Liffey Falls

Liffey Falls State Reserve in the Great Western Tiers foothills of northern Tasmania protects one of Tasmania's most beautiful waterfall systems, where the Liffey River cascades through cool temperate rainforest in a series of four major falls. The reserve is part of the Tasmanian Wilderness World Heritage Area and contains some of the finest cool temperate rainforest in the state, with ancient myrtle beech trees, tree ferns, and a botanical highlight in a famous tall gum-topped stringybark tree celebrated for its exceptional size. The falls and surrounding rainforest create an immersive natural experience that draws visitors from across Tasmania and beyond, particularly in spring and after rain when the falls are at their most dramatic.

The cool temperate rainforest and wet eucalypt forest of Liffey Falls supports diverse forest-dependent fauna. The spotted-tail quoll inhabits the dense rainforest, preying on wallabies, possums, and other mammals. The common ringtail possum and brushtail possum are both present, and the platypus inhabits the Liffey River. The wedge-tailed eagle soars over the forest canopy hunting in the open areas above the Tiers. Forest birds including the Tasmanian scrubwren, thornbill, and various honeyeaters are abundant in the rich rainforest understorey. The Bassian thrush forages in leaf litter beneath ancient myrtle beech trees, and the green rosella is a conspicuous endemic species throughout the reserve.

The dominant vegetation of Liffey Falls is cool temperate rainforest of myrtle beech (Nothofagus cunninghamii), sassafras, and leatherwood, creating a closed canopy forest of striking beauty. Tall swamp gum and messmate stringybark eucalypts tower above the rainforest canopy in mixed forest sections, with one particularly large gum-topped stringybark widely celebrated as one of the most magnificent trees in northern Tasmania. Soft tree ferns and hard tree ferns create a lush intermediate layer throughout the reserve, and the ground is carpeted with mosses, liverworts, and diverse fern species. The falls themselves are festooned with dripping mosses and ferns that maintain their vivid green colouring from the constant moisture.

The Liffey River flows off the Central Plateau across the Great Western Tiers escarpment, cutting through Jurassic dolerite in its descent. The falls occur where the river encounters particularly resistant dolerite layers or where the valley floor has been incised deeply enough to create dramatic vertical drops. The plunge pools at the base of each falls have been scoured into the bedrock by millennia of waterfall action, creating deep, clear basins. The surrounding cliff faces and outcrops expose the columnar jointing of the dolerite, which contributes to the stepped character of the falls system as the river exploits horizontal joint planes.

Liffey Falls receives substantial rainfall from the westerly weather systems intercepted by the Great Western Tiers, with annual precipitation typically exceeding 1,500 millimetres in the reserve. The high rainfall maintains the rainforest vegetation and ensures permanent water flow over the falls throughout the year. Springs and autumn bring the highest rainfall and the most dramatic waterfall conditions. Summers are mild and the rainforest provides shade and coolness even in warm weather. Winters are cool with frost possible, and snow occasionally falls on the plateau above the Tiers. The reserve is accessible and pleasant year-round.

The Great Western Tiers and the country at their foot was traditionally Lairmairrener Palawa country, with the escarpment forming a significant landscape feature in the seasonal movements and cultural geography of these people. European explorers and settlers reached the Tiers from the 1820s, and the Liffey Valley was explored for its timber and agricultural resources. The cool temperate rainforest of the Tiers was logged for timber in the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, but the steeper slopes and the narrow gorge of the Liffey falls area retained their forest cover. The falls became a popular picnic and recreation destination for residents of the northern midlands region in the twentieth century.

Liffey Falls State Reserve was established to protect the waterfall system and surrounding rainforest as one of the most scenic natural areas in the Great Western Tiers foothills. The reserve's inclusion within the Tasmanian Wilderness World Heritage Area reflects its outstanding universal natural values. Walking track development has made the falls accessible to a wide range of visitors while managing the impact of increasing visitor numbers on the sensitive rainforest floor and riparian vegetation.

The Liffey Falls circuit walk is the reserve's primary experience, a three to four kilometre loop that descends through rainforest to the series of four major waterfalls, crosses the river, and returns via a different path. Each of the four main falls has a distinctive character, from broad cascades to narrow plunging drops, and the entire walk is immersed in the beautiful myrtle beech and tree fern rainforest. The famous large stringybark tree can be visited on the walk, providing a sense of scale against an extraordinary old-growth forest giant. The falls are particularly dramatic after heavy rain when the river runs full.

Liffey Falls State Reserve is located approximately 50 kilometres south of Deloraine in the Great Western Tiers foothills, accessed via the Liffey Road from Bracknell or Longford. A car park, toilets, and picnic area at the reserve entry provide day visitor facilities. The reserve is most commonly visited as a half to full day trip from Launceston, Deloraine, or as part of a Great Western Tiers touring itinerary. A national parks pass is required. Accommodation is available in Deloraine and at various rural properties in the surrounding region.

Conservation of Liffey Falls focuses on maintaining the integrity of the cool temperate rainforest and the waterfall system from increasing visitor pressure. The walking track system is carefully managed to prevent erosion and the spread of invasive weeds, particularly blackberries and broom that colonise disturbed margins. Phytophthora cinnamomi management protocols are in place to prevent this dieback disease from being introduced on footwear and causing damage to the rainforest understorey. Climate change monitoring tracks long-term changes to rainfall patterns and forest composition that could alter the character of this celebrated natural area.