Altitude: 295 m AMSL
- This waterfall was once known as Browning Falls after the original discovery in 1856.
- It's Tasmania's most photographed waterfall
- The sealed track to the falls is very easy and accessible by wheelchair
- A tremendous amount of water is fed by Russell Falls Creek. This flows over horizontal marine Permian siltstone before dropping down vertical sandstone layers.
- You will require a Tasmanian National Parks Pass to enter Mount Field National Park
Where is Russell Falls?
Russell Falls is located within the Mount Field National Park in Tasmania's Central Highlands. This National Park is approximately 70 km northwest of Hobart.
How to Get to Russell Falls
To get to here visitors will need to make their way to Mount Field National Park Visitor Centre.
The park is accessible by car following the Brooker and Lyell highways. Expect roughly a 1.5-hour drive from Hobart on well-maintained sealed roads the entire way.
Location: Lake Dobson Rd
Unfortunately, there are no direct public transport options to this park. However, if you're set on seeing this tassie icon, you can book a full-day organised tour from Hobart stopping at the falls and also includes a visit to Mount Wellington, Bonorong, and Richmond.
Russell Falls Walk
- Distance: 1.4 km return (20-minutes return)
- Difficulty: Easy
- Access: Even surface with no steps or steep sections. Wheelchair accessible with assistance.
Once you arrive at the Mount Field National Park visitor centre, you will need to follow a short, easy, and sealed track to reach the waterfall.
This departs at the back of the visitor centre, so you will need to walk through or around the building from the carpark to access the track.
The Russell Falls walk is only 20 minutes return. Once you reach the falls you can continue on to form the Three Falls & Tall Trees Circuit which also passes Horseshoe Falls and Lady Barron Falls.
This is a longer 6 km return option but still a relatively easy walk that is truly one of Tasmania's most scenic forest walking tracks.
The walking track to the falls is very beautiful, passing dense, mossy fern forests and some of the world's tallest flowering trees. We spent over 30 minutes just taking photos along the walk and admiring the surrounding moss, mushrooms, and wildlife.
After walking just a couple of hundred metres down the flat, paved track, the rainforest opens up to a wide boardwalk clearing. This is the viewpoint where you can get the best view of this impressive two-tiered cascade.
There are alternative vantage points both on the left of the platform and from above by following the steps further along the track. However, these views are interrupted by dense forest.
Below are some of the photos that I captured on my visit.
Tip: Bring your tripod to this waterfall to capture it at its best!
That's a wrap for visiting Russell Falls! I hope this guide was helpful for your visit. If you're looking for more travel inspiration and great adventure content from Tassie, make sure to check out some of my other articles below.
- 65 Epic Things to Do in Tasmania - My ultimate guide to exploring Tassie, complete with must-visit icons & hidden gems.
- Hikes in Tasmania - Discover 40+ of Tassie's best hiking trails, including short walks and long overnight treks!
- Waterfalls in Tasmania - A guide to 25+ of Tasmania's best waterfalls!
- Where to Stay in Tasmania - The ultimate accommodation guide to help your stops and places to stay.
- Best Tours & Experiences in Tasmania - This years' roundup of my favourite bookable tours & experiences across Tassie!