Lower Hartz Falls

Picton RiverGPS Coords: -43.2709, 146.7252
Land Tenure: National Park

Updated on 17 Mar 2026

Lower Hartz Falls
© 2015 - 2026 Photography: Caedence Kuepper
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Grade 5 Hike
Suitable for very experienced hikers only.

18km's8 Hours returnRough unformed track No directional signage

No Modification of the natural environment.

Dogs are not allowed
Drones are not allowed
Not suitable for caravans
Not suitable for campervans or RV's
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About Lower Hartz Falls

A 70 metre single drop falls draining most of the western side of Hartz Mountains, Lower Hartz Falls sits comfortably in the very top echelon of Tasmania's most spectacular falls. The falls leap into a huge rainforest amphitheatre, and are reminiscent more of the giant plunging waterfalls of Far North Queensland than anything else in Tasmania. Additionally, the falls feature an overhanging cave where it is possible to stand behind the curtain of water, and a gorgeous summer swimming hole below. However, the falls are rarely visited, with only a rough trail leading to them which includes a fording of the mighty Picton River. 

A mission to Lower Hartz Falls begins at the Farmhouse Creek Track, best known as the trailhead for the Eastern Arthurs and Federation Peak. Park where the road is now closed at Cook Creek, then walk (or ideally, cycle) the 7km to Farmhouse Creek. From here, instead of taking the Farmhouse Creek Track on your right, continue across the old bridge over the creek, then straight along an overgrown old road on the other side. Follow this road for the first 2km towards the Picton until it terminates, then continue along the rough, but regularly flagged trail which descends towards the river. Once at the Picton the trail continues upstream, soon hitting a water measuring station at a large pool. The route continues along close to the river from here, at times dropping to the river itself requiring some boulder scrambling. The actual trail though, while rough and not marked on any maps, has enough work done through cut trees and various marking ribbons and strings that it is rarely difficult to find.

About 2.5km from the water measuring station is the next notable landmark on the walk, being an impressive rock stack in the river that's worth a quick stop to check out. The route becomes less clear for a little while here, and requires some more boulder scrambling adjacent to the river rather than being marked through the forest beside the river. About 500 metres further up the track work becomes more obvious again though, where a large rapid must be skirted on some very slippery rocks and ropes have helpfully been placed to make this a much easier task. A clearer path then appears for much of the next 500 metres after this rapid, until you arrive at a sharp bend where the river splits in two around an island, and several blue ribbons tied to trees mark this as the crossing point over the Picton.

Crossing the river requires extreme care, but this point is best though given the split in the river turns a daunting 50 metre wide crossing into two 30 and 20 metre crossings respectively. In summer when water levels are low the crossing may not prove much of a challenge to experienced hikers, but on the day the photos on this page were taken river levels were moderate and the crossing had a few hairy moments and was generally pretty sketchy. Ideally, it would be best to bring a packraft if water levels aren't low, and cross just upstream of the island where the river is deeper and stiller.

On the other side of the river, ribbons mark the resumption of the trail basically level with the upstream end of the island. If you've made it this far the final kilometre of walking will be a breeze, winding through the rainforest and generally well marked, initially along the river then away from the river as it beelines towards Hartz Creek. The trail ultimately hits Hartz Creek a few hundred metres below the falls, then continues upstream until the giant amphitheatre and falls reveal themselves out of the rainforest. 

In total, the walk to Lower Hartz Falls (excluding the 7km each way to actually reach the trailhead) is 18 kilometres, and requires at least 8 hours return. It is very much a mission only for experienced hikers, and with no reception anywhere in the gorge should not be attempted where there is rain around and the threat of rising river levels, in winter when there is inadequate daylight, or without safety equipment. 

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