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Nelson Falls Track, Franklin-Gordon Wild Rivers National Park

Nelson Falls Track is a short and easy rainforest walk in Franklin-Gordon Wild Rivers National Park, Tasmania. Located just off the Lyell Highway between Derwent Bridge and Queenstown, this 1.4 km return walk takes around 20 minutes and is a great place to stretch your legs while travelling through Tasmania’s wild west coast region.

The walk follows a flat, well-maintained track beside a small river through cool temperate rainforest. Along the way, you’ll pass moss-covered logs, fern-filled gullies, sassafras, myrtle and ancient rainforest plants that thrive in the cool, wet conditions of the Nelson Valley. Interpretation signs along the boardwalk share information about the area’s Gondwana heritage and the ancient plant species found in this part of Tasmania.

The track leads to a viewing platform at Nelson Falls, where water tumbles down a broad rock face into the rainforest below. The falls are beautiful at any time, but they can be especially impressive after heavy rain, when the flow becomes a powerful cascade and mist rises through the surrounding forest.

Nelson Falls Track is graded as a Grade 1 walk, with a flat and even surface, no steps and no steep sections. It is suitable for most visitors, including families and wheelchair users who have someone to assist them. Children should still be supervised closely near flowing water, and care should be taken on wet sections of track or boardwalk.

Facilities at the trailhead include parking and toilets, making Nelson Falls a convenient stop on the Lyell Highway. A valid Tasmanian parks pass is required for entry to Franklin-Gordon Wild Rivers National Park, so check current park information before visiting.

For visitors exploring the Tasmanian Wilderness World Heritage Area, Nelson Falls Track is a simple but rewarding walk. With easy access, ancient rainforest and a beautiful waterfall at the end, it is one of the best short walks between Derwent Bridge and Queenstown.

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