A day in Mount Field National Park: waterfalls & giant trees

Welcome to Mount Field National Park, one of Tasmania’s best-known national parks! This park, established in 1916, is a magical place where the landscape changes within just a few kilometres. Start your walk in a rainforest with centuries-old trees, continue past spectacular waterfalls and finish among alpine vegetation. It is a kind of ‘Best of Tasmania’ in one park.

Mount Field is best known for its three iconic waterfalls and the world’s tallest flowering trees – the swamp gums can grow up to 100 metres high!

The park is only an hour’s drive from Hobart and can be visited all year round. In winter you can go skiing, in spring you’ll see wild orchids in bloom and in summer it is the perfect place to go hiking. No wonder Mount Field has been amazing both locals and tourists for over 100 years.

We wake up among the sheep again

After a wonderful night in our romantic studio at Curringa Farm, we wake up overlooking fields full of sheep. In my previous blog you could read about our arrival in Tasmania, Mount Wellington and how we ended up at Curringa Farm.

Breakfast is already waiting for us in the fridge in our own little cottage, so we are ready for the day! Because today we are going to explore Mount Field National Park, one of Tasmania’s oldest national parks.

From sheep farm to rainforest

It is only a half-hour drive to the park and the landscape changes in no time from wide-open fields to dense rainforest. Mount Field National Park is known for its waterfalls, ancient trees and rich wildlife. We can definitely confirm that last one: we spotted more wildlife here in one day than in all of New Zealand!

Three Falls Circuit: 3 waterfalls in a 2-hour walk

We start the day with the Three Falls Circuit, a walk of about 6 kilometres past three different waterfalls. One tip we were given: hike the route in reverse. That way you start at Lady Barron Falls (in the photo above) and end with a bang at Russell Falls. Smart, because this way you have more descents than climbs and you finish with the most beautiful waterfall as your reward!

It is incredibly quiet on the trails, which makes this walk extra special. The only things we hear are the chirping of birds, the sound of rushing water and the wind whispering through the trees. Oh, and the buzzing of mosquitoes… so don’t forget your insect repellent!

Walking among giants

After the first waterfall, we soon pass the short Tall Trees walk. Here you will find the tallest tree species in all of Australia, some of which can grow up to 100 metres high! You really feel tiny among these giants. It is almost impossible to imagine that some of these trees were already here long before the Netherlands existed as the Netherlands.

Along the way you also walk to Horseshoe Falls, which is another beautiful waterfall. And then Russell Falls is still waiting for you.

Russell Falls: the most beautiful of the three

If there is one waterfall that deserves to represent Tasmania, it is Russell Falls. This waterfall is so photogenic that it even appeared on Tasmania’s very first postage stamps! The water plunges down in two tiers over ancient rock formations that were created millions of years ago. With a height of 58 metres, it is an impressive sight in a lush green setting.

Deeper into Mount Field towards Lake Dobson

After our morning walk, we drive deeper into Mount Field National Park. We had already read that the route is supposed to be very beautiful, and it really is! You drive 16km along a gravel road full of sharp bends further into the park until you reach Lake Dobson. Make sure you only continue further into the park with a 4WD. It is not allowed to take long vehicles on this road. It is a gravel road with lots of bends and fairly narrow. So do not underestimate these 16km.

Many (long) hikes start from here. We chose the short walk around Lake Dobson.

Picking fresh fruit

For dessert, we drive to a pick-your-own farm nearby, Westerway Raspberry Farm to be precise. Here we pick fresh strawberries and, as a reward for our hard work, we treat ourselves to an ice cream. We definitely earned that after all that hiking!

Westerway Raspberry Farm is located just before the turnoff to Mount Field National Park, so you really cannot miss it. All kinds of fruit grow here: from raspberries to blackberries and strawberries. The last two were ready for picking when we visited. You pay a small entrance fee and, of course, for whatever you take home. You can also enjoy a delicious ice cream here!

Tasmanian treats

We end the afternoon as you should in Tasmania: with local cheeses, Tasmanian cider and beers. Cheers!

We drive back to Curringa Farm where a fresh BBQ package is waiting for us. While the meat (from the farm itself!) sizzles on the BBQ, we look out over the fields. The sheep have since been joined by a few wallabies that are also enjoying the evening sun. It does not get any better than this!

Practical tips for Mount Field National Park

• Bring plenty of insect repellent, the mosquitoes can be quite annoying
• Wear good hiking shoes, as some of the trails can be slippery
• Start the Three Falls Circuit early to avoid the biggest crowds. It can get quite busy around Russell Falls, as it is close to the Visitor Centre. Busy is relative, though. If there are 10 people there at the same time, it is already considered busy by Tasmanian standards
• Driving on to Lake Dobson? Keep in mind that the road is unsealed. According to the road signs, campervans and large vehicles are not allowed on this road!
• Do not forget your camera, the waterfalls are incredibly photogenic 📸

Mount Field National Park is a must-do when you are in Tasmania. The combination of powerful waterfalls, ancient trees and abundant wildlife makes this park unique. And the best part? You can enjoy a full day of hiking here and then return to your own (romantic) place in the evening, in our case the sheep farm.