StepScape

What is StepScape?

This site is working towards showing every published Tasmanian day walk on a single map.

StepScape is a work in progress, currently showing 2,212 of an estimated 3,000 published bushwalks in Tasmania.

StepScape is also available as an app for iPhone and iPad.

Read about what the StepScape app does differently from this website.

Caution

This site is a list of walks, not a walking guide. Before undertaking any walk, consult the references provided.

Most of the references made every attempt at accuracy but did not guarantee it. Some are books that are now out of print, so information that was once accurate may not remain so. Changes may include:

  • Land becoming private or reserved
  • Tracks being damaged or rehabilitated
  • Road access being blocked
  • Bad weather or bushfires temporarily making a walk unsafe
Sites to check before you walk How do I get started?

Every pin on the map represents a car park with at least one known walk. Click on the pins for information. Or, click on the Filter tab above to only show the walks that interest you.

Every walk includes a References section listing the books, brochures or websites that mention it. Consult those sources for more information.

What are the latest additions?

Latest car park

Mount Saddleback 4WD parking

Latest walk

Mount Saddleback Track by 4WD

Latest change

Added 2WD and 4WD parking options for Mount Saddleback.

Updated on

2023-07-18

Who made this website?

The StepScape website was created by Cowirrie, a small software development company in Launceston. We take information and present it so it is accessible and useful to people. Our other work includes the SepiaScape guide to historic Tasmania and the PBPhonics app for basic English literacy practice.

We have also taken some of these walks ourselves, and written comprehensive walk reports about them.

Data Entry

Jan Horton

Programming

Michael Horton

Maps

Google Maps JavaScript API

Components

jQuery, used under the MIT License

jQuery CSV, used under the MIT License

jQuery UI, used under the MIT License

jQuery UI Touch Punch, used under the MIT License

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Liffey Falls car park

Nearest Road:Riversdale Rd
Nearest Town:Deloraine
Locality:Central Highlands
Latitude:S 41° 41′ 60″
Longitude:E 146° 45′ 33″
Elevation:550 m
Fee:No charge
Management:Sustainable Timber Tasmania
Road Surface:Narrow unsealed
Car Park:Good unsealed
Water:Non-potable tap
Toilets:Flush
Toilet Accessibility:Wheelchair
Shelter:Shelter
Picnic Table:Picnic table
Comment:From the Lake Highway, turn into Riversdale Rd. Note that road is narrow with tight blind bends. Uncertain drivers are recommended to use Bogan Rd car park and walk up to the falls from there.

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6 walks from Liffey Falls car park

Big Tree Walk (Liffey Forest Reserve)

Goal:Big tree near Liffey Falls
Grade:Flat
Type:Retrace route
One-way distance:100 m
Return distance:200 m
Comment:Find path to Big tree from near the toilet block. It is an easy flat walk.

References

Parks & Wildlife Service Tasmania, PWS - Documents, P&WS, Forestry Tasmania Track Class 2

Tyrone Thomas & Andrew Close, 100 Walks in Tasmania, Explore Australia, Page 97, Number 28, Liffey Falls

“…the Big Tree, which is well worth seeing.”

John and Monica Chapman, Short Walks Northern Tasmania, John Chapman, Page 52, Number 16, 16 Liffey Falls

“At the upper car park… walk 100m along the track to the base of a large Browntop Stringybark…”

Hikespeak, Liffey Falls in Liffey Falls State Reserve

“Stroll up the trail to a grand eucalyptus tree with a wooden viewing platform built around the base.”

Parks & Wildlife Service Tasmania, Parks & Wildlife Service Website - Explore our Parks, P&WS, Liffey Falls State Reserve

“... 'Big Tree' walk to a 50 m tall gumtopped stringbark with a trunk diameter of more than 3 metres.”

Collect from Deloraine Information Centre, Emu Bay Rd., Sculptures of the Great Western Tiers - Kooparoona Niara, Meander Valley Council, Number 27, Stratose

“… depicts the geological strata through which the swirling waters ... Liffey River have cut a path.”

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Liffey Falls Lookout Walk

Goal:Liffey Falls Lookout
Grade:Flat
Type:Retrace route
One-way distance:300 m
Return distance:600 m
Comment:From upper car park to Lookout over the top of the falls. Return.

References

Tyrone Thomas & Andrew Close, 100 Walks in Tasmania, Explore Australia, Page 97, Number 28, Liffey Falls

Chris Bishop, Discover NorthWest Tasmania, westinlet@tassie.net.au, Liffey Falls

40 minutes retrace route
“… viewing points for upper falls and cascades”

Waterfalls of Tasmania, Jubec Systems and Design, Liffey Falls - Liffey

“… several viewing platforms showcasing different sections of Liffey River…”

Michael Horton, Cowirrie, Vimeo, Liffey Falls 2017-07-15

“This video shows Quinns Creek, followed by the Liffey River flowing downstream over Liffey Falls”

Jan Hardy & Bert Elson, 50 Family Walks around Launceston & Northeast Tasmania, Hillside Publishing, Page 90, Number 39, 39 - Liffey Falls from Upstream

“… the first of a series of lookouts extending out twards the river and providing excellent views.”

Jan Hardy & Bert Elson, 50 Family Walks around Launceston & Northeast Tasmania, Hillside Publishing, Page 88, Number 38, 38 - Liffey Falls from Upstream

“… can be viewed fro a walkway extending out onto the river.”

Hikespeak, Liffey Falls in Liffey Falls State Reserve

“At half a kilomtre fro the start… the trail ventrues out to the cascade viewpoint…”

Collect from Deloraine Information Centre, Emu Bay Rd., Sculptures of the Great Western Tiers - Kooparoona Niara, Meander Valley Council, Number 27, Stratose

“… depicts the geological strata through which the swirling waters ... Liffey River have cut a path.”

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Liffey Falls short walk to Liffy Falls creek

Goal:Liffey Falls Creek
Grade:Fairly flat
Type:Retrace route
One-way distance:1,000 m
Return distance:2,000 m
Comment:Walk on past the Lookout and continue gentle descent to Liffey Falls Creek Bridge. Return without going down the steps to falls base.

References

Tyrone Thomas & Andrew Close, 100 Walks in Tasmania, Explore Australia, Page 97, Number 28, Liffey Falls

“Walk to the track junction down to base of falls - before the steps”

Waterfalls of Tasmania, Jubec Systems and Design, Liffey Falls - Liffey

“Liffey Falls is encased in beautiful rainforest…”

Michael Horton, Cowirrie, Vimeo, Liffey Falls 2017-07-15

“This video shows Quinns Creek, followed by the Liffey River flowing downstream over Liffey Falls”

Jan Hardy & Bert Elson, 50 Family Walks around Launceston & Northeast Tasmania, Hillside Publishing, Page 90, Number 39, 39 - Liffey Falls from Upstream

“Fifteen minutes from the carpark, a junction is reached…”

Jan Hardy & Bert Elson, 50 Family Walks around Launceston & Northeast Tasmania, Hillside Publishing, Page 88, Number 38, 38 - Liffey Falls from Upstream

“… a junction is reached… with a wooden bridge…”

Hikespeak, Liffey Falls in Liffey Falls State Reserve

“Follow the trail down the bank above the river to an important junction.”

Collect from Deloraine Information Centre, Emu Bay Rd., Sculptures of the Great Western Tiers - Kooparoona Niara, Meander Valley Council, Number 27, Stratose

“… depicts the geological strata through which the swirling waters ... Liffey River have cut a path.”

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Liffey Falls Walk (from main car park)

Goal:Liffy Falls -base
Grade:Moderate
Type:Retrace route
One-way distance:500 m
Return distance:1,000 m
Comment:From upper car park to base of falls and return.

References

Tyrone Thomas & Andrew Close, 100 Walks in Tasmania, Explore Australia, Page 97, Number 28, Liffey Falls

Chris Bishop, Discover NorthWest Tasmania, westinlet@tassie.net.au, Liffey Falls

“A steep descent allows access to the base of these majestic falls.”

Parks & Wildlife Service Tasmania, Parks & Wildlife Service Website - Explore our Parks, P&WS, Number 42, Liffey Falls

45 minutes retrace route
“… beautiful multi-level falls nestled in deep, mossy forest beneath the … Great Western Tiers”

Raelene and Rod Newell, Thirty-Five Walks to Waterfalls in Tasmania, 1st ed., Raelene and Rod Newell, Page 36, Number 12, Liffey Falls

1 hour

TasTrails, TasTrails, Page 4, Number 1, Liffey falls - 19 Nov 2014

45 minutes retrace route
“… easier access but neglects lower sections of Liffey River.”

Waterfalls of Tasmania, Jubec Systems and Design, Liffey Falls - Liffey

50 minutes retrace route
“… a cascading waterfall, stepping itself down multiple tiers…”

Michael Horton, Cowirrie, Vimeo, Liffey Falls 2017-07-15

“This video shows Quinns Creek, followed by the Liffey River flowing downstream over Liffey Falls”

Jan Hardy & Bert Elson, 50 Family Walks around Launceston & Northeast Tasmania, Hillside Publishing, Page 90, Number 39, 39 -Liffey Falls from upstream

Jan Hardy & Bert Elson, 50 Family Walks around Launceston & Northeast Tasmania, Hillside Publishing, Page 88, Number 38, 38 - Liffey Falls from Upstream

1 hour retrace route
“The main falls are viewed from their base in an attractive setting.”

Hikespeak, Liffey Falls in Liffey Falls State Reserve

“Lovely Liffey Falls fans out across a staircase of dark rocks.”

Collect from Deloraine Information Centre, Emu Bay Rd., Sculptures of the Great Western Tiers - Kooparoona Niara, Meander Valley Council, Number 27, Stratose

“… depicts the geological strata through which the swirling waters ... Liffey River have cut a path.”

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Liffey Falls walk up to Highland Lakes Rd Lookout

Goal:Projection Bluff Lookout
Grade:Long climb
Type:One way pickup
One-way distance:4,500 m
Return distance:9,000 m
Comment:Track past Big Tree. Continue on old wheeltracks to Liffey River Track. Follow river up to junction to right up to Projection Bluff Lookout car park.

References

Cowirrie, Walks known to Cowirrie and not yet sourced, not published, Liffey River

3 hours
“Follow Liffey River upstream from Main Falls carpark to Projection Bluff Lookout”

Tags

Liffy Falls Walk down-river (west to east)

Caution

This site is a list of walks, not a walking guide. Before undertaking any walk, consult the references below.

For additional information about safe walking in Tasmania, go to the StepScape tab.

Goal:Bogan Rd car park
Grade:Moderate
Type:One way pickup
One-way distance:4,100 m
Return distance:8,200 m
Comment:One way walk from upper car park at the falls down to Bogan Rd car park via the falls.

References

Recent Information of track condition (as available), Cowirrie, Downstream of Liffey Falls - April 2017

“The track has been re-aligned up the hill slope and out of the water. Good dry track, gentle grade”

Tyrone Thomas & Andrew Close, 100 Walks in Tasmania, Explore Australia, Page 97, Number 28, Liffey Falls

1 hour 30 minutes one way pickup

Michael Horton, Cowirrie, Vimeo, Liffey Falls 2017-07-15

“This video shows Quinns Creek, followed by the Liffey River flowing downstream over Liffey Falls”

Jan Hardy & Bert Elson, 50 Family Walks around Launceston & Northeast Tasmania, Hillside Publishing, Page 92, Number 40, 40 -Liffey Falls from downstream

3 hours
“A gentle and scenic riverside walk to a series of picturesque waterfalls”

Jan Hardy & Bert Elson, 50 Family Walks around Launceston & Northeast Tasmania, Hillside Publishing, Page 90, Number 39, 39 - Liffey Falls from downstream

3 hours
“The track is well-made, dry underfoot and largely flat…”

Jan Hardy & Bert Elson, 50 Family Walks around Launceston & Northeast Tasmania, Hillside Publishing, Page 90, Number 39, 39 -Liffey Falls from upstream

“… downstream via the old path to Gulf Rd.”

Jan Hardy & Bert Elson, 50 Family Walks around Launceston & Northeast Tasmania, Hillside Publishing, Page 88, Number 38, 38 - Liffey Falls from Upstream

“… 15 minutes from the carpark a junction is reached…continues over the wooden bridge on the old path”

Collect from Deloraine Information Centre, Emu Bay Rd., Sculptures of the Great Western Tiers - Kooparoona Niara, Meander Valley Council, Number 27, Stratose

“… depicts the geological strata through which the swirling waters ... Liffey River have cut a path.”

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