MONTEZUMA FALLS
Montezuma Falls - West Tasmania
The falls derives its name from the Montezuma Mining Company. Montezuma is named after the last Aztec Emperor of Mexico, OK glad thats out of the way. We have only started pronouncing it correctly.
Suspension Bridge - Montezuma Falls
With a drop of 104 meters, it makes itself Tassie’s largest single drop waterfall. We had to see this, but more so walk over that bridge thingy that we see more of than the waterfall itself online.
We arrived at the car park to the start of the walk at around 10.15am. It was cold, we popped Teddie in the front pack and got moving around 10.30.
Rochelle chose to wear joggers (cream to be exact) which were already covered in clay from the walk out of the car park. However Rochelle felt some what less silly when we passed a group of young girls trying to navigate themselves through the mud, wearing brand new WHITE converse all stars.
That feeling was short lived when an older experienced female bushwalker (sporting the ROLLS Royce of walking footwear) yelled out “oh your poor sneakers, I saw you and thought how are you going to get those lovely shoes clean!” grrrr
Anyway KEY NOTE *wear walking boots people*
View from the base
Majority of the walk has quite an open track, which makes for great viewing of the thick rainforest. It’s muddy and wet in patches but very easy to walk with little inclines. In fact the track is an old tram line line which was first used in 1897. You can still see some of the original sleepers on the track if you look carefully. The walk online, states it is an 8km return, but we found that once we finished it was closer to 10km and mind you we only walked across that dam scary suspension bridge once! However we still completed the walk in around 2.5 hours, with a toddler & a quick bite to eat on one of the table settings along the way. Along the way you will hear birds & spot loads of native trees, including myrtle, leatherwood , sassafras, huge ferns and cool fungi.
The suspension bridge
Ok we will admit that you do get a little distracted from the falls by the bridge once there because you have to walk out to the middle of the bridge to get the best view of the falls. It certainly is not for the faint hearted, Rochelle could just place her mud drenched sneakers next to each other as its quite narrow, oh and yeah it wobbles! in saying that our 1.5 year old toddler did it with no hands & feet on the front pack & didn’t worry at all.
Wally & Teddie Crossing the suspension bridge
4WD access
You can also access the falls by 4wd along what is apparently a ‘medium’ rated 4wd track, but from what we have heard it is a pretty tough track with usually lots of water, muddy holes & narrow sections of track. From Zeehan, take the B27 for about 5 km to the Murchison Highway (A10) and turn left then after another 5 km on is the Melba Flats railway. This is where you turn right onto the 4WD track. It is signposted. The walk however is accessed at Willaimsford, about 2km south of Rosebery on the same highway (A10). The signs on the way in says ‘no turning area for caravans’ but we had a caravan on & there was room to swing 58 caravans in the carpark.
This walk ticks a lot of boxes, & the reward at the end is worth it! Head into Rosebery once done & grab a pie at the local bakery, delicious!
KEY POINTS
Dogs are welcome if kept on a lead & bikes are also permitted but it’s better suited for mountain bikes.
DO NOT drink the water at the falls, creeks or along the walk.
Great walk for kids & the inexperienced.
There is a toilet at the start of the walking track.
Can’t wait to share our next adventure with you!
Wally & Rochelle
FOLLOW OUR ADVENTURES ON INSTAGRAM HERE
References
