Redwater Falls

Southwest National ParkGPS Coords: -42.9400, 146.5932
Land Tenure: National Park

Tasmap Reference: 4624 Nevada

Updated on 27 Nov 2024

Redwater Falls
© 2015 - 2024 Photography: Caedence Kuepper
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Grade 5 Hike
Suitable for very experienced hikers only.

51km's3 days returnRough unformed track No directional signage

No Modification of the natural environment.

Dogs are not allowed
Drones are not allowed
Not suitable for caravans
Not suitable for campervans or RV's
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About Redwater Falls

Deep in Southwest National Park at the end of the Jubilee Range sits Redwater Falls, one of Tasmania's great wilderness waterfalls and at least a 20 kilometre hike each way from the nearest road. The falls are a unique and spectacular sight, shooting through a narrow slot canyon before leaping off a triple plunge with a total drop of 60 metres. If it were more accessible Redwater Falls could be a major attraction but as is the three day off track walk required to get here makes it a place only for the most dedicated waterfall baggers. 

The best route to the falls begins on Jubilee Road off Styx Road. Park at a right fork of the road shortly after the bridge over the Styx River where the road has been dug up and a massive pile of dirt placed to block further progress by car. From here, it's a pleasant 5km walk mostly uphill along the road until the start of the Mt Jubilee "Track" where the hike proper begins. The start of the hike is marked by a small cairn and some pink ribbons, though besides a few markers early on is for all intents and purposes an off track walk. The first target is the summit of Mt Jubilee, and the best way forward is to aim for a the next highpoint ahead and pick the path of least resistance. There is a bit of rough scrub early on though the higher you climb the more open and lower it gets with the exception of a few forested gullies to get through, and typically there is good visibility to the next highpoint. 

After a pretty solid climb from the carpark at 350 metres above sea level to the summit at 950m, the hike across the Jubilee Range begins. Initially crossing a large saddle and the source of Jubilee Creek, the walk for the rest of day 1 is mostly relatively straightforward across the narrow ridge of the range, then descending to a plateau where several tarns present options to camp. The best option is to spend the first night here after a walk of 16km in total and 11km since the road.

On day 2, follow a ridgeline off the plateau and descend towards Wayati Gorge. There are sections of thick scrub that can't be avoided though for the most part it is again open buttongrass plain walking if you pick a good route and again visibility is very good towards your next checkpoint, whether that be a creek or highpoint. As you head towards Wayati Gorge it's worth a very short detour to peer into a secondary gorge where Jubilee Falls plunges deep in its depths. On our trip, we first went to Pooali Falls and we would recommend doing the same and creating a loop across each side of the gorge. For Pooali Falls, attack the falls in pretty much a straight line then follow a very steep and scrubby ridge to its base. Cross Porra Creek at the falls, then ascend the southern side of the creek up a geological faultline that provides a much easier route out then the climb down the northern side.  

Climb to the top of the gorge, and continue downstream towards Redwater Falls with grandstand views towards the Mt Picton, Weld and the Snowy and Anne Ranges. It's possible to even get very distant views of Angel Falls plunging below Mt Sarah Jane provided it's flowing well enough. After a short stretch along the top of the gorge, descend steeply again now through less friendly head-high scrub, aiming for a very steep gully 100 metres to the east of the falls. With extreme care, pick a route down the step and unstable ground, aiming for the tributary creek that flows into Porra Creek just downstream of the falls. This should bring you out to a bonus little waterfall on Porra Creek that we named Whirlpool Falls, then soon after to Porra Creek itself.

The final stretch is a short but technical 100 metre boulder scramble up the creek, catching glimpses of the towering Redwater Falls in the background, and once you finally arrive the falls are a special reward for effort, plunging into a reddish pool perfect for a summer dip and relax after the enormous effort to get here. If you make it in this far it's definitely worth extending the hike for another hour or so to try and reach Dixon Falls, then climbing out of the gorge through the buttongrass on the western side. The hike back uphill towards camp is a gruelling one, and if you visit all the waterfalls it ends up being an 18 kilometre day so it may be worth budgeting an extra day and making camp further down from the tarns, though regardless of how many days you take the hike is a massive effort. 

Redwater Falls is very much a different waterfall to the popular Redwater Creek Falls near Sheffield, so don't confuse the two! 

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Waterfalls near Redwater Falls

Whirlpool Falls

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Suitable for very experienced hikers only.

0.11 km's awayRead more
Dixon Falls

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Suitable for very experienced hikers only.

0.37 km's awayRead more
Pooali Falls

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