What is Mount Field National Park?
Mount Field National Park is about 90 minutes northwest of Hobart, Tasmania. Declared in 1916, it is one of Tasmania's oldest national parks and is famous for Russell Falls and giant trees.
Mount Field and Freycinet were Tasmania's first national parks, both created in 1916. Mount Field rises from tall wet forests in the valley to alpine moorland and lakes on the plateau above.
The Tall Trees Walk passes swamp gums, Eucalyptus regnans, some more than 80 metres tall. These are among the tallest flowering plants in the world.
Waterfalls and lakes
An easy, wheelchair-accessible path leads from the visitor centre to Russell Falls, and further tracks reach Horseshoe Falls and Lady Barron Falls. At night, glow-worms can be seen along the track.
Higher up, Lake Dobson and the Tarn Shelf offer beautiful alpine walks, especially in autumn when the deciduous beech, called fagus, turns gold. A small ski field operates at Mount Mawson in winter.
Wildlife includes pademelons, wombats, platypuses, echidnas and many birds. The park is part of the Tasmanian Wilderness World Heritage Area.
Did You Know?
The town of National Park sits at the park entrance, beside the Tyenna River.