Parsons falls and Lake Mackenzie

[Nature sprite]

Hello fellow walkers Can anyone tell us any info about the Parsons falls area. Is there permits or keys needed to get into them. What are they like. Is there anything else to see in the area. We know about Devil Gullet on the way to the area. Also the falls are near Lake Mackenzie. Thanks for any info cheers

[Tortoise]

Hi there Nature Sprite,

Haven't been to Parsons falls myself yet, but can confirm the (gated) road as far as the Blue Peaks track turnoff is still the same as in the link below. No permit or keys needed to my knowledge. There's space for plenty of cars to park just before the gate.

http://www.touringtasmania.info/parsons_falls.htm

I was there the other day, with the dam level very high, and an unusual amount of overflow. Falls should be good.
EDIT: Oops - just read the "Access is not recommended if the river level is high" bit.
Maybe someone who's been there could shed light on that.

There's heaps of great walking around there, if you're used to navigating. I'm much happier now i've got a GPS, as compasses can be unreliable in the area, and the mist regularly rolls in to make it tricky - few landmarks in reduced visibility, and tracks can be lost reasonably easily in places. What sort of walking are you looking for?

Cheers

[GerryDuke]

The day I visited Tortoise I only managed to reach the top of the falls. I did not have time to explore to area to try and find a way to the bottom of the falls. A couple of images for you Nature sprite to put you in the picture.

River crossing

1701-PARSONS-FALLS-051.jpg (52.5 KiB) Viewed 12110 times

View back upstream from top of falls

1701-PARSONS-FALLS-015.jpg (37.27 KiB) Viewed 12110 times

Visited in mid January with the wildflowers at their best.

1701-LAKE-MACKENZIE-047.jpg (53.91 KiB) Viewed 12110 times

1701-LAKE-MACKENZIE-040.jpg (58.68 KiB) Viewed 12110 times

1701-LAKE-MACKENZIE-048.jpg (47.06 KiB) Viewed 12110 times

Hope this helps.

Gerry

[Drifting]

what is the road up there like nowadays?

[Nature sprite]

Hello Tortoise,

Thanks for the information on Parson's Falls in the Lake Mackenzie area. We will take a look next week, and play it by ear, weather permitting. Also on the agenda are Lobster Falls, and Westmorland Falls. As you can see we have a penchant for waterfalls.

Short day walks are our preference, because we are the other side of 50 years old. I don't mind a bit of a challenge though. Indistinct tracks, and some rugged terrain add to the enjoyment, and I find I can expend just as much energy on a shorter more technical walk as a longer straight forward one.

Cheerio. Nature Sprite.

[Nature sprite]

Hello Gerry,

The photos are lovely, and give us a good idea what to expect when we visit the area next week. We'll let you know how it went on our return. along with some photos maybe.

Cheerio for now. Nature Sprite.

[GerryDuke]

I'm a bit of a waterfall buff myself NS. Being a hydro lake the road is well maintained. A nice area. Let's know how you go at Westmoreland Falls. I think someone on the forum mentioned the track had reopened after being substantially destroyed by a flood.

Gerry

[Nature sprite]

Hi Gerry,

We have contacted the information centre in the area, and were told the track has been repaired by National Parks. Weather permitting, we should be up there by early next week. Cheers for now.

[Nature sprite]

G'day Gerry We did find the spot where Parsons falls should be but the creek was dry so no falls. Still very nice drive out that way it was a new area for us as we have only been to Devils Gullet before a few times. Now for Westmorland falls we can say for sure the track has been completely fixed up and is a nice easy walk. Our next trip over to that area we hope to get into Bridal veil falls and Champagne falls. We are going to go back over there in a few weeks (weather permitting) Sorry no photos files too big. Cheers Fiona and Peter

[GerryDuke]

Thanks NS. When I went I knew the dam was spilling. There is a page on the Hydro's web site here re dam levels:
http://www.hydro.com.au/water/lake-levels

I must get back to Westmoreland Falls.

Thanks again.

Gerry

[Davo1]

Parsons Falls in October 2013

[icefest]

The first three look incredible! (The rest do too, but just not the same league of incredible)

[Davo1]

The first three look incredible! (The rest do too, but just not the same league of incredible)

Thanks icefest, the first three I took on the same day, the one from the top a different day and the B&W was for nostalgia only as it has someone standing in the spot as the gentleman in Stephen Spurling III photo of 1904.
Check out Nic Haygarth's book "The Wild Ride"

Cheers

[GerryDuke]

Thanks for posting Davo1. Nice.

[ofuros]

Nice pics.....Parsons is now is on my Tassie to do list, thanks one & all.

[MickyB]

Awesome photos Davo1. I agree with icefest - the first three look incredible.

[nickthetasmaniac]

Parsons Falls in October 2013

#3 looks an epic swimming hole

[Taurë-rana]

HI Davo, lovely photos How hard is it to get to and which side did you go down to the bottom of the falls? Does the dam need to be spilling for it to flow?

Cheers,
Rachel

[Taurë-rana]

Went in today, not to the bottom, and not even to the northern side of the top of the falls due to seriously icy rocks. Even so, we managed to spend a few hours taking photos (not very well in my case, getting used to a different camera), and just enjoying this lovely spot. According to the dam level website the dam level is way below spilling, but there was plenty of water in the river.

[Davo1]

We was in there on the Sunday the weekend before and it was all covered in ice then.
Even the walk in was dodgy with ice all over the rocks.
You can see in the photo the ice up each side of the fall and in other places around the wall.
Sorry I didn't see your previous post either.
If you wish to get some exercise walk in the way you did otherwise it is easier on the western side, especially if you wish to get to the bottom.
I have to go back and replace the tapes as a lot of the previous ones have disintegrated.
Keep in mind there is no track and it is full on bash through the scrub and over boulders. In saying that, it's enjoyable.

[Taurë-rana]

By western side do you mean the side on the left of your photo? I thought that was north. We did see some tapes on that side of the river but weren't game to check it out. Do you start the walk to the bottom from the top of the falls or from the road?

I actually thought the easiest way to get to the bottom would be to climb down the right hand side until you couldn't get any further then jump, but that might present a bit of a problem getting out again!

[Davo1]

Yes, northern side sorry.
From the road.

I'll send you a PM