The Great Western Tiers — known to the local Pallittorre people as tiers of dolerite that rise straight out of the Meander Valley farmland — is one of Tasmania’s best-kept short-walk secrets. Locals half-jokingly call it “the capital of short walks,” and it’s easy to see why: within half an hour of Deloraine you can stand at a clifftop lookout with views clear across the Central Plateau, or a rainforest gorge that felt sacred to Aboriginal people long before Europeans arrived. Unlike the crowds at Cradle Mountain or Freycinet, most of these walks are quiet even in peak season, and several are graded for all ages. A couple of the longer options do climb into proper alpine country, so there’s something here whether you’ve got twenty minutes or a full day to spare.
1. Tulampanga / Alum Cliffs — Mersey River Gorge
A well-formed track through open woodland leads to a plateau with a large sculpture marking the site’s significance to the Pallittorre people, then descends gently to a viewing platform overlooking the Mersey River far below in Alum Cliffs Gorge. Short, spectacular, and suitable for most fitness levels.
Distance: 1.5 km return • Time: 40 minutes return • Difficulty: Easy (Grade 2) • Dogs: Not permitted (Alum Cliffs State Reserve)
Nearest campground: Mole Creek Camping, about 15 minutes’ drive away and pet friendly for the trip down.
2. Devils Gullet Lookout Walk — Central Plateau Escarpment
A short, well-benched track climbs briefly then crosses an alpine plateau to a lookout platform cantilevered over 220-metre dolerite cliffs above the Fisher River Valley. On a clear day you can pick out Mt Ossa, Tasmania’s highest peak, and the Walls of Jerusalem in the distance. Note the drive in includes 14 km of gravel road that climbs to nearly 1000 m — it can carry snow outside summer, so check conditions first.
Distance: Around 1.5 km return • Time: 40 minutes return • Difficulty: Easy–moderate (Grade 2, exposed alpine plateau) • Dogs: Not permitted (Devils Gullet State Reserve)
Nearest campground: Mole Creek Camping, the closest formal base for this side of the range.
3. Westmorland Falls
Once a favourite in early Lonely Planet guides and still a local gem, this walk follows a mostly unformed track through lush wet forest and rainforest to a tiered waterfall tumbling over a broad rock face. Expect some creek crossings and muddy patches after rain, but nothing technical.
Distance: About 3.4 km return • Time: 2 hours return • Difficulty: Moderate (unformed track) • Dogs: Not permitted (Mole Creek Karst National Park)
Nearest campground: Mole Creek Camping, a short drive from the trailhead off the Mole Creek – Chudleigh road.
4. Quamby Bluff Reserve Walk
The pick of the range for anyone wanting a proper leg-stretch. The track climbs steadily through rainforest and rock screes, then myrtle forest, before a final steep 500 m pinch to the 1250 m summit. The reward is a 360-degree panorama stretching to Bass Strait on a clear day. This one’s a genuine day hike, not a stroll — allow plenty of daylight and pack layers for the exposed summit.
Distance: 6 km return • Time: 4–5 hours • Difficulty: Hard (steep, sustained climb) • Dogs: On lead permitted in Quamby Bluff Regional Reserve, though it’s worth checking current signage
Nearest campground: Liffey Falls Camping, a scenic drive from the Golden Valley trailhead.
5. Meander Falls
A longer rainforest walk following Meander River upstream through myrtle and sassafras forest, with several creek crossings, before the track climbs a rocky staircase to a lookout over one of Tasmania’s tallest waterfalls, dropping close to 100 metres in stages. It’s a substantial day out and the track can be slippery, so decent boots are a must.
Distance: 7.8 km return • Time: 6 hours • Difficulty: Medium–hard • Dogs: Not permitted (Meander Conservation Area)
Nearest campground: Liffey Falls Camping — note the closer Albatross Campground near Huntsman Lake is currently closed, so Liffey Falls is the reliable option while that’s the case.
Planning Your Trip
Most of these walks sit in state reserves or regional/forest reserves rather than a national park, so a Parks Pass generally isn’t required — but it’s worth checking current signage at each trailhead, since a couple of access roads pass briefly through reserve land where passes do apply. As a rule, dogs on lead are only welcome in the forest and regional reserves (Quamby Bluff); they’re not permitted in the state reserves and conservation areas that protect Alum Cliffs, Devils Gullet, Westmorland Falls and Meander Falls.
Weather on the Tiers changes fast — the escarpment sits right at the edge of the Central Plateau, so even a mild day in Deloraine can mean wind, cloud or sleet at Devils Gullet or on the Quamby Bluff summit. Check the Bureau of Meteorology Tasmania forecast before heading up, carry a warm layer year-round, and let someone know your plans if you’re tackling Quamby Bluff or Meander Falls, both of which are remote enough that mobile reception is patchy to non-existent.
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