Nestled within the heart of Tasmania’s wilderness, Mount Field National Park is a short 70-minute drive from Hobart and one of Tasmania’s oldest national parks. Its appeal changes with the seasons, which makes it worth returning to more than once rather than treating it as a single visit.
A journey through nature’s diversity
As you climb the winding roads through Mount Field National Park, the vegetation shifts with you. The park is known for its range, from towering eucalypt forests at lower altitudes to alpine plants that only survive in the higher, colder regions. That progression means the landscape keeps changing as you move through the park, rather than staying the same from entrance to exit.
Known as ‘the park for all seasons,’ Mount Field looks different depending on when you visit: the greenery of summer, the colour of autumn, snow-dusted ground in winter, and flowering plants in spring.
The iconic Russell Falls: a must-see attraction
No visit to Mount Field is complete without Russell Falls. It’s one of Tasmania’s most photographed natural wonders, a three-tiered waterfall reached by a short, 20-minute walk from the visitor centre. The trail is wheelchair accessible, so it’s genuinely open to everyone, and it winds through a forest of towering tree ferns and giant eucalypts on the way there.
From Russell Falls, you can continue on to the Tall Trees Trail, where you’ll find some of the park’s giant swamp gums (Eucalyptus regnans), among the tallest flowering plants in the world. They’re a good indication of how old and untouched this part of the park’s rainforest is.
Exploring the alpine wonderland of Lake Dobson
For a more demanding day out, the drive to Lake Dobson, about 30 minutes from the park’s entrance, takes you up through the park’s alpine region: from rainforest, through towering swamp gums, and up into snow gums, alpine moorland, and glacial lakes.
In winter, the alpine areas around Lake Dobson draw cross-country skiing enthusiasts to the slopes of Mount Mawson, with ski huts near the lake giving access to some of the best winter sports in Tasmania. The well-marked trail to the Tarn Shelf is worth the effort at any time of year, taking you past a series of glacial lakes carved during the last ice age.
In the warmer months, the alpine meadows fill with flowering waratahs, boronias, and heath. Autumn is arguably the best time to visit, when the hillsides of the Tarn Shelf and Lake Fenton turn with the fiery colours of the deciduous beech, known locally as fagus (Nothofagus gunnii). It’s an annual pilgrimage for a lot of Tasmanians, and a good reason for photographers and nature lovers to time a visit around it.
A sanctuary for wildlife and conservation
Mount Field National Park is also a genuine conservation area, protecting a wide range of Tasmania’s flora and fauna. The park’s varying altitudes and geological history have produced diverse ecosystems that give refuge to species that are rare or threatened elsewhere.
Wallabies, wombats, and echidnas are common throughout the park. Platypus can be found in Lake Dobson, and glowworms sometimes light up the forest near Russell Falls after dark. The park also supports birdlife ranging from small forest species to wedge-tailed eagles soaring above the alpine peaks. Species such as the eastern quoll and eastern barred bandicoot, both extinct or endangered on the Australian mainland, still find refuge here, which makes Mount Field genuinely important for biodiversity rather than just a nice place to see wildlife.
Cultural heritage: A connection to the past
Mount Field National Park also holds deep significance for Tasmania’s Aboriginal communities. Archaeological evidence suggests the area has been inhabited for over 35,000 years, with several Aboriginal heritage sites found within the park.
The park is believed to have been part of the traditional lands of the Big River people, with the Pangerninghe band located nearby. Today, the Aboriginal community maintains a strong connection to this land, preserving its history and traditions.
Mount Field’s history extends to its European past as well. Along with Freycinet National Park, it’s one of Tasmania’s oldest national parks. The Russell Falls Reserve, proclaimed in 1885, marks the start of conservation efforts in the region, ahead of the park’s later establishment. Visitors can still explore historical sites tied to early tourism, trout fishing, skiing, and road building, each one part of the story of Tasmania’s relationship with this landscape.
Practical information: Planning your visit
Mount Field National Park is easily accessible from Hobart, which makes it a good day trip for visitors to Tasmania’s capital. The park is located just over an hour’s drive northwest of Hobart, via the scenic route through New Norfolk and the Derwent Valley.
The Mount Field Visitor Centre, near the park entrance, has the information you need for your visit, along with the Waterfalls Café and Gallery for a meal or souvenirs. Picnic facilities with electric barbecues are also available.
For an overnight stay, the park has a few accommodation options. The basic Government Huts near Lake Dobson provide a base for exploring the alpine regions, while nearby towns such as Westerway, Ellendale, and New Norfolk offer a range of lodging, from self-contained cottages to hotels.
Mount Field National Park covers a lot of ground for one park: Russell Falls at the lower end, the alpine country around Lake Dobson higher up, over 35,000 years of Aboriginal history, and a conservation record stretching back to 1885. Whether you’re after a short walk to a waterfall or a longer day in the alpine terrain, it’s worth planning a visit around the season, since the park genuinely looks different depending on when you go. Find the best hiking trails of Mount Field National Park here.
