Redwater Creek Falls. Dasher Falls.

Redwater Creek Falls Upper

Redwater Creek and Dasher Falls, Sheffield area. 
I had set this weekend aside for snow camping. I have lost count of how many times I have now tried to get out for this, but I was thwarted yet again. The webcam at Cradle, which would give me the general idea for anywhere, showed a dismal, bleak, grey scene that I did not feel like being part of. We opted to make our garden more beautiful by removing weeds on Saturday and to go waterfall chasing and bagging on Sunday. Tessa, our dog, had four votes on this and was happy with the outcome.

The first glimpse of Redwater Creek Falls Lower.

Tessa enthusiastically took her place in the boot of our new 4WD car, thus spreading dirt and hair in a single move and spoiling that beautiful look that we knew all along would be fugacious. Off we set.

The first glimpse of Redwater Creek Falls Lower.

The Tasmania Trail is a 460 km long fabulous trail from Devonport (north) to Dover (south), open to equestrians, hikers, bikers but, gloriously, not cars. We decided to do less than the whole length today, but we sure enjoyed the bit that we did. Tessa says we're allowed to do a lot more next time if we wish.
After walking and photographing here, we then drove back the way we had come until we were 3 kms from Lower Beulah, when we visited the falls below, the Dasher Falls (for directions, see further below). Bruce feared that Tessa might pull on her lead and drag the two of them down the very, very precipitous slope into the cauldron below, so I was the only one who got to see these dramatic falls. I think I saw them under pretty special conditions. They are really worth a winter visit - but not with children.

Dasher Falls

How to get there: Redwater Ck Falls. Driving towards Sheffield along what we call the "Beulah road" (turning left just before ETC coming from Launceston), turn right to Railton on the main road between those two towns. After a couple of kilometres, there is a dirt road to right and left. On the right hand side it says it is the Tasman Rail Rd - the former site of a railway line. Turn left up this dirt track and follow it to a gate, where you'll need to park (plenty of room for that). You then walk along the main track (ignoring alluring side options when they occur). After a kilometre or so, there is a farm-type gate with a walking gate beside. go through the walking gate and continue with a mute-stranded electric fence to your right until, shortly before the next farm gate, you will see another walkers' gate to your right (the electric cords go overhead). You can see the falls from there. The lower falls are a very short distance indeed from the upper (maybe 20 secs).
Dasher Falls. We drove back towards Sheffield, but turned left towards Beulah at the intersection, along a road that the map (but not the signage) calls Bridal Track Road. Follow this along until there is a road off to the right at the bottom of the hill with a sign that says Lower Beulah 3 kms. This road crosses the Dasher River within 20 metres of the intersection. The falls are now about 400 ms upstream. You can either park there and walk up the road, or be lazy and do what we did and drive back up the hill for about 200+ ms until you see a pine tree with a pink tag on it. Parking there is fine pulling over to the left from this direction (but parking coming from the other direction and trying to spot tape etc didn't appeal to us). From this tree, follow tapes towards the river, and then upstream to your right. Soon enough (a mere 100ms or less) you'll see the falls. Today, after the heavy rain we've had, the mud and rocks were slippery, and my husband and dog both backed out of actually gong to the falls, settling for a walk back along the river on safer ground. I would not under any circumstances bring a child here unless it was on a lead! Maybe the picture is enough to tell you why. I was too scared to look over some edges.
 After you've visited the falls, you can turn around by putting your nose into a dirt track that is on the right shortly after the pink-taped tree.

Car route and then walking route to the falls. Starting on the cyan track bottom right, we are driving west in the direction of Sheffield, having set out from Elizabeth Town. When we see the sign to Railton, we head NE along that road. After nearly 2 kms, and on the first possibility, we turn left onto the Tasmanian Trail dirt track.The first waypoint is where we parked at a locked gate. The second waypoint is at the second closed gate. The line actually continues past the falls to the third gate because we just felt like walking there to see what could be seen. Curiosity didn't kill humans or dog. As said above, the falls are down the only gate in the electric fence off to the right. You can see and hear them from that gate. Hope that helps. These falls are seasonal, so go after rain.