Nelson Falls

Franklin-Gordon Wild Rivers National ParkGPS Coords: -42.1004, 145.7371
Land Tenure: National Park

Tasmap Reference: 3833 Owen

Updated on 27 Oct 2024

Nelson Falls
© 2015 - 2024 Photographer - Craig Doumouras
image

Grade 2 Hike
Suitable for families with young children.

1.4km's45 minutes returnWell formed track Clearly sign posted

Broad, hard surfaced track suitable for wheelchair use. Width: 1200mm or more. Well maintained with minimal intrusions

Dogs are not allowed
Drones are not allowed
Suitable for caravans
Suitable for campervans and RV's
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average rating of 8.8 out of 10

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About Nelson Falls

Nelson Falls is situated approximately 30kms east of Queenstown, Tasmania on the Lyell Highway, with excellent parking and walking access to the waterfall. From the carpark, the walk is picturesque, with dense rainforest which is typical of region. 

One of Nelson Falls best attributes is it is suitable for wheelchair access. It's children friendly as well, making it an ideal location to visit on a road trip through Tasmania.

The walk to the waterfall has brilliant 'education signs', that challenge you to go back in time, and imagine what the area would have looked like hundreds of thousands of years ago. Along the path, the educational signs give explanations of how the habitat has evolved, and how some of the plants unique to this part of Tasmania are in fact ancient species that have managed to survive due to the cool, temperate climate that the Nelson Valley rainforests require.

The trail to the waterfall is well maintained, and access to Nelson Falls is very easy, with only a few steps along the way. Nelson Falls is a picturesque waterfall, surrounded by lush rainforest, and, like almost all waterfalls in Tasmania, is best seen during the Winter and Spring Months (June - October).

Historic Naming of Nelson/Blossom Falls

While Nelson Falls is now the long-accepted name of the waterfall, the original name proposed for the falls was Blossom Falls, as proposed by husband and wife explorers Sarah and Bryce Atkinson in the early 1980's before a track had been established to the falls. The pair found this waterfall, and a second waterfall upstream (Sunshine Falls) which they titled after their nicknames for each other. The name was unfortunately never approved and when a trail was built the falls were named Nelson Falls after the river of the same name, intended to refer to both the first and second waterfalls on the river (hence topo maps marking "Nelson Falls" at the location of the second falls) though a track was never built above the first falls. 

Map

Avoid Private Property

Not every area in Tasmania is available for the public to explore. Watch our video tutorial to learn how to identify which areas are on public land.

Previous and Next Waterfall (Alphabetical order)

Nelson Bay River Falls

Arthur River

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Nelson Steps

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Grade 5 HikeGrade 5 Hike

Suitable for very experienced hikers only.

Waterfalls near Nelson Falls

Sunshine Falls (Nelson River)

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Suitable for very experienced hikers only.

Twisted Falls

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Grade 5 HikeGrade 5 Hike

Suitable for very experienced hikers only.

Nelson Steps

Franklin-Gordon Wild Rivers National Park

Grade 5 HikeGrade 5 Hike

Suitable for very experienced hikers only.