AusEmade: Leven Canyon / Winterbrook Falls Information and Attractions, Tasmania (TAS), Australia

The lookout platform offers panoramic views of the surrounding countryside. Dominating the skyline is Black Bluff Mountain (1,349 m). The Black range runs north south with the dramatic bluff on the northern end.

Standing on the platform you feel inspired by the dramatic cliff formation of the canyon and the sheer ridge opposite the lookout and to the north the waters of Bass Strait.

Leven Canyon.

Thousands of years ago a landslip from the sheer ridge opposite the lookout, fell and blocked the flow of the river. This can easily be seen from the road near the start of the Canyon Floor Walk. This caused the valley of Loongana to fill, forming a lake.

Looking down from the lookout onto Leven River, below.

Picnic area at Leven Canyon, dominated by tree ferns and towering gums.
Picnic area dominated by tree ferns
and towering gums.

Over time the river forged a new path through the rock to form the new path of the river. This strip of river was referred to as the Leven Splits or Hells Gates, a foot bridge crosses the river at this point. The river meets the old river bed at the Devils Elbow where it does a ninety degree turn. It is well worth taking the extra walk from the footbridge at that canyon floor to the Devils Elbow to view the cliffs from the floor of the canyon.

The Ulverstone Visitor Information Centre

Winterbrook Falls

Not far from Leven Canyon is Winterbrook Falls. Follow the signs from Nietta through South Nietta and Smiths Plains (so named because Philosopher Smith passed this way on his way to discovering tin at Mt Bishcoff on the West Coast).

The Winterbrook Falls cascades 200 m off the Black Bluff Mountain in three tiers. The walk is takes four to five hours return.

There is also a short walk to the rainforest. This mature rainforest includes Myrtles, Sassafras, Mountain Laurel and King Billy Pines, some 2,000 years old. These ancient giants can be found three quarters along the way to the falls.
Early timber cutters worked these forests. Off to the right of the track near the beginning of the walk can be found the remains of a settlement including a pit saw mill. The track traverses an old tramway and skid track used by these timber cutters. The remains of which are easily distinguished on the floor of the forest.

From the Falls a track can take you to the Black Bluff Plateau, after crossing the Winterbrook Creek a track is marked to take you up through a gap in the rocks.