The Winterbrook Falls walk is an 11km, grade 3 hike located in the Winterbrook Falls Regional Reserve, Tasmania. The hike should take around 5-6 hrs to complete.
Hike overview
The Winterbrook Falls walk is apretty walk through myrtle rainforest to a stunning large waterfall. Winterbrook flows from the top of Black Bluff Mountain and falls 200m off the mountainside in three drops and then gradually flows to join the Leven River at Loongana.
The first part of the walk follows a closed road. Once you reach an open area the Tramway Track starts. The first part of the walk is flat with some boardwalks through boggy areas. The last 20 minutes to the lookout point just before the falls is fairly steep, there is a good vantage point to view the falls and the rock escarpment. Another 10 minutes takes you to the bottom of the falls.
Generally the walk is recommended for people with some bushwalking experience. There is a formed track but be ready to negotiate fallen trees which means you need to keep a close eye on your direction as well as trail markers. For an exhilarating one-way day walk continue up to Black Bluff plateau, join the Penguin Cradle Tail at Paddys Lake and finish at Loongana.
The Winterbrook Falls walk will take you through temperate rainforest with mature stands of Sassafras, Myrtles, Blackwood, Eucalyptus, King Billy pine and Celery Top pine with an understory of Mountain Pepper, Mountain Laurel, Horizontal scrub and Waratah. The King Billy Pines here are the most northern stands in the state. There is now young regrowth and some giant specimens of King Billy Pines along the trail. These specimens are estimated to be 2000+ years old.
Once selectively logged, the walk traverses an old horse-drawn tramway and bullock drawn snig tracks. Remains of a Piners Settlement can be found just off the trail not far from the start of the walk if you know where to look, with an intact saw pit where the King Billy was sawn. From here it was taken to the Nietta Railway (no longer in existence).
Route and GPX file
Max elevation: 978 m
Min elevation: 615 m
Total climbing: 399 m
Total descent: -399 m
Trail location
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Getting there
Winterbrook walk is in the Winterbrook Forest Reserve approximately 30 minute drive from Mountain Valley, Loongana, 15km (30 minutes) south of the Leven Canyon and 50km (1 hour) from Ulverstone. Access to this walk is from Smiths Plains Road, south of South Nietta. The road turns to unsealed Forestry Roads, and can be somewhat challenging to drive on when muddy if you do not have a 4WD. The road abruptly ends due to partially collapsed bridge. Park off to the right in the old quarry area and commence your walk from here.
Gallery
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About the region
Winterbrook Falls Regional Reserve is located in Tasmania, Australia. The estimate terrain elevation above seal level is 673 metres.
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Gear to consider
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Acknowledgement of Country
Trail Hiking Australia acknowledges the Traditional Owners of the lands on which we hike and pay respects to their Elders, past and present, and we acknowledge the First Nations people of other communities who may be here today.