Guidebook
Lonely Planet Tasmania
Lonely Planet · 2024
The 10th edition covers Mt Field National Park, home of Russell Falls, an easy day trip from Hobart.
Australia · Tasmania
Russell Falls
A two-tiered curtain flanked by towering swamp gum trees and ancient tree ferns is reached by one of Tasmania's easiest, most family-friendly rainforest walks, often called the state's most photographed natural feature. It appeared on the reverse of an Australian five-dollar banknote design in the 1960s.
Widely considered Tasmania's most photographed waterfall Essentials guide
Checked September 2026 by David Bussell
Russell Falls drops 45 metres (148 ft) on the Russell Falls Creek, inside Mount Field National Park. It is a tiered-type fall, and the nearest base for a visit is National Park, with HBA the closest airport. Access to the main viewpoint is rated easy.
As a tiered waterfall, a series of distinct drops, one below the other.
What you can do here
A walk-in-and-look waterfall
No commercial adventures run at Russell Falls itself — the experience is the approach and the view. Guided day trips from National Park are the easiest way to combine it with the area around it.
Also good forHikingPhotography
When to go
Spring and autumn balance flow with mild walking conditions on the flat, easy trail.
Entry: National park entry fee
Getting there
- Base town National Park
- Airport HBA
- Country Australia
- Region Tasmania, Australia, Oceania
- Access Easy — a short walk or roadside viewpoint
How it compares
This waterfall
Russell Falls
Australia
Height45 mWidth—
Most similar
Kitekite Falls
New Zealand
Height40 mWidth—
Also a tiered waterfall, of similar height and in New Zealand
Largest curtain
Victoria Falls
Zimbabwe · Zambia
Height108 mWidth1,708 m
Largest single sheet of falling water
Tallest on earth
Angel Falls
Venezuela
Height979 mWidth—
Widest on earth
Khone Phapheng Falls
Laos
Height21 mWidth10,783 m
Measured across the whole multi-channel system
40 m
45 m
108 m
330 m
979 m
Kitekite FallsRussell FallsVictoria FallsEiffel TowerAngel Falls
Khone Phapheng Falls
10,783 m
Victoria Falls
1,708 m
Angel Falls is 22× taller than Russell Falls. Victoria Falls is 2.4× taller. We don't have a reliable crest width for Russell Falls yet, so it is left off the width chart. Tallest · widest lists.
Watch and read
Videos from Russell Falls
10:48
5:17
1:54
Chosen from YouTube; videos belong to their creators and play from YouTube's privacy-enhanced player.
Books worth packing
Top Walks in TasmaniaMelanie Ball
Walking guide
Top Walks in Tasmania
Melanie Ball · 2018
Graded day walks across Tasmania's national parks, with maps, for building a walking trip around Russell Falls.
Guidebook
Lonely Planet Australia
Lonely Planet · 2024
The 22nd edition covers the Top End, Far North Queensland, Tasmania, Victoria and NSW in one volume.
Lonely Planet Best Day Walks AustraliaLonely Planet
Walking guide
Lonely Planet Best Day Walks Australia
Lonely Planet · 2024
Short and half-day walks around Australia, useful for fitting waterfall hikes into a wider trip.
On the map
-42.677, 146.7126
Quick answers
Where is Russell Falls?
Russell Falls is in Australia (Tasmania), inside Mount Field National Park. The nearest base is National Park and the closest airport is HBA. Its coordinates are -42.6770, 146.7126.
How tall is Russell Falls?
Russell Falls drops 45 metres (148 feet). It is a tiered-type waterfall on the Russell Falls Creek.
When is the best time to visit Russell Falls?
Peak flow is March to April and October to December. Spring and autumn balance flow with mild walking conditions on the flat, easy trail.
What can you do at Russell Falls?
Beyond the viewpoints: hiking and photography. Access to the main viewpoint is rated easy — a short walk or roadside viewpoint.
How do you get to Russell Falls?
The usual base is National Park, and the closest airport is HBA. A short walk or roadside viewpoint from there. National park entry fee.
Nearby
Closest to Russell Falls
Nelson Falls
Australia · 100 km away
The Nelson Falls, a cascade waterfall, is located in the UNESCO World Heritage–listed Tasmanian Wilderness…
Liffey Falls
Australia · 160 m · 110 km away
The Liffey Falls, a series of four distinct tiered–cascade waterfalls on the Liffey River, is located in the…
Dip Falls
Australia · 210 km away
The Dip Falls, a cascade waterfall over cubic-basalt formed rocks on the Dip River, is located in Mawbanna in…
Hopetoun Falls
Australia · 18 m · 520 km away
The Hopetoun Falls is a waterfall across the Aire River that is located in the Otways region of Victoria…