MONTEZUMA FALLS

Welcome to Montezuma Falls

Trace the course of an old mining tramway to Montezuma Falls, the highest waterfall in the state.

This towering natural feature makes a 104-metre plunge in the heart of an open, park-like rainforest on the west coast. Named after a Mexican Aztec emperor, Montezuma Silver Mining Company was formed in 1891, giving the falls its name. Workers carved a wide trail through this steep, damp and densely forested terrain to clear the way for mining operations. Today, a walking trail follows the historical railway remnants to the impressive falls.

Make your way along this wide and easy 11.5-kilometre return track in the company of contented locals walking their dogs and riding their bikes. The journey forms a pleasant three hours in a lush natural setting, and the waterfall itself packs a colossal punch with its imposing stature and pumping rapids. Gain an even more exhilarating perspective of Montezuma Falls on a long, narrow suspension bridge taking you high over the creek at its base.

Explore this peaceful, verdant terrain in Tasmania’s wettest region – the rugged west coast.

Walk into the wilderness

The Montezuma Falls trailhead begins at Williamsford, just outside Rosebery, on the isolated west coast of Tasmania. The car park is surrounded by an open, grassy area; contrasting with the dark, ethereal forest that greets you upon entering the trail. Because this track was human-made and sculpted into the landscape, the walkway is often flanked on one or both sides by walls of earth coated in dark ferns. This creates a shadowy, cooling effect – enabling hardy fungi and wet, mossy plants to thrive and climb the wet soil on either side of you.

This is a mostly flat earthen track, wide enough to pass other walkers and bike riders with ease. This rainforest rail trail follows the course of the North East Dundas Tramway, once used to transport ore to smelters in the nearby town of Zeehan more than a century ago. This walk passes through sheltered sections that morph into patches of vast, open forest stretching into steep valleys below. Shafts of sunlight dot the dainty leaves of slender Tasmanian leatherwood, myrtle and sassafras trees that thrive in this rainforest climate.

The track runs beside Ring River and sits in an area prone to high rainfall, so expect to hear squelching underfoot from time to time along this sometimes-muddy, leaf-strewn track. Continue plodding along – take in the damp, earthen scent of a misty forest and enjoy the sensation of the crisp air, and perhaps some fresh raindrops to further invigorate your senses.

Wander to the waterfall

Several sections of this tranquil walk bring you to fascinating mine rail ruins, making it easier to imagine the infrastructure as it once was. A historical highlight of this hike is crossing Bather Creek beside an old, wooden tramway bridge. This mighty relic is propped up with tall timber beams and features a thick coating of cushiony moss and little ferns.

This area is brimming with giant tree ferns of a rich, deep emerald colour. Birdsong fills the air, including the slow, haunting call of White’s thrush – a bird with intricately patterned brown and white feathers often found rummaging along the forest floor.

Criss-crossing planks form more ruins along this trail, which leads you to the gushing white multi-tiered Montezuma Falls. This narrow, horsetail waterfall spills vertically from a colossal height amongst a dazzling landscape of viridescent vegetation. Scramble over some wet rocks and perch upon a boulder close to the base of the falls to feel its gentle cooling spray. Listen to the sheer force of the water plummeting into a fizzing creek below you. The forest canopy parts here to reveal the sky above.

More ruins lie at the foot of Montezuma Falls, including rusted foundations of a former bridge once used for transporting ore across the creek. Traversing these flowing waters is still possible today – simply climb up some short stairs and take one step at a time upon a narrow, gently wobbling suspension bridge with tall railing on either side. Stand high above the wild environment and enjoy this quirky experience before heading back the way you came.

Accessibility

Dog guides are welcome at Montezuma Falls. Pets are also permitted, so be aware that you may encounter other domestic animals along the path. This track has unprotected edges, especially towards the end. The trail is at times uneven, although its mostly flat terrain makes it quite easy to traverse.

Heavy metals from early mining days still contaminate some of the waterways along the walk, so it’s unsafe for humans or animals to drink from or swim in any streams.

Montezuma Falls is located roughly halfway between Zeehan and Rosebery, about a one-hour and 15-minute drive along the Murchison Highway from the more populated west coast towns of Strahan and Queenstown. You can get here via a 220-kilometre drive south-west of Launceston and a 320-kilometre journey north-west from Hobart.

The Tassielink 747 bus travels between the north-west hub of Burnie and far-west coastal town of Strahan, stopping at Rosebery on its way. However, there is no public transport directly to the Montezuma Falls trail, nor is there a direct bus route to Rosebery from Hobart or Launceston. Find more information via transport.tas.gov.au.

There are picnic tables and car parking spaces at the start of the walk, with toilet facilities available close to the beginning of the trail. The closest shops and petrol station can be found in Rosebery – a small town with some pub-style, cabin and tourist park accommodation.