Mount Field is the location of what must be the most photographed waterfall in Tasmania – Russell Falls. Its three elegant tiers, framed by lush vegetation, have attracted visitors for well over a hundred years. In 1885 Russell Falls became Tasmania’s first nature reserve, while Mount Field was declared a national park in 1916. The diversity of Mount Field’s 16,265 hectares (40,191 acres) is remarkable. Striking as the falls are, if you confine yourself to the area near the Visitor Centre at the bottom of the mountain you’ll miss an accessible and extraordinarily beautiful alpine experience – the Tarn Shelf above Lake Dobson. Key Attractions in Mount Field National Park Mount Field National Park is distinguished by its wide range of popular short, medium and longer walks. If you are an avid trekker intending to return to the park a number of times, a book on Tasmania’s bushwalks would be very useful. There are two main sections to the park: the Russell Falls area near the Visitor Centre and the area around and above Lake Dobson, 16 kilometres (10 miles) away along a winding gravel road. The grove of tall, palm-like pandani on the shores of the lake has a Tolkein charm, while higher still, beyond a small ski field, the Tarn Shelf takes you to the edge of precipices overlooking glimmering pools on the rim of the mountain and expansive lakes in the valley below. In April and May, the slopes of the mountain that backs onto the Tarn Shelf are ablaze with the gold, red and orange foliage of Australia’s only winter deciduous tree, the endemic fagus (Nothofagus gunnii). You can learn more about the history and ecology of the park at the Visitor Centre near the entrance, where you can also get information on the many walks. In summer, park rangers present activities and talks of interest to visitors of all ages. Most of Tasmania’s land mammals are present in the park, and there’s a good chance you will see a small marsupial on one of the walking tracks or near the Visitor Centre.