Russell Falls — Attraction in Mount Field

This is a popular creek and waterfall within the Mount Fields National Park that is accessible by way of an easy 1.2km out-and-back trail which starts at the Mount Fields National Park Visitor Centre. The trail is included in the list of the 60 Great Short Walks of Tasmania and can be linked up with a quick detour to the Horseshoe Falls and combined with other 60 Great Short Walks trails including the Tall Trees Trail and Lady Baron Falls trail to form what is informally referred to as 'The Three Falls Circuit' arriving back at the Visitor Centre.

We recently walked the combined loop route described above, finding the Russell Falls short walk to be very enjoyable. This is a easy stretch which mostly follows the creek through lush forest until you reach Russell Falls. We saw several wallabies near the trail. The falls was rather light on the day compared to photos we had seen. There was significantly more water pouring out of Lady Baron Falls which we visited later on.

Overall, we liked the Russell Falls trail and would recommend it to even those visiting the National Park with limited time. It is short quick walk and back to the Visitor Centre. Half an hour is enough to see the Falls and return. If you want to combine with the Horseshoe Falls, add another 10 minutes...

The Russell Falls, a tiered–cascade waterfall on the Russell Falls Creek, is located in the Central Highlands region of Tasmania, Australia.

The Russell Falls are situated on the eastern boundary of Mount Field National Park, 100 metres (330 ft) downstream of the Horseshoe Falls, approximately 70 kilometres (43 mi) northwest of Hobart via the Brooker and Lyell highways. Accessible by a paved walking track, the falls are a popular tourist attraction. The waterfall descends over horizontal marine Permian siltstone benches, while the vertical faces of the falls are composed of resistant sandstone layers.

They were first named the Brownings Falls after the original discoverer, circa 1856, but were known as the Russell Falls after 1884, by which time they were already a popular tourist attraction. The Falls Reserve was established in 1885 and in 1899 the Russell Falls were selected as one of eight images to be used on a set of pictorial postage stamps, aimed at promoting the then colony's growing...

Walk to the falls was relatively short and easy even for my elderly parents. The weather was good, being sunny but cool, it might have been different if it had rained as the trail will be more slippery, but a pair of good walking shoes would probably see you through to the falls and back.

Russell Falls itself comprises of a series of mini falls and is a picture of beauty and serenity. From Russell Falls, if you are game enough, you may continue walking to the Horseshoe Falls, Lady Barrons Falls and the Tall Trees.

You can purchase the park pass from the visitors centre. We bought a pass which allows for 8 visitors (in a car)to visit the national parks in Tasmania over 8 weeks. The pass has to be displayed on the dashboard of your car.

Hungry after walk? There is the Waterfalls Cafe next to the visitors centre serving toasted sandwiches/cakes and hot drinks for breakfasts but more options are available after...