Horsetail Falls

Horsetail Falls is a seasonal waterfall on the slopes of Mount Owen near Gormanston on Tasmania's West Coast, just east of Queenstown along the Lyell Highway. The falls drop in a narrow horsetail cascade down a steep rock face and are most impressive after rain. Visible from the road and accessed by a short informal track, it is a well-known roadside stop showcasing the rugged mining landscape of the West Coast region.

Visitors can expect a tall, narrow waterfall cascading down the bare slopes of Mount Owen, best viewed from a roadside pullover on the Lyell Highway between Queenstown and Gormanston. A short, steep informal track leads closer to the base when water flow allows. The surrounding landscape is stark and rocky with sparse vegetation, historic mining terrain, and views over Queenstown and the West Coast Range. Flow is highly seasonal and may be reduced to a trickle in dry summer months.

Located in the historic Mount Lyell mining district, the falls and Mount Owen area are associated with late 19th and early 20th century copper and gold mining around Queenstown and Gormanston. The stark, denuded slopes result from historic mining and smelting activities.