The breathtaking natural vegetation changes as the twisting route climbs through Mount Field National Park, providing a continually shifting panorama as you go to higher altitudes. The Tasmanian Wilderness World Heritage Area’s Mount Field, often known as “the park for all seasons,” contains some of the tallest eucalypt forests in the world and a rare variety of alpine plants.

Mount Field National Park is one of Tasmania’s oldest and most diverse national parks. Cascaded waterfalls fight for viewers’ attention with beautiful glaciated landscapes, including the stunning, three-tiered Russell Falls, probably one of Tasmania’s most impressive waterfalls.

It is not surprising that this stunning national park was included in the Tasmanian Wilderness World Heritage Area in 2013, given the variety of vegetation, multiple glacial lakes, and abundant animals.

1. Why Visit Mt. Field National Park

Many beautiful features and fauna may be found at Mount Field National Park, which also provides a wide choice of services for day visitors, a vast network of walking trails, and a few possibilities for overnight lodging. In essence, there are two visitation areas in the park. The visitor center, picnic areas, and the well-known Russell Falls are located in the first area, close to the park entrance.

Please look around the visitor center and Curiosity Room before making the 15-minute wheelchair-accessible stroll to Russell Falls. The Tall Trees Walk is where you can go next to observe some of the park’s enormous eucalyptus trees.

The best hikes, waterfalls, and other activities are all covered in this book, along with helpful information on how to get there, where to stay, when to visit Mt. Field National Park and more. The best resource for learning about Mount Field National Park is provided here.

2. Reach Mount Field National Park

The visitor centre for Mount Field National Park is situated 3 hours 15 minutes southwest of Launceston and 1 hour 40 minutes northwest of Hobart. You can drive farther into the mountains or stroll from the tourist centre to reach the entire park.

Since Mount Field is a well-known tourist destination, there are numerous signs and accessible routes leading to the Mount Field visitors centre for all types of vehicles. You can spend the day exploring the visitor’s centre’s massive parking lot.

Tasmanian Wilderness Experiences provides bus transportation from Hobart to Mount Field, with the option to be driven up to Lake Dobson, which is situated above the visitor centre in the mountain’s alpine section.

Unfortunately, there isn’t a bus route that goes straight from Launceston to Mount Field. There is no other choice but to take a bus to Melton/Mowbray and then a taxi the rest of the way. This is expensive, and renting a car—even for a day—would be more economical for nature lovers.

3. When to Visit New Mt. Field Visitors

You can purchase a Tasmanian Parks Pass online or at any visitor centre in the state to enter Mount Field National Park. In general, springtime is the greatest for waterfalls. Autumn on the Tarn Shelf is a photographer’s dream since the deciduous beech trees’ (Fagus) leaves turn from green to gold, yellow, and orange.

Since reservations cannot be made in advance, arriving early at the Mount Field Campground on summer weekends and holidays is advised when it is most crowded. You can call ahead to find out how busy it is, though. Bring warm clothing because Mount Field typically has lower temperatures (particularly on hikes at the highest point). Be mindful of weather conditions.

The easiest way to explore Mt. Field independently is with a campervan or rental car. Before arriving at Mount Field, get groceries in New Norfolk and prepare a lunch for your day trips. There is a restaurant within the Mt. Field Visitors Center, but there aren’t many other places to eat close by. Bring your whole family for an easy walk to nearby towns.

4. Ways To Enjoy Mount Field National Park

Due to Mount Field’s proximity to Hobart, you might easily visit it for the day while visiting the city. You could explore the three main waterfalls in a single day and still have time to drive to Lake Dobson and walk the lake’s perimeter.

Those without access to a car have a few tour choices at Mount Field. The day tour by getting your guide, who visits Kunanyi/Mount Wellington, Mount Field, Bonorong, and Richmond, is the most economical.

5. Accommodations Near Mount Field 

There are many options for lodging close to Mt. Field, including camping directly next to Tyenna River, staying in the Government Huts adjacent to Lake Dobson, staying out in the mountains, or staying in a charming Airbnb nearby.

Camping

The visitor’s centre and the start of the waterfall trails are a short distance from the Mount Field Campground. It has a sizable amenities block with hot showers and laundry facilities that are very well-kept.

The only free camping in the area is on Gordon River Road next to the Tyenna River. However, no facilities exist, so you must be completely self-contained.

Other Alternative Accommodations

The Government Huts at Lake Dobson are the only lodging choice inside Mount Field National Park. These huts, constructed in 1940 for road workers, are now accessible for reservation by the general public. They will return you to your roots by denying you access to power and bathing, but a woodfire will keep you warm and cozy.

6. Learn About Mount Field National Park Visitation Period

You might travel to Mount Field at different times of the year and have a different experience each time. Cross-country skiing is quite common in the alpine during the winter when the peaks are frequently covered in snow. The Mount Mawson ski area runs ski tows on weekends and holidays when there is enough snow cover.

The sole deciduous beech tree in Tasmania, the Fagus, transforms from green to gold, orange, and scarlet in the autumn, creating a stunning display of colours on the Tarn Shelf in the mountains. It is a photographer’s paradise, especially when a light covering of snow appears.

When Mt Field experiences the most rainfall on average, which is toward the end of winter and the beginning of spring, the waterfalls are typically at their best. Visit the national park in January or February for the hottest weather, as it is frequently reasonably cold there.

7. How Much Time Does Mount Field National Park Exploration Take?

The Tall Trees Walk and Russell Falls, which can be completed in a single day, are the most well-liked activities in Mount Field. Spending two days is advised to include the Pandani Grove circuit, which is accessible from Lake Dobson and is 30 minutes away by unsealed road into the mountains.

It’s recommended to stay at Mount Field for two to three nights to complete or at least most of the hikes. By doing this, you could even have the opportunity to visit Russell Falls at night to see the elusive glow worms that live there!

8. Soak Under Mount Field’s Beautiful Waterfalls

The most well-known features of Mount Field are its easily accessible waterfalls, which cascade over black sandstone rock surfaces covered in countless kinds of moss and lichen. A day may be spent seeing them all since three out of the four are close together.

Russell Falls

One of only two waterfalls in Tasmania that is wheelchair accessible is Russell Falls, which is situated in the Franklin-Gordon Wild River National Park. The other waterfall is Nelson Falls. Since 1885, Russell Falls’ thriving surrounding rainforest has been protected as Tasmania’s first nature reserve.

You pass through a thick temperate rainforest full of enormous tree ferns, swamp gums, and myrtles on a 10-minute walk to the waterfall. The water cascades over two levels of sandstone and drops about 40 meters, although you will first hear it before you see it.

Horseshoe Falls

Deeper into the rainforest and at the base of Horseshoe Falls are reached after a quick 10-minute stroll from Russell Falls.

The vertical sandstone wall, covered in various mosses and lichen, is where the waterfall gradually cascades into Russell Falls Creek. You can return by the same track in under an hour.

9. Step Up For Some Mount Field Hikes

Depending on the walk you select, the hikes in Mount Field National Park can last anywhere from 20 minutes to 9 hours and provide various scenery and difficulty levels.

Tall Trees Circuit

With the interactive signage throughout the path, this quick circuit is a great way to exercise and learn a little about flora.

You can drive or walk one kilometre west on Lake Dobson Road from the tourist centre to the start of the circuit, with a tiny parking lot on the left. The course starts on the right side of the street.

Three Falls Circuit

The Three Falls Circuit covers Mount Field National Park’s base sights. The trail starts at the visitor centre and travels counterclockwise to Russell Falls, Lady Barron Falls, along the Tall Trees Trail, and back to the visitor centre.

This straightforward hike is a must-do at Mount Field because it has just a few stairs and one brief steep segment. Before opening into a forest of enormous swamp gums, it lazily winds beneath a green film-covered canopy of tree ferns and myrtles.

Lake Seal Lookout

It is a fantastic substitute for the complete Tarn Shelf climb if you’re short on time and want to see as much as possible.

The walk starts at the Lake Dobson parking lot and travels along the lake’s western shore before gently climbing through a pencil pine and tall pandanus forest. The private ski lodges below are reached after a long climb up a dirt road.

Tarn Shelf Circuit

You’ll see why the Tarn Shelf climb is the most well-liked alpine excursion in Mount Field National Park as soon as you step on the shelf.

The trail leaves Lake Dobson like for Lake Seal Lookout, but once you arrive at the ski lodges, you can choose between going to the lookout and exploring the “ski resort.”

10. Wake Up Your Inner Child For Glow Worms

It is worthwhile to trek to Russell Falls after nightfall if you decide to remain at the Mount Field National Park base. A glow-worm cave can be found along the walk among boulders covered in moss and downed branches.

Because of the railing along the trail, you can keep your torches off and move along with reasonable ease. For more national parks, you can read about Alpine National Park and the memorable things you can do there.

Conclusion

Mount Field National Park offers a wide range of outdoor excursions for all different types of tourists. Even if you only have a day to spare, we think you should still go there. Don’t forget to bring your hiking boots and camera when you go. One of the best temperate rainforests we have seen in all of Tasmania is found in the national park. And if you’re lucky, you might even glimpse a platypus in the Tyenna River or Lake Dobson.

You may go to Mount Field at any time of the year, and every time you do, you’ll get to enjoy something completely different. A spectacular sight is the sprinkling of snow that covers Mount Field West’s dolerite peak and the Rodway Range, as well as the autumnal blaze of gold and orange that the Fagus generates. Remember to pack warm clothing because, even in the summer, the temperatures are typically slightly lower than in Hobart. Have a fantastic adventure in Mount Field National Park!

Last Updated on March 2, 2024 by kalidaspandian