Lilydale Falls is located a short drive beyond Lilydale (driving from Launceston) and is made up of two beautiful waterfalls, a short distance from each other. The Lilydale Falls Reserve is about a 30-minute drive from central Launceston. The walk is extremely tranquil, with the sound of the river and falls, the smell of the forest, and an amazing array of trees, ferns, and plants along the way.
The track is reasonably wide up until the bridge, and then narrows for the last sections to both falls. The track is gravel and dirt and was recently fairly damp with a lot of leaf litter. There are some steps once we pass the bridge, and we will need to be especially careful on the steps down to Falls 1 and steps up to Falls 2 as they can be slippery. Keep an eye on your children as track runs right along the riverbank near the end. The track is not really suitable for prams because of the steps and terrain.
Walking Route:
We will meet at the Lilydale Falls car park at 2 pm. Heading past the playground, we turn right under the rail bridge and follow the track along the side of the river. Once we cross the bridge to the other side, there are steps and a narrower track leading to the first and second falls. We will take our time to enjoy both falls and then retrace our steps back along the route taken to return to the Lilydale Falls car park. Total distance is about 1 km return, so no need to hurry! There will be plenty of time for kids to play and adults to take more time to catch up once we return.
Meeting Times and Places:
If you are interested in going on this walk, please phone Dan Hutchison on 0457 765 907 or Jonathan Burgess on 0455 463 809 to book in. We will be meeting at the Lilydale Falls car park at 2pm.
Unlike the regular Boots N’ All walks which often visit more challenging wilderness areas, there is no particular need to register in advance for these Sunday afternoon Family Fun Walks. Your walk leaders would nevertheless appreciate if you could let them know you are coming, so that the walk doesn’t set off without you.
To access this area from northern Tasmania:
From the city centre of Launceston, head north along Bathurst Street, crossing the river and heading along the East Tamar Highway. Head straight on, past the big Mowbray roundabout and then turn right at University Way - about 5 km from city centre. Follow this through the lights where it turns into George Town Road and then continue on. Turn right once you reach Lilydale Road (at the Black Stallion Hotel) and follow this road for 20 km to Lilydale. Drive through Lilydale (observing the reduction in speed limits to 70 and then 50 km/h) and continue out the other side along Golconda Road for about 2 kilometres. The Lilydale Falls Reserve is on the right-hand side but be on the lookout because the turn-off can sneak up on you a little.
Other Information:
These Sunday afternoon walks do not require the level of preparation and equipment needed for wilderness walks. Dress comfortably and sensibly, and remember that even over the timeframe of the walk, winter weather can be changeable in northern Tasmania, so it’s always a great idea to have a warm top and a raincoat in your backpack, along with a drink and perhaps a snack. It might also pay to wear longer trousers and socks to avoid any leeches that might be around, although none were encountered recently.
Yes, we know… Parents of very young children often have to carry a lot more, including children in backpacks! Hopefully your fellow walkers will offer to share the burden!
Maps and Tracks:
GPX version of the track: Right-click here to download. Google Earth version of the track: Click here to open in Google Earth [if available on your device].
Click here to browse our entire collection of walk tracks, including to find GPX (.gpx) and Google Earth (.kml) versions of the track for this walk.
Click here to learn about using your phone as a navigation device, or to find out about handheld GPS devices.
