Minnow Falls

Tasmania at its best!! Minnow Falls was our wilderness destination today, which runs off Mount Roland. We got off to a bit of a rocky start by following Google Maps! So frustrating how inaccurate this technology is making us travel a further 30minutes up the road before thinking this is not right. Word of warning - do your research first and DON’T use Google Maps. Along the journey we pulled off to the side of the road to take a picture of Mount Roland at a lookout. Such a stunning mountain that can be seen in multiple places on the North West Coast. 

We finally made it to the car park, jumped out of the car and made a start on our adventure. The beginning of this track starts with a log crossing over a cascade of water bubbling down stream. Cautiously, we crossed the log and made it to the other side. 

The first twenty minutes was relatively easy, walking on a flat surface along the stream. I was thinking this is easy. Then the ascent began. Slowly but surely with each step in the right direction we began to climb the steep vertical track, climbing over logs and squelching through some pretty muddy spots. 

After an hour of stopping and starting to catch my breath and give my legs a rest we came past some other walkers heading back down the track. I eagerly asked them how much further as I thought my heart was going to burst out of my chest. They told us about 25 minutes to get to the lower falls. This was enough motivation to keep me going. My amazing partner, who is as fit as they come, patiently waited every time I stopped to catch my breath. As we were getting closer there were sun rays beaming down hitting the ground, giving me the reassurance that the falls were getting closer. We finally made it to the top of the track and then it began downwards giving my legs the must needed rest they needed. We made it to level one to see the falls and we were very impressed. 

We stopped to admire the view and take some pictures. It was so calm with not a breath of wind in the air. I filled my lungs with the fresh air and took in the view of water cascading down Mount Roland cliff face. Then the adventure continued as we made a start on the ascent to the second level of the Minnow Falls. 

This part of the walk got extremely steep using the trees surrounding the vertical track to pull ourselves up. After scrambling up a rickety rope ladder and placing our head torches on to climb through a rocky cave we followed the light to the entrance to second level. WOW! This was so worth the heart attack I nearly had exerting myself to my limits. You could see out across the North West countryside viewing layers of trees, mountains and valleys. Turning 180 degrees Minnow Falls flowed spectacularly down the rock face distracting us from our original view.

We perched ourselves on a rock and ate lunch with a view. There was another steep track that takes you to level three but based on the advice of Waterfalls of Tasmania website we decided not to do this part as you could not get a good viewing of the waterfall. I was definitely in my happy place perched on a rock admiring Minnow Falls on the side of Mount Roland. 

Then the descent came. Back down through the cave and to the rope ladder. This was a little scary as there was not much space for your feet on each rung of the ladder so I was hanging on for dear life. After surviving that we continued down the slippery slope carefully placing our feet on what we thought was sturdy ground. We continued down the track heading back to base. 

With about fifteen minutes to go I climbed a fallen tree and did not choose a sturdy place for my foot, I slipped and was unbalanced heading downward with a two metre drop to the stream. Luckily Mick had super quick reflexes and grabbed my arm and basically saved me. Would not have been pretty if I had of fallen. 

I have to say after making it back to the car park exhausted, battered and bruised, that it was well worth it. Highly recommend this Grade 4 walk. If I can do it, so can you! Minnow Falls gets a five out of five star from me ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️