On the Lyell Highway
Nelson Falls
Nelson Falls is the last easy stop on the Lyell Highway between Derwent Bridge and Queenstown, and it is one of the best value walks on the whole West Coast.
- WalkShort and easy
The track is short and mostly flat, running alongside a river to a set of falls that carry serious volume after rain. It is the kind of walk you can do in ordinary shoes on the way through.
The forest is the draw as much as the water. Sassafras, myrtle and ferns crowd the track, and the moss on everything tells you exactly how much rain this country gets.
It works best as part of the drive rather than a destination in itself. If you are heading to or from Derwent Bridge, it is the obvious place to stretch your legs.
Stay the night at the Heemskirk
One of several stops worth making on the way here.