Wellington Falls and the disappearing tarn at Mount Wellington, Tasmania

Wellington Falls and the disappearing tarn at Mount Wellington, Tasmania

A detailed walking guide for those wanting to get to Wellington Falls Tasmania in Wellington Park near Hobart. Explore scenic alpine trails, see the fabled potato fields and have the chance to experience the elusive Disappearing Tarn on a day hike from Hobart.

Did you know that Wellington Falls is the highest waterfall on Mount Wellington in Tasmania? Fittingly, getting here requires the longest walk! In this blog post I want to equip you with everything you need to tackle the hike to Wellington Falls on the Milles Track. I also added a small section dedicated to the disappearing lake, accessible along the route.

Via the Wellington Falls Track on Mount Wellington

As previously mentioned, getting to Wellington Falls requires quite a long hike from Hobart. Although the waterfall itself is the largest in the park, it is by no means the most impressive in Tasmania. Still, it's a waterfall worth visiting, especially since there's a lot to see along the way.

The route to Wellington Falls is known as the Milles Track and begins at The Springs in Wellington Park. However, as you will see in this guide, there are several ways to start the hike.

Where should the Wellington Falls Track start?

Option 1: The sources

The official starting point for the Milles Track, which leads to Wellington Falls, is at The Springs, approximately 750 meters above Kunanyi (Mount Wellington). You will find it signposted after a small set of stairs directly on the Grays Fire Trail.

To get to The Springs you can either drive from Hobart or take the shuttle bus. If you're taking the bus, I recommend just purchasing an Explorers Pass online. This gives you unlimited access to hop on and off the bus 24/7, so you can even sneak in a trip to the summit.

Option 2: fern tree

Since we were in our large van, we wanted to avoid another trip to The Springs on a busy weekend. So instead we decided to park our car near the suburb of Fern Tree at the foot of Mount Wellington. This added a slightly larger climb but also allowed us to check out Silver Falls along the way.

If you want to follow our route from Fern Tree to Wellington Falls, I would recommend parking in the local park at the start of “Westringa Road” to avoid too much road trekking.

Wellington Falls GPX file

Below I have attached my GPX file generated on my Garmin watch. Navigating the Milles Track to Wellington Falls is really easy, so you don't necessarily need the maps for navigation.

GPX file: Download

My Strava: Visit

The hike to Wellington Falls

Hiking distance: 20 km back (Fernbaum)
Duration: 5-7 hours
Altitude: 950 meters in total
Difficulty: Moderate, but a long day hike

Below I will break down the route we took to reach Wellington Falls, following the Pipeline Track, the Silver Falls Track and then the Milles Track to the waterfall. This can be completed by anyone with a decent level of fitness as long as you are prepared for a fairly long day hike of 20 kilometers.

We had excellent hiking conditions at the end of April with no snow or rain. However, the slopes of Mount Wellington can transform into a different place in winter. Therefore, it is advisable to monitor conditions and prepare for alpine environments even if you are near Hobart.

If you're starting at The Springs, start reading here.

Ultimate Tasmanian travel resource

I hope you enjoy this blog post. For more Tasmania travel and adventure inspiration, don’t miss my ultimate guides below.

– 62 Epic Things to Do in Tasmania – Where to Stay in Tasmania (Best Places) – 26 Amazing Waterfalls in Tasmania – 35 Must-Do Hikes in Tasmania

Fern Tree to Silver Falls

We left our car in the local park, crossed Huon Road and followed the Maps.Me app for about 5 minutes through local streets towards the Pipeline Track.

The Pipeline Track quickly turns into the Silver Falls Track and before we knew it we found ourselves at another waterfall in Wellington Park.
alt=“SILVER FALLS TRACK TASMANIA”>
Silver Falls isn't the most impressive waterfall in Tasmania, but it was a good place to prepare for the upcoming short but steep climb to The Springs.
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alt=“SILVER FALLS TASMANIA”>

FEATURED IN: 7 waterfalls near Hobart to see on a day trip

Silver Falls to the springs

The trail continues from Silver Falls by climbing a wooden staircase. From here the track is known as Reid's Track, a short but sharp historic rock path which has long been a shortcut to The Springs.

alt=“SILVER FALLS TRACK TO THE SPRINGS”>
alt=“SILVER FALLS TRACK TO THE SPRINGS”>

Mille's track

The Springs serves as a great base for all the great hikes around Wellington Park. There are facilities such as toilets, a small day hut with a fire pit, maps, information boards and even a cafe.

If you're planning on getting from The Springs to Wellington Falls, you should start reading here.

If you check the information boards at the Springs you will find a map showing the route to Milles Track.

You'll find it right at the start of the Pinnacle Track. After a short set of stairs through the woods the Pinnacle Track forks onto another short set of stairs on the Grays Fire Trail, turn left here.
alt="THE SPRINGS TRAIL TASMANIA">
Next, continue to a sign showing the turnoff to the Ice House Track and Wellington Falls (Milles Track). Once on the Milles Track you can continue the rest of the walk to Wellington Falls, 7 kilometers away.
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alt="VIEW FROM MILLES TRACK WELLINGTON PARK">
The Milles Track begins as a gentle, flat woodland walk with occasional clearings offering excellent views over Hobart and beyond. In some sections there are also small streams flowing down where we filled up our drink bottles.
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RELATED POST: 26 Awesome Things to Do in Hobart

The potato fields

As we continued along the Milles Track we noticed that the scree ground was slowly becoming rockier. Eventually the path opens to reveal a boulder-filled landscape with scattered eucalyptus growth. Soon we passed a fork in the road with signs for the “Snake Plains Track”. Although imperceptible, this marks the point where the Milles Track merges into the Wellington Falls Track.
alt=“WELLINGTON FALLS PERSECUTE STEINFELDER”>
As we continued walking we reached the large boulder field known as the potato fields. This section was a bit strenuous as we were constantly careful not to slip and slide while hopping from boulder to boulder.
alt=“POTATO FIELDS AND DISAPPEARING TARN TRACK WELLINGTON PARK”>Cross the potato fields on the way to Wellington Falls Tasmania

The Vanishing Tarn

The Disappearing Tarn is a Hobart phenomenon that only occurs after heavy rainfall, hence the name Disappearing Tarn. I had heard about this magical place and seen photos online and we were optimistic about seeing it. The boulders form a small natural alpine basin (tarn), which is usually an aquatic turquoise color.

While we hoped we would at least get a glimpse of it on the way to Wellington Falls, the spot where we thought it would be was completely dry. In fact, there was no water pooling anywhere near the potato fields, so we continued on, a little disappointed.

If it is winter and it has rained heavily, let me know if you find it. Below I'm including the GPS coordinates for the approximate location of the Disappearing Tarn (the Google Maps pin is completely disabled).

42°55’28″S 147°12’36″E

We continue on the Endless Boulders

To be honest, we weren't really prepared for so much boulder bashing and rock hopping before hiking Wellington Falls. The field seems to expand endlessly. However, we pressed on, following the orange post markers to navigate the best routes.

I could imagine these post markers being a lifesaver in heavy rain, fog or snow!

Descent to Wellington Falls

The route continues from the potato fields, giving you a little break from the rocks when you go out on muddy earth in the evening. This trail then winds gently through dense, prickly forest before dropping steeply to Wellington Falls.
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Once you arrive, you will see a fork with signs for the waterfall viewpoint. From here you can continue to the right to reach the top of the waterfall.

Wellington Falls Lookout is a great place to view Hobart's tallest waterfall. However, there is a bit of tree growth blocking half the waterfall. I carefully walked around to the left to get a slightly better view. Be careful though, these sections are steep and help is far away!
alt=“WELLINGTON FALLS TASMANIA”>View of Wellington Falls Tasmania

WANT MORE HIKES: Circuit Walk to Mount Wellington Summit

Return to the Fern Tree

After resting the legs and enjoying the views of Wellington Falls from the lookout, we return and return to Fern Tree along the same route.
alt=“VANISHING TARN TRACK T WELLINGTON FALLS TASMANIA”>

Where to stay in Hobart

I have written a separate, comprehensive accommodation guide for where to stay in Hobart. But below are 3 of the top rated and most popular accommodation options for different budgets. They're a good place to start, but be sure to read the full guide before booking!

The area closest to most of Hobart's highlights is called Salamanca Place. This area has great restaurants and bars and is close to the markets, wharf, museums and Elizabeth Mall.

However, Hobart is a relatively small city with just over 200,000 residents, and as a result most accommodation options in the inner suburbs offer easy access to most of the highlights.

Best Mid-Range Hotel: The RivuletThe Rivulet is an impressive 19th-century mansion that is listed as a historical monument. It offers some of the best suites in Hobart without a ridiculous price tag.

The location is perfect and the accommodation includes the best rated breakfast in Hobart.

Check the best price for your dates at Rivulet, Hobart.
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Best Budget Hostel: Montacute Boutique BunkhouseFor budget travelers and backpackers, Montacute is by far the best place to stay in Hobart. This is a great hostel that is considered to have the best atmosphere in the city.

Dorms are only $30 per night, which is a great value. Especially considering most other hostels are the same price or more!

Check the best price for your dates on Booking.com or at Hostelworld
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Best Luxury Accommodation: The Grand ChancellorCentrally located on the waterfront overlooking Constitution Dock, the Grand Chancellor Hotel is one of the most prominent accommodation options in Hobart.

Guests receive harbor views and access to the heated indoor pool with mountain views. There's also an on-site gym, restaurant and bar, so you won't want to leave the hotel!

Check the best price for your dates at Grand Chancellor Hobart
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More Tasmanian adventure and travel guides

I hope this hiking guide to reaching Wellington Falls Tasmania and the Disappearing Tarn was helpful when planning your next adventure from Hobart.

If you're looking for more Tasmanian travel guides or adventure inspiration, be sure to check out some of my other articles below. If you manage to find the disappearing tarn, let me know, I'd love to see photos of it!
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