Friday 1/03/2024 Nelson Falls Carpark on Lyell Highway – Nelson River – Nelson Falls
Nelson Valley, lutruwita / TASMANIA
Palawa Country
Participants: Stephen Davies (Photos), Sue Davies (Report)
We pulled over at the Nelson Falls Car Park on our drive to Queenstown for a toilet stop. We saw the sign and thought we’d do the short walk.
Max elevation: 366 m
Total climbing: 33 m
Total descent: -20 m
Average speed: 4.02 km/h
Total time: 00:36:28
Here we found a verdant green forest, moss-covered rocks, lichen-encrusted trees (Sassafras and Myrtle) and ferns galore. The falls themselves were delicate and picturesque. It was well worth the 30-minute walk!
Nelson River
Information on Parks Tasmania signage along the way
A wet landing
It’s 480 million years ago – in the Devonian Period. If your time machine had landed here, you’d have needed flippers! This was part of a shallow tropical sea.
The sedimentary rocks that now make up Nelson Falls contain fossils of sea shells – evidence that these rocks were deposited in a marine environment.
• I feel the earth move
The earth isn’t rock solid. Earthquakes and volcanoes show that the earth’s crust can crumple, crack and rupture. In fact the whole surface of the earth. moves about – very slowly in human terms – driven by the heat of the earth’s interior.
According to the theory of continental drift the present day continents were once joined together in one land mass. This later broke into two parts. Gondwana and Laurasia Gondwana included Tasmania, mainland Australia, Antarctica.
South America and the other southern hemisphere continents.
Gondwana also broke apart, its rift valleys becoming oceans. The current spread of plants and animals helps to back up the theory of continental drift: For example placental mammals, which dominate animal life elsewhere. developed after Australia was separated from the other continents. allowing marsupials – kangaroos, koalas etc – to dominate here.
This process of movement is still occurring. Tasmania is believed to be moving northward, along with the rest of Australia, at a rate of about 5 cm per year.
An icy welcome
If you’d come here 300 million years ago. you’d have had trouble opening the time machine door against the fierce, icy winds. During the Carboniferous Period this part of the earth’s crust had drifted south and rotated. What’s now Brisbane was near the South Pole.
The land was covered by ice and swept by polar winds. Among the few plants were the ancestors of the ferns that still thrive here. They survived by clinging • close to the ground in sheltered spots.
• Tougher than they look
Ferns are great survivors, being found everywhere from the equator to alpine areas. They have been around far longer than conifers and flowering plants.
Their success is partly due to their adaptability. One of their few demands is a plentiful supply of moisture. Some species can thrive in low-light areas – such as the forests here – where few other plants will grow. Other species, such as bracken (Steridium esculentum), thrive on disturbance.
Ferns are often among the first species to invade disturbed ground. This is partly due to their plentiful production of spores – which allows them to be easily spread by the wind – and partly due to their ability to spread underground via rhizomes (underground stems).
At least seven species of fern are found in this valley. These include man fern – Dicksonia antarctica: hard water fern (Blechnum Wattsi): mothershield fern (Polystichum proliferum): and filmy ferns (Hymenophyllum sp).
Slowly torn apart
About 165 million years ago – during the Jurassic Period – you’d have got a warmer welcome. As Gondwana started to break apart, large amounts of molten material (mainly dolerite) welled up under what is now Tasmania. At the same time the whole global climate was much warmer, favouring the spread of the newly developing plants and animals, including dinosaurs.
• The rise of the eucalypts
By about 50 million years ago, Tasmania had separated from Antarctica. its last connection with Gondwana. The split occurred after the development of plants such as southern beeches and conifers, which we still have in common with places like South America. But Australia was an island before it saw the rise of the eucalypts – plants which developed nowhere else in the world. Their remarkable success is due to their ability to cope better with drier conditions and fire.
The local landscape features, geology, scenic highlights, flora, fauna, indigenous history, white history and other walks in the area (Gemini)
Nelson Falls is a picturesque waterfall situated within the Nelson Valley in western Tasmania. This region is characterised by temperate rainforests and deeply incised valleys carved by rivers.
Landscape Features and Geology
Precambrian quartzites: The surrounding landscape is dominated by Precambrian quartzites, some of the oldest rocks in Tasmania. These hard, metamorphosed sandstones are resistant to erosion, forming the prominent ridges and valleys of the area.
Rainforest gullies: The falls are located within a steep-sided rainforest gully, sculpted by water erosion over millennia.
Cascading waterfall: Nelson Falls itself is a cascade waterfall, where water tumbles down a series of stepped rock faces.
Scenic Highlights
Lush rainforest: The walking track to the falls winds through a dense and vibrant temperate rainforest. The rainforest canopy provides a cool and refreshing environment.
Cascading waterfall: The falls offer a visual spectacle, with water cascading over moss-covered rocks and plunging into a crystal-clear pool below.
Valley views: Glimpses of the surrounding Nelson Valley can be obtained from the walking track, showcasing the verdant vegetation and rugged topography.
Local Flora
The temperate rainforest surrounding Nelson Falls is rich in plant life:
Myrtle (Nothofagus cunninghamii): This iconic Tasmanian tree species dominates the rainforest canopy.
Sassafras (Atherosperma moschatum): The fragrant leaves of sassafras are a characteristic feature of the understorey.
Tree ferns: Various species of tree ferns, such as the ponga (Dicksonia antarctica), contribute to the lushness of the rainforest.
Mosses and liverworts: The moist environment fosters a diverse range of mosses and liverworts that carpet the forest floor and cloak branches and trunks.
Local Fauna
The sheltered rainforest habitat provides refuge for a variety of animals:
Birds: Species such as scrub robins (Drymodes olivacea), grey fantails (Rhipidura albiscapa), and wompoo doves (Leucosarcia melanoleuca) may be seen flitting amongst the foliage.
Mammals: Small marsupials like pademelons (Thylogale spp.) and Tasmanian devils (Sarcophilus harrisii) may be present but are more likely to be active at night.
Amphibians: Frogs and other amphibians may be found near streams and in damp crevices.
Indigenous History
The Palawa people are the traditional custodians of this land. Evidence suggests Aboriginal Tasmanians frequented the Nelson Valley for hunting, fishing, and resource gathering for thousands of years. Oral histories and artefacts may hold stories about their connection to this place. Consultation with Tasmanian Aboriginal people is needed for a deeper understanding of their relationship with Nelson Falls and the surrounding area.
White History
European exploration of western Tasmania began in the early 19th century. Logging activities likely impacted the rainforest surrounding Nelson Falls to some extent. The inclusion of Nelson Falls within a recreational area allows controlled access for visitors while aiming to minimise environmental impact.
Other Nearby Walks
The Nelson Valley offers a variety of walking tracks for exploration:
Mount Beattie Track: A challenging climb to the summit of Mount Beattie, rewarding walkers with panoramic views.
Hastings Caves State Reserve: Explore extensive limestone caves featuring impressive geological formations.
Tarkine Drive: A scenic route traversing Tarkine Forest, the largest cool temperate rainforest in Australia.
Nelson Falls provides a short and accessible walk suitable for visitors of all ages. The walk offers a glimpse into the beauty of Tasmania’s temperate rainforests, the geological history of the region, and the diverse flora and fauna that thrive in this environment.
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