Are the Liffey Falls Tasmania’s Most Beautiful Waterfall?

Tasmania is celebrated for its gorgeous, untouched wilderness. And within that dense wilderness lie quite a few waterfalls. Many of the various Tasmania waterfalls are found in the island’s south or outer remote regions. But then there’s the Liffey Falls, a beautiful and relatively accessible waterfall in the island’s north. Some say that Liffey Falls is the most beautiful waterfall in Tasmania. While I can’t back that call quite yet, it’s one of the best I’ve seen so far.

It wasn’t until my first extended stay in Tasmania that I had the chance to visit the Liffey Falls for myself. Not that these waterfalls are very hard to get to, I just hadn’t been out their way very much. Oddly enough, instead, I’d seen the Dip Falls out in the island’s northwest, which is much more remote. So if you want to see some great and easily reachable waterfalls while in northern Tasmania, here’s what’s in store for you.

How to Get to Liffey Falls

Like any remote natural attraction, knowing how to get to the Liffey Falls is valuable information to have. Thankfully the falls are accurately shown on Google Maps so at least you have that to rely on. The waterfalls are found within the Liffey Falls State Reserve, just north of the lakes of the Central Highlands.

This means they’re perfect if you’re after a day trip from Launceston. But you will need a car to get here, with renting a car in Launceston making the most sense.

It’s important to understand that there are two car parks for the falls. The Upper Car Park is to the west of the falls, and the Lower Car Park is to the east. This means if you’re coming from Launceston, you’ll need to take the small road linking up Bogan Road (C502) and Highland Lakes Road (A5) to reach the Upper Car Park on Riversdale Road (C513).

Once you’re close to the falls, you’ll be driving through a mix of rural countryside and forest. The C-class roads like Bogan Road and Riversdale Road are gravel roads and quite narrow at times. I say that so you know what to expect and so you can drive with caution, as driving in Tasmania has its challenges. You may also spot wildlife like echidnas along the side of the road, so keep your eyes peeled.

Liffey Falls Walk and Nature

Having made your way to a car park, it’s time to set out on the Liffey Falls Walk.

This trail connects both car parks and takes you along the river to this picturesque four-stage waterfall. The walk into Liffey Falls from the Upper Car Park takes only 20 minutes and is 1 kilometre each way. Taking the track from the Lower Car Park is a longer walk, with the trail going about 3 km either way.

We only walked from the Upper Car Park to the falls so I can’t comment on the other way. But even that short-ish walk proved very pretty. Going from the car park you’re on a fairly gentle and well-maintained path through forest and ferns.

The Tasmanian wilderness has plenty of these huge ferns and they really add to its ancient, primeval feel. I’d say you get to see some textbook Tasmanian wilderness on this walk making it great for those on a short trip to Tassie looking to experience as much as possible.

Other than ferns and giant trees, you’ll also spy plenty of moss and fungi by the trail.

All the different mushrooms in particular caught my eye in particular. From the ones below to little ones with bright red caps, they add to the sightseeing. They’re also just fun to photograph. Looking for odd mushrooms is just one of those things you start doing when you spend long enough in Tasmania’s wilderness.

Besides the surrounding nature, the other thing to look at of course is the Liffey River.

Every once in a while you’ll get a break in the trees and enjoy views down to it. As you go, you’ll see small cascades emerging along the river. Unfortunately, the vantage point for these is side-on, so they aren’t too impressive. Luckily, they’re just smaller falls and are more of a warm-up for what is the main show.

Liffey Falls Waterfall Photos

You’ll know when you’ve reached the main cascade of the Liffey Falls. Tumbling over four tiers of rock, it’s a wonderful sight, especially after a good rain.

Don’t worry, in Tasmania that can happen year-round so even in summer it looks impressive. Just off to the side of the waterfall is a small viewing terrace, which is as close as you can get. Further along the path are some good vantage points too, especially if you get down by the river.

Now, I may not be the best at photographing waterfalls, but I sure like to try. To get a good long-exposure shot you need a tripod, which I don’t have, so these were the closest I got. Still, I think they convey how beautiful this waterfall is and how lush and pretty its surroundings are. What more can I say really?

Have you heard of or visited Liffey Falls in Tasmania? What other waterfalls in Tasmania would you recommend people research before their trip to the island? Please share your thoughts in the comments below.