A quick visitor’s guide to Arve Falls Tasmania. Find out how to get to Arve Falls in the Hartz Mountains National Park, what to expect and inspiring photos from my visit.
Arve Falls is a very easily-accessible waterfall flowing on the Arve River in the Hartz Mountains National Park of Tasmania. While not the most impressive waterfall, I’d still recommend a visit if you’re heading up to the Hartz Mountains!
In this quick guide, I aim to arm you with all of the knowledge you need to organise a trip to Arve Falls. I’ve also included a few photographs that I captured during my visit.
Where is Arve Falls?
Arve Falls is a small cascade fed by the Arve River. There is a trailhead car park providing access to a short walk to the falls on Hartz Road, approximately 85 kilometres south of Hobart.
- Google Maps Pin: "Arve Falls Track"
How to Get to Arve Falls
Unfortunately, there are no organised tours or public transport options running to the Hartz Mountains or Arve Falls. Therefore, the only way to reach this Tasmanian alpine waterfall is to drive here yourself.
No matter which direction you are coming from, you'll first need to head towards Geeveston. Once there, you'll follow the signs towards the Hartz Mountains and Tahune Adventures up Arve Road (sealed).
Approximately 12 kilometres up the winding Arve Road you will see a turn-off onto Hartz Road (unsealed). Follow this road for about 13 kilometres and you will find a large blue sign for Arve Falls on your left.
The road up to the Hartz Mountains is unsealed but well-graded. However, it is steep and can freeze over in the winter. We managed to get our big van up there without any trouble at all, but there was no ice on the road that day.
Car Rentals in Tasmania
Unfortunately, the cost of bringing your own car on the Spirit of Tasmania has skyrocketed in recent years.
Now, it is usually cheaper to rent a car on arrival. I recommend using RentalCars.com in Tasmania to compare rates for different vehicles across dealerships.
(Rentals are limited in Tasmania so it's a good idea to book in advance).
If you're set on exploring the mountains south of Hobart but don't have your own transport, I can certainly recommend this full-day tour from Hobart that includes some of the best activities in the South. These include the Tahune AirWalk and Hastings Caves.
Check price: Southern Tassie Full-Day Adventure Tour to Tahune AirWalk & Hastings Caves - $5 OFF with code OLLY5
RELATED POST: 30+ Awesome Things to do in Hobart
The Ultimate Tasmania Travel Resource
Looking for more Tasmania travel guides & adventure inspiration? Below are my most comprehensive blog posts that will serve as a great free resource for your trip.
The Arve Falls Walk
- Hiking Distance: 0.8 kilometres return
- Duration: 10 minutes
- Elevation: N/A
- Difficulty: Very easy
The Arve Falls walk to the waterfall is one of the shortest and easiest waterfall hikes I've been on in Tasmania. The short track is very well-maintained and features short sections of boardwalk.
There is one section just before the falls where you will cross a bridge over the Arve River which is very scenic.
After about 450 metres along the Arve Falls track from the car park, you will arrive at Arve Falls. There is a dedicated wooden viewing platform at the bottom but the view is slightly obscured from the trees.
Alternatively, there is a very short worn track just before the platform where I managed to get a clear view of Arve Falls.
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What to Expect at Arve Falls Tasmania
The main drop is roughly 5 metres, so not the largest waterfall in Tasmania by any means. However, it's still a scenic little waterfall that is worth the visit due to the very easy access and quick return.
Being an alpine area, you'll often find this area of the Hartz Mountains blanketed with snow during the winter months. Unfortunately, the snow had already melted when I arrived but it was still a worthwhile stop on the way back from Hartz Peak. However, you'll often find photos online of Arve Falls surrounded by snow, something a little unique that isn't very common for Australian waterfalls.
Related: Our Winter Attempt at Federation Peak
Accommodation Near the Hartz Mountains
If you're looking to stay a while in the region surrounding Geeveston after the Hartz Peak walk, I've linked some resources below to help you out.
- The Tahune Airwalk Lodge - You might be surprised to hear that you can actually stay at Tahune Adventures. There are numerous rooms to choose from ranging from bunk dorms to full-family suites. Facilities include a restaurant, a shared kitchen and a shared lounge, along with free WiFi.
Otherwise, there are also a few hotels and motels available at the nearest township of Geeveston that are a great stop after the Hartz Peak walk. Below is a map you can use to check for the best deals for your dates.
More Tasmanian Waterfall Guides, Hikes and Adventures
I hope that you found this quick waterfall guide to visiting Arve Falls Tasmania in Hartz Mountains National Park useful. Before you go, check out some of my other Tassie adventure guides and blogs. I've spent several months exploring the island and have loads of resources that I want to share with you.