Russell Falls
Tasmania's most photographed waterfall
On the lands of the Big River people (Tasmanian Aboriginal) people.
schedule 2 min read / Updated Jun 2026
Russell Falls tumbles in two graceful tiers through a cathedral of ancient tree ferns and towering swamp gums in Mount Field National Park, about 73 kilometres north-west of Hobart. One of Tasmania's most iconic natural sights, it is reached by an easy sealed boardwalk suitable for all ages, and its surrounding rainforest, part of the Tasmanian Wilderness World Heritage Area, offers glow worms, giant mountain ash, and alpine walks just moments away.
The falls drop over horizontal beds of Permian siltstone, where softer layers have eroded away to leave the characteristic stepped, tiered profile. Russell Falls Creek feeds the cascade, and the constant spray sustains a dense understorey of tree ferns that drapes the gorge in brilliant green. The site was first recorded by Europeans around 1856, then known as Brownings Falls, and renamed Russell Falls by 1884. It gained formal protection in 1885 when the Russell Falls Reserve became Tasmania's first nature reserve, set aside specifically for scenic beauty.
Mount Field National Park was proclaimed in 1916, making it one of Tasmania's two oldest national parks. The falls and their surrounding forest are part of the Tasmanian Wilderness World Heritage Area, inscribed by UNESCO in 1982 and extended in 2013. The park covers 162.65 square kilometres, rising from temperate rainforest at the valley floor to glacially-carved alpine moorland at Mount Field West (1,434 metres), one of the most dramatic altitudinal transitions in Australia.
The walk to Russell Falls is genuinely accessible to almost every visitor. A sealed, wide, mostly level track runs about 700 metres each way from the visitor centre, taking about 25 minutes return. The path passes beneath mountain ash trees, some of the tallest flowering plants on Earth, and through cool-temperate rainforest draped in mosses and lichens. Just before the main falls, a small grotto is home to a colony of glow worms, their faint blue-green bioluminescence visible when visitors pause in the darkness. The falls themselves are viewed from a series of elevated boardwalk platforms.
Continuing upstream for a short distance brings walkers to Horseshoe Falls, a narrower and more intimate cascade. A longer circuit connects to Lady Barron Falls, completing a route known as the Three Falls Circuit, about 5.4 kilometres return and still graded easy to moderate. Nearby, the Tall Trees Walk winds among mountain ash of extraordinary height, including specimens exceeding 80 metres. In autumn, the fagus, Australia's only native deciduous beech, colours the higher slopes in vivid orange and gold, making March to May the most spectacular season for photographers.
Wildlife is abundant across the park. Eastern quolls, pademelons, platypuses, and wombats are all regularly sighted. Tasmanian devils are present but nocturnal. The park's combination of easy access, iconic scenery, and proximity to Hobart makes it one of the most visited natural sites in Tasmania, yet the rainforest remains largely undisturbed beyond the well-formed tracks.
Common questions
Things visitors ask about Russell Falls.
Quick answers to help you plan.
Do I need to pay to visit Russell Falls?
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Yes. Entry to Mount Field National Park requires a valid Tasmanian national parks pass. A day entry vehicle pass costs $47.70 (up to 8 people per vehicle). A holiday pass covering up to two months costs $95.50 per vehicle. Passes can be purchased online or at the visitor centre on arrival.
How long is the walk to Russell Falls?
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The Russell Falls walk is about a 1.4 kilometre return trip from the visitor centre, taking approximately 25 minutes at a relaxed pace. The track is sealed and mostly flat. If you extend the walk to include Horseshoe Falls and Lady Barron Falls on the Three Falls Circuit, allow around two to three hours for the full loop of approximately 5.4 kilometres.
Can wheelchair users or people with prams visit Russell Falls?
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Yes. The sealed track to Russell Falls is one of the most accessible waterfall walks in Australia. It is wide, mostly level, and suitable for prams. Wheelchair users can reach the falls with assistance. The park also offers free TrailRider all-terrain wheelchair hire; bookings are essential.
Are there glow worms at Russell Falls?
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Yes. A small grotto just before the main waterfall platform hosts a colony of glow worms. They are most visible in low light or after dark. Simply switch off torches and wait a few moments for your eyes to adjust, their soft blue-green light appears in the rock crevices above the path. The glow worms are present year-round.
What else can I do at Mount Field National Park beyond Russell Falls?
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The Tall Trees Walk passes giant mountain ash trees exceeding 80 metres in height. The Three Falls Circuit extends the waterfall walk to include Horseshoe Falls and Lady Barron Falls. The Tarn Shelf Circuit explores alpine lakes and moorland at high elevation. In winter, the upper alpine zone operates as one of Tasmania's two ski fields. The visitor centre has a cafe, exhibition, and gift shop.
When is the best time to visit Russell Falls?
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Russell Falls is beautiful and accessible year-round. Autumn (March to May) is exceptional when the native deciduous beech (fagus) on the higher slopes turns orange and gold, a rare spectacle unique to Tasmania. Summer offers long daylight hours and warm conditions for extended walking. Winter is dramatic but snow may close the Lake Dobson Road to the alpine zone, though the falls themselves remain accessible.
How far is Russell Falls from Hobart?
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Russell Falls is approximately 73 kilometres north-west of Hobart, reached via the Brooker Highway, New Norfolk, and Westerway. The drive takes around 70 minutes. The visitor centre is located on Lake Dobson Road, Mount Field. There is no regular public transport to the park, so a private vehicle or organised tour is required.
Gallery
Russell Falls in pictures.
6 images licensed from Wikimedia Commons
All images are sourced from Wikimedia Commons under Creative Commons licences. Individual photographers are credited on the source pages.
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Attribution
Sources & credits
Content (4)
- Wikipedia: Russell Falls · CC BY-SA 4.0
- Russell Falls - Parks and Wildlife Service Tasmania · Parks and Wildlife Service Tasmania
- Russell Falls - Discover Tasmania · Tourism Tasmania
- Russell Falls - Wikipedia · Wikipedia contributors · CC BY-SA 4.0
Images (6)
- DSC0184 Tasmania Mount Field Russell Falls 45 meter high Rai... · DANIEL JULIE from Paris, France · CC BY 2.0
- IMG2106 Tasmania Russell Falls under the Fern Tree (52143120... · DANIEL JULIE from Paris, France · CC BY 2.0
- IMG2117 Tasmania Mount Field Little Russell Falls (521431441... · DANIEL JULIE from Paris, France · CC BY 2.0
- Russell Falls, Mount Field NP 1493009A-EE67-47D7-A844-53B8DE... · Dkpatel9099 · CC BY-SA 4.0
- Russell Falls, Mt Field National Park.jpg · Poidabro · CC BY-SA 4.0
- Russell Falls, Tasmania.jpg · Kirsty Lee · CC BY-SA 4.0
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Images sourced from Wikimedia Commons under licenses that permit commercial use. If you are the rights holder and believe an attribution is incorrect, please contact us.