“Hi, I'm Shannon, during the summer of 2011 as a bursary student with Forestry Tasmania, I took the challenge to visit Forestry Tamania's 52 visitor sites.
Victoria Valley Falls is a joint venture between Forestry Tasmania; Parks and Wildlife Service; and Wildcare INC. It is located approximately 24km along Victoria Valley Road in Tasmania’s central highlands. To get there, the easiest way is to take the Victoria Valley Road turnoff located in Ouse.
From here the road is sealed for a short distance before changing into a gravel road which takes you through the town of Osterley (which is only really about five houses). Victoria Valley Falls is only a short distance further; you will see a turn off with a Forestry Tasmania sign pointing you in the right direction.
There is a cleared area not far along which I guessed was the car park, and then a 20 minute return walk takes you out to the falls. There is a cleared path, but it hasn’t been well maintained so it is a bit overgrown in some areas. The forest here consists more of wild flowers, and is less green than some of those I have visited in the past with their abundance of man ferns.
After a short walk, you can hear a trickle of water coming from Kenmere Creek which feeds the falls. The waterfalls aren’t very extravagant, and I think I was lucky to see anything at all in summer. This waterfall relies heavily on a good rainfall to keep it running. So I’d suggest the best time to visit would be after a heavy rainfall, possibly in winter or spring.
Don’t get me wrong though, the walk was lovely, with many wild flowers dotted along the track in beautiful colours. Also, if you want a different perspective on the waterfall, you can walk an extra ten minutes to the Victoria Falls Lookout. This track is a little unstable in some areas as it can get quite steep so take care, and I would definitely recommend taking someone with you as there is no phone reception in the area.
Even though the waterfall was only a trickle, it was still really pretty to see, and I had a great day out in the forest. From my experience of undertaking these 52 places, I have really seen the diversity that Tasmania has to offer in regards to its forests; from wet eucalypt rainforests in the south west wilderness, to hidden lakes in the south, and coastal views from the east coasts, it really is a beautiful place, and there is definitely something to be enjoyed by everyone (ok, I know I am getting cheesy now, but the bushwalking stuff is really growing on me).
Next week, I’m off to Mt Puzzler Forest Reserve on Tassie’s east coast, but until then, get out and explore some forests!
GPS Coordinates :
LAT : 42°24'36.14"S
LON : 146°40'45.76"E
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52 Places to Visit
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