About Nelson Falls
Nelson Falls is a 30-metre waterfall in the Franklin-Gordon Wild Rivers National Park on Tasmania's West Coast, located beside the Lyell Highway between Queenstown and Derwent Bridge. Set within temperate rainforest of the Tasmanian Wilderness World Heritage Area, it is accessed via a short, flat walking track. Notable for its accessible rainforest setting, tiered cascade and viewing platform, it is a popular stop for travellers crossing the island's west.
Visitors guide
Visitors can expect a short, easy return walk through cool temperate rainforest with moss-covered trees, ferns and interpretive signs leading to a viewing platform opposite the waterfall. The falls drop about 30 metres over rock tiers into a pool below, surrounded by dense forest. The site includes a roadside car park on the Lyell Highway and a well-formed track with boardwalk sections. No swimming or climbing facilities are provided; the experience is focused on sightseeing, photography and nature appreciation.
Key highlights
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30-metre tiered waterfall in temperate rainforest
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Short 1.2 km return Nelson Falls Nature Trail (about 20 minutes)
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Viewing platform directly opposite the falls for photography
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Located within Franklin-Gordon Wild Rivers National Park, part of the Tasmanian Wilderness World Heritage Area
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Accessible rainforest walk with interpretive signage and boardwalk sections
History of Nelson Falls
Located within the Franklin-Gordon Wild Rivers National Park, part of the Tasmanian Wilderness World Heritage Area inscribed in 1982 for its natural and cultural values. The Lyell Highway corridor and surrounding west coast rainforest have long been associated with mining, forestry and conservation history in western Tasmania.
Route
| By road | Located directly off Lyell Highway (A10), approximately 27 km east of Queenstown and 35 km west of Derwent Bridge; accessible by car, no public transport to site |
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