Horsetail Falls ("Queenstown Falls")

Queenstown / Gormanston, Tasmania, Australia

About Horsetail Falls (“Queenstown Falls”)

For Subscribers Only. See Membership Options.

Waterfall Safety and Common Sense

Before locals had informed me that this waterfall was actually called Horsetail Falls, I made up the name “Queenstown Falls”.

We stumbled upon this very attractive waterfall when we were driving along the Lyell Highway east of Queenstown.

Queenstown_002_11282006 - Horsetail Falls
Horsetail Falls

With the way the falls ostensibly revealed itself to us during our first trip to Tasmania back in late November 2006, there was no way we could ignore it.

During that visit, we weren’t aware of a track to bring us safely closer to the waterfall so we had to look for a suitable place to pull over along the narrow and winding highway.

The photo you see above was from such a spot though we were looking against the morning sun as the falls faced west.

Thus, I’d consider this to be more of an afternoon waterfall.

Fickle Flow of Horsetail Falls

Horsetail_Falls_QT_17_035_11282017 - The light-flowing Horsetail Falls when we saw it on a hot day in late November 2017
The light-flowing Horsetail Falls when we saw it on a hot day in late November 2017

It turned out that Horsetail Falls tended to have wildly varying flow.

The picture you see at the top of this page took place the morning after a persistent overnight rain storm back in November 2006.

On a subsequent visit 11 years later, we showed up on a very hot day (well over 30C; meaning this unshaded hike was also very hot) a few days removed from some rain storms.

As a result, during that second visit, the falls was much thinner and less impressive than on that first visit.

Horsetail_Falls_QT_17_051_11282017 - All zoomed in on the flowing part of Horsetail Falls as seen in late November 2017
All zoomed in on the flowing part of Horsetail Falls as seen in late November 2017

This variability in flow was a result of Moore Creek having a very limited drainage near the peak of Mt Owen.

So based on our experiences, seeing this waterfall perform well would have to occur almost immediately after a significant rain storm.

Its longevity would be increased the more often the succession of rain storms occur, and you can’t wait for too long after the last of those rain storms.

The New Track to Horsetail Falls

When we made our return trip in late November 2017, we were surprised to see trailhead signage for Horsetail Falls in the clearing at the pass by the Iron Blow Open Cut memorial.

Horsetail_Falls_QT_17_001_11282017 - Trailhead signage for Horsetail Falls as seen on our November 2017 visit, which was definitely something we hadn't noticed on our first visit back in November 2006
Trailhead signage for Horsetail Falls as seen on our November 2017 visit, which was definitely something we hadn’t noticed on our first visit back in November 2006

It turned out that recently, a new track was created that was about 1km long taking roughly 30 minutes round trip.

It might have followed an old track that we suspected would have gone closer to the falls though we weren’t sure during that first visit (as we were already content with our roadside view back then).

The well-developed track immediately started climbing up a dusty dirt track before reaching a metal track that overlooked the Lyell Highway as it skirted around a steep mountainside.

At about 300m from the car park, the track made a bend and started to overlook the Moore Creek drainage opposite Horsetail Falls.

Horsetail_Falls_QT_17_081_11282017 - Looking back at the Horsetail Falls Track. Note the yellow lines, which you really had to pay attention to or else you'll miss that step!
Looking back at the Horsetail Falls Track. Note the yellow lines, which you really had to pay attention to or else you’ll miss that step!

Shortly after that bend, we got perhaps the best views of Horsetail Falls even though the track kept climbing up steps past this point.

When I got all the way to the end of the sanctioned track, the views of the falls wasn’t as good though I was able to see it in context with the rest of Moore Creek further downstream.

Authorities

Horsetail Falls resides near Queenstown, Tasmania. It is administered by the West Coast Council. For information or inquiries about the area as well as current conditions, visit their website or Facebook page.

Maps and Routing Content are for annual subscribers. See Membership Options.
Content is for subscribers. See Membership Options.
Tagged with: west coast, queenstown, strahan, horsetail, gormanston, tasmania, australia, waterfall, iron blow, open cut, karlsons gap, moore creek



Visitor Comments:

Got something you'd like to share or say to keep the conversation going? Feel free to leave a comment below...

No users have replied to the content on this page


Share your thoughts about what you've read on this page

You must be logged in to submit content. Refresh this page after you have logged in.

Visitor Reviews of this Waterfall:

If you have a waterfall story or write-up that you'd like to share, feel free to click the button below and fill out the form...

Horse Tail Falls near Queenstown May 31, 2009 12:25 am by _Anonymous8 - It is called Horse Tail Falls, as it looks like a horse tail whenever flowing. As we rarely get 4 days without rain, it flows every week. It takes less than half a day to start flowing, and continues for a day after. There is a short walking track to the top, which is lovely… ...Read More
Horsetail Falls October 9, 2008 1:54 am by Margie - The locals actually call this fall Horsetail Falls, not sure why. It is indeed seasonal. My partner and I have driven past this fall a number of times, most times there is water going over it but on other occasions there is none. The road coming out of Queenstown, named 99 bends by locals, hides… ...Read More

Have you been to a waterfall? Submit a write-up/review and share your experiences or impressions

Review A Waterfall

Nearest Waterfalls

The Waterfaller Newsletter

The Waterfaller Newsletter is where we curate the wealth of information on the World of Waterfalls website and deliver it to you in bite-sized chunks in your email inbox. You'll also get exclusive content like...

  • Waterfall Wednesdays
  • Insider Tips
  • User-submitted Waterfall Write-up of the Month
  • and the latest news and updates both within the website as well as around the wonderful world of waterfalls


How To Build A Profitable Travel Blog In 4 Steps

Johnny Cheng

About Johnny Cheng

Johnny Cheng is the founder of the World of Waterfalls and author of the award-winning A Guide to New Zealand Waterfalls. Over the last 2 decades, he has visited thousands of waterfalls in over 40 countries around the world and nearly 40 states in the USA.
Read More About Johnny | A Guide to New Zealand Waterfalls.