Things to do at Mount Field

Last reviewed 13 Sept 2026 · verify live conditions with Parks Tasmania

Most first visits revolve around Russell Falls, with Three Falls Circuit if you want a longer walk. The alpine circuit is Tarn Shelf when Lake Dobson Road is open — or Pandani Grove as the weather test. Grade 4–5 peaks are for experienced walkers on a later visit. You will not see the whole park on one trip from Hobart.

A simple order: check alerts and the road → start at Russell Falls → add Three Falls Circuit if you have time → drive Lake Dobson Road only if it is open and you still have daylight.

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1. 1

   Russell Falls

   Grade 1 · 1.4 km · peak weekends busy

   The classic first-visit waterfall — sealed path from the Visitor Centre, three mossy tiers, busy weekends. A complete half-day can stop here. The main path is published as wheelchair-accessible with assistance; the loop return is not fully accessible.

   Falls guide →Hobart day-trip articleWaterfalls area
2. 2

   Three Falls Circuit

   Grade 3 · 6 km · many steps

   Russell, Horseshoe, Tall Trees and Lady Barron on a 6 km Grade 3 circuit with 200+ steps. Usual published direction is anticlockwise. You can turn around at any falls. Families often need three hours — this is the main full walk for most first visits, still close to the café.

   Circuit guide →Full-day planAll walks
3. 3

   Tall trees / swamp gums

   Grade 2 · 1 km · rainforest

   A short Grade 2 circuit among Eucalyptus regnans — some of the tallest flowering plants on earth. Pair with the falls, or walk it as the mid-section of Three Falls. Excellent grey-weather add-on. This is not fagus country — deciduous beech lives higher, on Tarn Shelf.

   Tall Trees walk →Tall trees areaSwamp gum article
4. 4

   Pandani Grove

   Grade 2 · Lake Dobson · road-dependent

   Thirty to forty minutes around Lake Dobson among pandani. Use it as the alpine weather test: if the shelf is in cloud or you arrived late, this circuit can be the whole alpine visit. Only if Lake Dobson Road is open. No campervans on that gravel.

   Pandani Grove guide →Alpine areaRoad notes
5. 5

   Tarn Shelf alpine day

   Grade 3 · 12 km · road-dependent

   The main alpine circuit — glacial tarns, fagus in autumn, and Twilight Tarn Hut to look inside, not to stay. About 12 km and 5–6 hours. Only if Lake Dobson Road is open and you packed for hypothermia. Do not add this after a late Hobart start and Three Falls.

   Tarn Shelf guide →Alpine areaAlpine itinerary
6. 6

   Visitor Centre, café & picnic

   Services · pass sales · Plan B weather

   Buy or check a Parks Pass, ask about Lake Dobson Road (phone 03 6288 1149 option 3), and reset in the Waterfalls Café. Picnic areas and electric BBQs sit by the centre. The Curiosity Room is a wet-weather pause. Café hours are a private operator — verify on the day.

   Waterfalls area →Plan your visitCampground notes
7. 7

   Wildlife & dusk roads

   Dawn / dusk · no feeding · wildlife-road risk

   Bennett’s wallabies, wombats and echidnas around the campground and entrance road. Watch, never feed. Drive slowly at dusk — night driving out of the park is a wildlife-collision risk. Budget the Hobart return before dark.

   Visit planning →Campground notesOfficial wildlife advice
8. 8

   Glow-worms at Russell Falls

   Evening · optional · overnight helps

   Evenings can show glow-worms on the Russell Falls approach. Stay on the path, keep lights off the banks, and leave before a dark wildlife drive if you can. Easier if you are already overnight at the Tyenna campground — first-come, first-served, separate fee from the Parks Pass.

   Russell Falls →Overnight planNight-driving note
9. 9

   Skiing at Mount Mawson

   Winter · conditional · club field

   A small club ski field when there is enough snow, usually weekends and holidays. Snow, tows and the gravel road are all optional. Check the Southern Tasmanian Ski Association and phone option 3 the morning you drive. A Parks Pass is still required. This is not a mainland resort day.

   Mawson notes →Winter itineraryRoad & comms
10. 10

    Harder alpine peaks

    Hard · experienced · second visit

    Mount Field East, Lakes Belton & Belcher and Mount Field West are Grade 4–5 days for experienced walkers. Navigation, alpine layers and a PLB belong in the plan. Leave them for a later visit, not the afternoon after Russell Falls.

    Mount Field East →Belton & BelcherMount Field West