Mathinna Falls, Tasmania | How To Explore All Four Tiers
Tucked into a small pocket of protected land surrounded by a maze of forestry roads, you’ll find a little rainforest oasis concealing Mathinna Falls – our all-time favourite waterfall in northeast Tasmania.
We don’t give out an ‘all-time favourite’ label very easily, but when you visit Mathinna Falls you’ll understand why it’s regarded so highly in our books! Wedged deep in a valley of giant white gums and bordered by a thriving rainforest, Mathinna Falls plummets above 100 m in total over four and a half tiers into Delvin Creek.
The walk to the base of Mathinna Falls is easily accessible and takes less than 30 minutes to complete. In this post, you’ll find all the information needed to explore our favourite waterfall, including the correct directions that Google fails to deliver!
And if excitement bubbles within you whenever you see a faint trail leading into a tangled forest, promising adventure and more waterfalls, then read on to find out how to explore the remaining three and a half tiers of Mathinna Falls.
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Exploring The Four Tiers Of Mathinna Falls In North East Tasmania
Distance
1.1km return (to the base)
Time
20 – 30 mins
Elevation Gain
15 m
Highest Elevation
409 m (at the base)
Facilities
Toilet
Entrance Fees
None
Grade
Grade 2/3 – steep and loose trail after the base
Where Is Mathinna Falls
Flanked by unnamed mountains and found among a labyrinth of forestry dirt roads, Mathinna Falls lies within the Mathinna Falls Regional Reserve – a small pocket of protected land 30 minutes north of Fingal, 1 hr 30 minutes east of Launceston and an hour west of St Helens.
How To Get To Mathinna Falls, Tasmania
Mathinna Falls is located within the Fingal Valley, surrounded by small country towns with little more than a pub – if that. There are no public transport options to reach the waterfall or tours to take you there.
Therefore, the only way to explore Mathinna Falls is by car which can be an adventure in itself if you follow Google Maps’ directions from St Helens! If you don’t have your own car, Rental Cars is a great resource to find the best deals for a hire car.
Directions From St Helens To Mathinna Falls
From the town centre of St Helens, turn west onto Quail St before turning right (northwest) onto Medeas Cove Esp at the T intersection. Stay on Medeas Cove Esp which will turn into Eagle St before merging into Argonaut Rd. The road will turn to dirt after approximately 4 km and eventually turn into Mt Albert Rd.
After 32 km, turn left (south) onto Evercreech Rd. Follow this road for 8 km before turning right (west) onto Robinsons Rd for 1 km. Take a left turn onto McKenzies Rd which will turn into Claytons Rd after 2 km. 7 km later, you’ll turn right (north) onto Mathinna Falls Rd which will take you to the trailhead after another 7 km.
Note: Google Maps will try and take you down an unnamed road approximately 4 km before Evercreech Rd. This road was in bad condition and closed halfway down the last time we ventured that way. You can follow the directions above to stay on the right track.
Directions From Launceston To Mathinna Falls
Leave Launceston and travel southeast via St Leonards Rd which will eventually turn into Blessington Rd (C401). Continue along this road for 46 km before it changes names to Roses Tier Rd. After another 10 km, turn right (southeast) onto Gunns Rd which will soon turn into Upper Esk Rd.
23 km later, turn left (north) onto Mathinna Plains Rd for 1 km before turning right (northeast) onto Claytons Rd, the first of the dirt roads. After 1 km, turn left (north) onto Mathinna Falls Rd which will deliver you to the trailhead after 7 km.
Note: The dirt roads leading into Mathinna Falls are generally in a poorly kept condition, making the trek in a 2wd quite exhilarating. But while we would recommend a 4wd or all-wheel drive, it is possible to reach the Mathinna Falls car park in most vehicles.
Additionally, it’s common to find fallen trees on these unsealed roads, so be prepared to reverse back or use a chainsaw – provided you have access to one and are comfortable handling them.
Mathinna Falls Trail Notes
Beginning beside Delvin Creek, a wide path wanders among skinny beech trees and ferns thriving in the damp soil beside the water. As the trail edges away from the creek, you’ll notice a distinct shift in vegetation as the ferns are left behind and replaced by giant white gums.
After gently ascending through the open woodland, you’ll meet the banks of Delvin Creek once again as the trail starts descending into a dense rainforest engulfed in a million shades of green. Moss clings to the grey boulders and fallen tree trunks, creating a slightly slippery path for the last few hundred metres to the base of Mathinna Falls.
Reaching The Base Of Mathinna Falls
Even before laying eyes on Mathinna Falls, you’ll hear the roar as it echoes off the surrounding steep slopes. Weaving between gnarled sassafras trunks and tall tree ferns, you’ll finally witness the first tier of the waterfall thundering into the creek below.
Perfectly placed rocks allow you to view Mathinna Falls from centre stage and when the creek is low, you may even be able to hop across to the other side. The base of the waterfall allows plenty of exploration opportunities, but if you’re feeling adventurous and don’t mind scrambling up an almost vertical slope, stick to the right side of the waterfall and search for a skinny little track leading towards its top.
The Second Tier Of Mathinna Falls
Crawling up the steep embankment, ducking and weaving through the moist vegetation, you’ll follow an unofficial yet relatively tracked trail towards the top of the first tier. Only a couple of awkward manoeuvres are necessary to reach the top and before long, you’ll be standing beside the half-size drop and looking onto the second tier.
From this vantage point, you’ll find tracks down to the shore where you can wander closer to the curtain of water. But don’t forget to look behind you, where the deep valley has opened up to reveal distant peaks.
Looking up, you’ll just be able to see one of the last two tiers of Mathinna Falls spilling between two peaks.
The Third Tier Of Mathinna Falls
From here, it gets a little trickier and fewer people attempt to go any further.
A few potential tracks lead off into the tangled forest where most abruptly end soon after. But if you walk towards the waterfall, you’ll eventually come across a scree slope on your right which indicates the beginning of the scramble to the last two tiers.
This section requires care and precision, where one false step could create a landslide of loose rocks. As you’re climbing the skinny scree field, keep an eye out for pink tags to your left.
Be wary of another trail leading directly upward which is unnecessarily dangerous and one we wouldn’t recommend after accidentally experiencing it ourselves…
Once you find the tags on your left, a traverse between a protruding rock covered in slimy moss and an old wire tied between two trees is required. A few more rock scrambles will lift you up onto the top of the second tier, where you can begin to wander the bank towards the third and fourth tier – which is often referred to as Upper Mathinna Falls.
Access to the base of the third tier requires hopping along slippery moss covered boulders half submerged in Delvin Creek. We chose to forego this mission in order to search for a better view of the last two tiers.
The Fourth Tier Of Mathinna Falls
From the creek’s edge, find a set of pink tags that will guide you further into the forest. Steep scrambles are necessary again to reach a large rock slab where the pink tags abruptly end.
As soon as you peek over the slab, you’ll know it was worth every second of messy scrambling to witness the ultimate view of Upper Mathinna Falls before you. Tree Ferns and white gums dominate the scene, with the sound of a monstrous waterfall encircling you courtesy of the deep gully you’ve found yourself in.
We have yet to see whether it’s possible to go any further as the scree slope is even more treacherous here and it seems you’ll need to go as high as you can before traversing the ridge around to the left.
Returning To The Trailhead
After taking in the untamed beauty of Upper Mathinna Falls, carefully follow the pink tags back to the creek beneath the third tier. Once you’ve reached the creek, follow the bank for as long as you can before descending close to the waterfall.
Reaching the second tier once more, it’s relatively easy to find the track back down to the base of Mathinna Falls where you’ll simply wander back along the groomed trail to your car.
Note: It’s easy to lose your way after leaving the official track to the base, especially between the third and second tier. If you plan to attempt reaching the top tiers of Mathinna Falls, we recommend having experience navigating through dense and barely tracked terrain.
Best Time To Visit Mathinna Falls
Mathinna Falls generally flows year-round and no matter how much water is falling from the dark cliffs, it’s a worthwhile experience that you won’t regret. Yet unlike some other waterfalls such as Halls Falls, which we rather view when it’s languidly flowing, Mathinna Falls is at its best when it’s surging.
In any case, each season has its highlights which we’ll list below.
- Summer: Generally, Mathinna Falls will be flowing quite peacefully in summer which allows you to splash about in the creek beneath the base of the waterfall
- Autumn: Tasmania often has the calmest weather during autumn, where the mornings are crisp and the days are sunny
- Winter: You’ll most likely see Mathinna Falls surging in winter and the chances of running into many other hikers are minimal
- Spring: We often get the rainiest weather in spring, meaning this is the time to see the falls thundering down without needing multiple layers
Note: Mathinna Falls Reserve is a paradise for snakes and leeches so be prepared with long pants, proper shoes and a first aid kit if you’re planning to attempt a longer mission to the top tiers.
Leave No Trace
Tasmania has a wealth of wild places that need our protection. Too often we see easily accessible locations, such as Mathinna Falls, littered with cans and tissues. Please follow the 7 Leave No Trace Principles when you’re exploring nature – or anywhere for that matter.
There are no rubbish bins in Mathinna Falls State Reserve so you’ll need to pack out whatever you pack in, including tissues and food scraps.
What To Bring
If you’re only planning a quick visit to the base of Mathinna Falls, you’ll need nothing more than a water bottle and a camera – and maybe a rain jacket!
But if you’re planning an adventure to the top tiers, we suggest bringing a first aid kit, extra warm clothes, snacks and water in case you get lost. There is no reception anywhere near the waterfall so we highly recommend taking an emergency beacon with you anytime you head off track as well.
Here is our basic list of items that we recommend taking on the Mathinna Falls walk
- A sturdy and supportive pair of hiking boots
- A good rain jacket – Tasmania can be unpredictable and unfriendly
- A tough, reusable Water bottle
- Snacks
- Phone
Other Things To Do Near Mathinna Falls
Evercreech Forest Reserve
Mathinna Falls is located less than 30 minutes from Evercreech Forest Reserve, where you’ll find a cute little meadow beside Evercreech Rivulet that’s perfect for camping.
Evercreech Reserve is also home to a small waterfall named Evercreech Falls, located along a stunning circuit through enormous tree ferns. Another short walk can be found on the eastern side of the river which takes you through a forest of giant white gums, fondly known as the ‘white knight’s’ that tower above the campground.
Where To Stay Near Mathinna Falls, Tasmania
Being so close to Launceston, it’s easily doable to visit Mathinna Falls in a day. However, there are many more adventures to be had in the area so we suggest taking a little longer to explore the region.
Evercreech Forest Reserve is our pick of the bunch to stay at while visiting the waterfalls and hikes nearby, but there are also plenty of beach or bush options within an hour’s radius of Mathinna Falls.
Fingal
- Bed In A Shed
- Craggy Peaks
