Mount Field National Park

Mount Field National Park is a protected area in southern Tasmania, established in the early 20th century and located roughly 70 km northwest of Hobart. The park protects a mix of tall temperate rainforest and an upland alpine plateau.

Visitors commonly see the park’s signature sights such as the tiered waterfall at Russell Falls and the Tall Trees Walk, which passes through stands of very tall Eucalyptus regnans. The park also includes Lake Dobson and an alpine area that receives winter snow and supports cross-country skiing and snow play.

The park was set aside to protect representative highland and forest ecosystems and has long been used for recreation, education and field study. Over time infrastructure such as boardwalks and marked trails has made the most visited features accessible to day visitors.

Geographically the park occupies a transition zone between Tasmania’s lowland river valleys and its central highlands, with access from the Tasmanian highway network and short drives from towns in the Derwent Valley region.

• Proximity to Hobart: About 70 km northwest of Hobart, the park is one of Tasmania’s older protected areas and is easily visited as a day trip from the Hobart region.
• Climate and seasons: The park contains both temperate rainforest and an alpine plateau, so conditions vary widely with elevation and season; winter snow is common on the high plateau.

What to See#

• Russell Falls: Russell Falls - a tiered waterfall reached by a short walking track from the main park carpark and one of the park’s most visited attractions.
• Tall Trees Walk: Tall Trees Walk - a boardwalk through old-growth Eucalyptus regnans forest featuring some of the tallest flowering trees in the world.
• Lake Dobson: Lake Dobson and the alpine plateau - a high-country area within the park used for walking, snow activities and access to longer trails in summer and winter.

Mount Field National Park is about 64 km northwest of Hobart via the B61/A10 and Gordon River Road (turn off at National Park township). Public buses operate seasonally from Hobart and New Norfolk, but most visitors arrive by car. For alpine walks, continue to the Lake Dobson turnoff-this sealed road leads to higher trailheads (may close in heavy snow).

• Arrive before 9am to hike to Russell Falls with fewer tour buses; the 20-minute boardwalk is famous for photos but is surprisingly crowded by mid-morning.
• Walk the Tall Trees circuit to see alpine rainforest-look for myrtle beech and horizontal mosses after rain.
• If planning to reach the Tarn Shelf and alpine plateau, use the Lake Dobson road as the starting point (road often closed in heavy snow).