The Lost Ghost Town Beneath Tasmania's Highest Waterfall

If you’ve ever been fortunate enough to visit the West coast of Tasmania, Chances are you’ve seen Montezuma Falls… At one hundred and four meters this towering monarch is Tasmania’s highest water fall, and pours out its pristine waters into the lush cool temperate rainforest which surround it..
Accessed only by following an old tramway for several kilometres, this ‘impossible route’ was hand carved into the steep mineralised hills sides, and stands today as a testament to the strength and resilience of the unwavering ‘West Coast Spirit’.
But beyond the tramline and falls lay a myriad of lost stories, and one of these stories is the once thriving gold rush town of ringville..
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[@gregmaney18]

Hi been watching since you first started, what you and Levi do for TAS is terrific,the authorities that are harrassing you should be ashamed of themselves and what a embarrassment to Tasmania , keep up the great work you do.also you take us to all the magnificent places that we would all love to visit but can't showing us all the true beauty of our island .

[@billiebruv]

Crikey, what authorities are harrasing him

[@danielmcleod2674]

sounds like my canada back in the day

[@andrewhall7853]

I really enjoyed watching this. Our family was based in Rosebery in the ‘80’s and my grandparents from through late 40’s to mid 60’s. Dad was a keen bush Walker and I fondly remember walking up Mt’s Read, Zeehan, Heemskirk, Dundas, Murchison and of course into Montezuma as a kid. Back in early 80’s the bridge was still just standing in front of Montezuma falls and no suspension bridge. Plenty of sleepers marked the old line but saplings growing up along the track in places. Dad decided one weekend to go and look for the Ring River mine. It was definitely early 80’s - he took the chainsaw in a back pack and headed off as I recall the track was barely recognisable and he cleared his way through. When he didn’t return at 9pm mum put the call out around town but no one had seen him. (Pre mobiles) In the end someone found him at the pub ( clearly happy with himself for the day and telling everyone about his expedition) He called home to let mum know where he was. Unimpressed she locked the doors and went to bed. When he got home he couldn’t get in and his dinner was cold on the doorstep. True story.

[@Rob.Parsons]

Absolutely epic mate, loved reading that. 😂

[@hawthorngrove3629]

great story

[@fergusadkins4506]

Most great explorers had to endure all sorts of hardships!

[@andrewhall7853]

@@fergusadkins4506 🤣

[@catecurl3790]

A marvellous tale. Glad you shared it with us ❤

[@vigilante351]

Mate, you'll soon be an ambassador of the state, like a David Attenborough of Tasmania. Such big pain in the ass to get permission to do such things that would not be harmful to the environment. Just over protective laws that need to be heavily revised. Glad you and Levi gave them the virtual finger, but at a cost. I hope both your channels thrive now. Remember any publicity is good (usually). What id like to know (and I'm sure others do you) what evidence there is, where there is destruction of the wilderness, that causes danger of evolution of that area (Drone, published walking tracks etc, obviously camp fires I understand). Extreme nanny laws compared to other states that have precious wilderness like Tas. Photographic/videographic of these areas (usually not mentioned in their videos) surely can't be a destructive issue

[@williamsmitherson2170]

Pretty sure the reason those laws exist is solely to protect illegal logging companies. There's literally no other reasonable reason for them to exist. Its just sad :(

[@Adventcha]

What a bunch of prissy wankers!, should make them go and serve their country overseas to give them something to really whinge about instead of coming up with ridiculous draconian laws, who the f do they think they are!

[@pmc8119]

More likely there's something the powers that be want to hide.

[@NessyBlizzard]

I hope you continue with your wonderful work, showing the rest of us the beauty of Tasmanian West Coast. The national parks and wildlife in Tasmania have always viewed themselves as "governing lords" and it hasn't changed in 50 years. I show your videos to my residents in aged care who can no longer get out into the wilderness. They, as I, look forward to each new video.

[@James-kd7dc]

Sparks and wildfires no doubt get their orders from the u.n they want everything locked up. It's no coincidence that p&w use the same colour blue on their signs that the UN use...

[@VaughanMunro-js4nr]

We love the History part of your Channel. Imagine how hard it was to build a whole town in that wilderness mostly by hand. Now mother nature has reclaimed it. Thanks to you and Levi for sharing this.

[@laurafoster297]

Rob!! I actually screamed when i saw this!! This has been on my to do list forever and a day... I couldn't work out how to get there aside from via ring river and the non existent bridge... loved this!!! Thanks for taking me there from my living room haha!!! And you're correct... theres 3 mines out at ringville that I have found some still had old gear out there the last time they were surveyed I should still have all the info on them in my phone somewhere think one was ring valley mine the other two I have names and info also... I researched this place so so so much but never found it!!! So awesome!!!

[@Rob.Parsons]

Aha thats awesome. Yeah it's been one of those places I've been meaning to visit for ages. I couldn't really find much info on ringville but I was mainly trawling through decades worth of trove newspaper clippings. I wish there was more written about it, its a fascinating place. Glad you enjoyed it!

[@laurafoster297]

@Rob.Parsons you had basically all the info and pics I had plus I have an old book here about the history of the West that has some stuff about it in there too... I found something once about an old mine out there then managed to find three from diving down a rabbit hole of hours upon hours of scouring the internet and old books as I love the mining history... actually should say... you had one more thing than I had... the way in not via ring river!!! If anyone could find it, it had to be you!

[@juliegarrett8389]

Living in Rosebery, tried to get out to the falls one day but unfortunately it's too far for my old dodgy legs to make the hike. So I will just vicariously live through your wonderful videos, Rob. By the way, this part of Tasmania is exquisitely beautiful. I'm glad you had a (rare) sunny day for your outing.

[@philgates2351]

Good to see you back out and sharing Tassie with us all again. Glad you didn't let the red tape from the "Parks" stop you. Like all governing departments they need to find ways to make money to justify existence so successful adventurers like yourself are easy targets. You open up a wonderful part of Tassie for us who cannot do it and for that we are grateful. Keep it up Rob,

[@latelee4320]

G'day Rob, hope the family is well mate. Hey I just gotta say that these video's are indeed your strength my friend, it's the passion in the history, the vibrance of lost places that tell of a story worth remembering and the people that made a life there which makes for an exciting adventure, especially for those that can't personally visit but can be sharers in the journey with you. And all because of your humility and kindness to sacrifice time and effort to share with others, Thank you Rob and keep up the great work ! P.s Parks could take a leaf out of your book ! Hats off to you mate, Regards Leighton 🌱

[@surayagriffey1568]

Great video Rob,, yet another little slice of Australian history I and others would never know about if not for your passion to explore, document and share this history and these places with us all. Great news on the Forestry mob giving the drone permit, keep digging away at Nat park's M8. You and Levi are probably doing more for Tassie Tourism than the Gov't department tasked with doing so and at a fraction of the cost that the Bureaucrats burn up trying to do so.

[@joannevieritz3463]

Love watching the old ghost town stories. It’s a shame there’s not much left. Great to see you out and about again. You do such a great job with the filming and the telling of the history . The music at the end was exactly right for the moment.

[@eddydewilde4958]

Hats off for soldiering on Rob and for taking us on your journey of discovery. I loved the way you blended Ringville in at 0.50. It is nothing short of stupendous what those pioneering people were capable of, the curved, tressle bridge below Montezuma Falls was a master piece.

[@dcsc1]

It amazes me what was actually there out in the West! In such deep forests and mountains, the infrastructure was incredible. One would never know today without seeing these pics. Amazing how time and the bush just erases these towns. Thanks for bringing us along on another fantastic and wonderfully beautiful time in history, Rob.

[@BreakOutOfTheAlgorithm]

Super stoked you were able to get a permit. Hopefully the process becomes really easy for you and Levi to continue sharing the best of Tasmania. 👍✨

[@lubyard6057]

Thankyou so much for this. 73 years a Tasmanian but did not know the name "Ringville". Magnificent country. As for the various areas needing permits, bureaucracy gone mad. I have been dealing with this for 20 or more years. How do we stop it ?

[@MrBillK1961]

You produce great videos! Those of us who will never get the chance to visit Tasmania can truly appreciate the beauty through your eyes. You do a wonderful job of research and narrations. Thank you so much!

[@alldays1]

I thoroughly enjoyed watching this video. It brought back happy memories of my time on the West Coast in 1959/60. My friends and I made several walks along the old tramway formation to view the falls. At that time we could still see the remains of the old trestle bridge lying at the bottom of the falls. My grandmother used to tell me stories about crossing the face of the falls in the train. The driver would stop to allow passengers to enjoy the view and sometimes the carriages would be wet with spray from the falls..

[@coldstream011]

So glad that you have decided to keep going, your education and presentation of our history should be part of school curriculum for every child and adult. Amazing narration and filming. Dont let the authorities stop you, it would be an immense lost to your followers.

[@user-gr3us9bh6j]

Absolutely superb content again. Fascinating to see the old workings and the amazing scenery that Tasmania has too. Thank you Rob. 👍

[@Flyingdinosaur69]

It amazes me how different the Tasmanian forest is from the rest of mainland Australia. It's looks prehistoric and beautiful! Little to no undergrowth!

[@trevdyer173]

Thanks for taking us back into another bit of tassys history. Magnificent as always

[@robertbanks8076]

Well done as usual Rob, and glad you have found a way to keep producing these great videos. Thanks for your time and effort

[@katzolicious]

The storytelling. The Cinematography. Just superb. Brillient. Inspiring. Keep it up. Thank you for all the hard work that is clearly put into these videos.

[@PeterPutz82]

Cool video, thanks Rob. Visiting the Falls then going to Zeehan museum and seeing the old photos of the tramway and station was so cool, it left a lasting impression of the West Coast. Most people visit the east coast but for a truly historical experience, the west is full of adventure and history. A testament to what humans can achieve with picks and shovels and time in freezing wet conditions.

[@SECRETCREEKPROSPECTING1776]

Woo hoo , let’s go. This sound really exciting . ✌️👊💪🇺🇸⚒️⚒️🇺🇸 Watching 😅 Thanks Rob, really enjoyed hearing all the history about that historical place. It’s really neat that you and Levi share more about your beautiful country then these so called people of power share. Thanks so much ♥️✌️👊💪🇦🇺⚒️⚒️⚒️

[@TristanDavey]

In the Northern Australian goldfields most infrastructure was removed from these types of towns as the prospectors moved on. People built structures of timber and tin which could be packed down and packed out onto the next town, other remnants were scavenged by those left. Up here certain tree species that thrive in disturbed soil, or are introduced are the best indicators we have of former town sites. Great to see a similar perspective from Tasmania.

[@JD-yv2zx]

mangos to indicate old Chinese camps? That's all I know of. What other trees give it away?

[@ironbrothers607]

Awesome video rob, love these historical adventures and the way you narate and put them together as well as the fantastic footage 👍👌

[@peterbuttge7434]

Hi Rob. Great to see you are persevering with your enjoyable presentations under the eyes of Tasmanian Gestapo. I had the pleasure of visiting the area with HWC on June LWE 1984 and my notes refer to Ringville as an old mining settlement even then only a grassy clearing. Got a photo of party crossing Ring River on a derelict bridge. Also visited the Olympic Mine and much more. Super area to spend some quality time in. Keep them vids coming for armchair viewing for old buggers like me.😁

[@chrisgolfer7528]

Another really informative video Rob. Glad that you have started making inroads through the legal side of things and that hopefully you will soon be able to show the history of Tasmania once again to us people who follow you on your adventures. Thanks again mate.

[@DanaerysRiverborn]

This has to be one of the most beautifully done 'tour' videos on youtube. On another note, Parks and Wildlife should be bloody ashamed of themselves.

[@simplylifeau]

Enjoy watching you explore historic places Rob, beautiful spot and in someway a relief to see mainly nature left behind…👍

[@leighmurrell5494]

What stupid bureaucracy is it that won't let someone film a place? That can only be viewed as RED TAPUS EXTREMUS and fee gauging. Don't let that sort of idiocy stop your great work.

[@robertlaundy4176]

To many paid pen pushers, with way too much time on their hands 😮👎 They should spend more time doing something useful, and leaving legends like Rob Parsons alone, who actually does an EXCELLENT Job 😊

[@truthandlife4101]

I agree it is unlawful and they do what they like and they do not own the land. Same thing with the voice voting no as the Corporations have a big voice and are doing the same take over Australia wide, rules regulations and Do not enter as they have a claim on everything including private land. Pygmy people were here first or was it the giants of the bible, all here first are dead and gone.

[@ethantodd4400]

Having You and Levi dropping on the same day is like Christmas morning back when a child 😁... Thanks for sharing your adventures brother, beautifully shot as always.. ✊🏽

[@ErinHext]

Great video Rob! Thanks for taking us on an insightful adventure!

[@rodgeorge7244]

What an interesting Vid Rob, Tasmania certainly has some amazing history thanks for bringing us along.

[@billg125]

THANKS ROB, YET ANOTHER GREAT & INTERESTING PRESENTATION; BEAUTIFUL UNLIKE ANY OTHER. KEEP THEM COMING PLEASE.

[@tommclachlanmclachlan7166]

Great job again Rob i sure love your videos showing off Tasmania. My friends and family back in Scotland love them as well. Keep up the great work.

[@GOLD_FEVER]

This is EXACTLY WHAT WE WANT TO SEE!!!!! This type of behind the history with pictures of the past and then video of the present is AMAZING to see! IT is so satisfying to watch you explore the spots that used to be houses and streets and just talk about the people who lived and died there! Please make more of this type of video! (maybe bring your metal detector to the sites of some old hotels in the future... you never know where they buried their gold ;] )

[@vicnurse5]

Wow another fascinating video, and love seeing all these parts of Tassie, wish I had explored a bit more when I lived there....such history, if only we could go back in time. I love that you look up the history and find photos etc if they are available. Thanks so much for all you do.

[@iantreloar2618]

Well done again Rob. Great film making. Thankyou for the scenery and history. Keep it up. Best regards Ian

[@joycegiles4595]

That hill they had t go up and down was huge. Amazing history! Thanks for sharing Rob!❤🌺

[@darrenwalker5061]

Thanks Rob. It's good to see that nothing much there has ever changed I did the same as just you did 25 years ago. Love your work 👍

[@philliphickey2687]

Great video thanks Rob hope yourself and Levi get all the problems with parks sorted soon.

[@loretta6596]

Really well done! I love finding out new things about our state. I'm glad you didn't get put off filming.

[@onnoholling7107]

Awesome video once again Rob. Looking forward to the next one already 👍🏼😁

[@greghayes9118]

Let me tell you young man, this is Australia, and Australia is a free country, as my grandfather and father served in 4 wars combined to preserve our freedom. So remember - we the people are the authority in this country. Don't let anyone tell you different. You don't need a permit to record your experience in nature.

[@Rawkus105]

What a great video. Tasmania has a facinating history and it's great to have you narrate it. Stunning footage as well mate.

[@Anekrys]

One of our favourite places to visit. Love your videos! Keep filming.

[@tomkalleske3475]

Nice one Rob, its great that you're able to visit and document these places before nature renders them impossible to distinguish from them from the surrounding scrub. I hope that once P&W see these videos that they appreciate the significance of what you're doing and give you some leeway / faster approval times. Cheers

[@the510wagon]

I really enjoyed this. Thank you for keeping the history alive 👍🏻

[@adelevickers2120]

Great video Rob, with the right mix of history, adventure and exploration. Loved the music at the end. Thanks

[@susanasalinas4273]

Great channel. Love the info and adventures. Thanks for inviting me!

[@jasonshaw3955]

Awesome video. Great work explaining the journey. Done well thanks.

[@chrismiddleton9088]

Thanks for a great video production Rob. I have walked the old NE Dundas line from Williamsford to Montezuma Falls about 30 years ago but never got down to Ringville. The area shown with large heaps of rocks certainly looks like alluvial workings, not unlike some of the alluvial workings in my area in the Central Victorian Goldfields. Keep up the good work.

[@user-dh8rq2ph1h]

Absolutely brilliant. Thank you for the fascinating incite and beautiful photography which is totally Tasmania. Looking forward to watching further interesting stories about our past heritage.

[@felixVanDiemen]

Hi Rob, I really love your videos and have watched heaps of them. I just hope you end up leaving some gold in Tassie for the rest of us 🙏

[@craig2795]

Brilliant to see you back out there Rob. Keep up the good fight for the Little Man 👍. I always love seeing the power of Natures Ability to reclaim back what was once hers again is such a short time. Gives me a lot of hope for the future generations we leave behind when our time is done.

[@bobfitch607]

Rob thanks for sharing that Amazing adventure with us. Also love our local history here in upstate NY. Great video mate 👍

[@user-wf4pq9xf2w]

Excellent " Rob keep up the good work you do ,so happy to see your back on the track .🙂❤

[@suzanneburkle4302]

Love your videos. What an ambassador for the history of such a unique place.

[@Sextus666]

The quality of the video in this one was a pleasure to watch on my (kind of biggish) telly last night. It was like I was there. Great work as usual champ.

[@SaltyDingo69]

Thank you Rob, beautifully videoed, and presented. What a magical part of Tassie, makes me want to jump in my van and head down there now. You tell the story of our recent history so well and with great passion. Keep up the awesome work. Cheers SaltyDingo69

[@michellemcnicol5162]

Great video Rob. Watched it tonight with my husband. We both really enjoyed it. Keep up the videos 😊

[@susanlee9595]

Great to see you back. Love your explorer style vids and good to see your eye in the sky too❤ Really missed watching your content.

[@grasslipper8856]

As always rob well put together and interesting and the little places like this you never heard about I really appreciate the way its professionally put together, looking forward to the next one.

[@implesixmusic]

always stoked to see an upload, love the story telling. I'm a local and live alot of adventures through your travels. Will so buy you a beer if I see you at the pub.

[@paganstar]

Loved watching this with my son! Thanks for sharing mate 👍🏻

[@truthandlife4101]

Beautiful video with a lot of history, thank you and God bless you for your achievements.

[@pierrefourie7]

Stoked for this mate. Brilliant as usual

[@empireofpeaches]

What a great adventure, thanks for taking us along on your exploration. Your shots of the green forest and creeks are so beautiful. Glad Forestry were quick to grant your approval to film, I hope Parks don't take too much longer. Cheers.

[@mrlemonadesandwich]

So National Sparks & Wildfires manage commercial licensing with the same level of incompetence as they manage fuel load reduction. What a beautiful place

[@hikewithmark]

What a great video mate! Your videos bring so much value to me. 🙏

[@andrewbaron8713]

Once again great video. Great to see your sorted with the correct permits . I love the history lessons you do along the way. Super.

[@davidnelson2951]

Thank you for this history hike, it was so wonderful to see and experience.

[@catecurl3790]

Really enjoyed coming along today, my first time with you guys, thanks

[@skeres01]

I'm new to this channel, and it's so nice to see Tasmania like this. I went on a 12 day walk as a teenager 35 years ago through the Tasmanian wilderness, and it takes me back. Thanks Rob for presenting and informing us on these beautiful areas.

[@davidhunter9282]

Awesome brother great video and awesome content cant wait to go back for more exploring. Double Thumbs up.❤

[@patriciayoung8983]

Fantastic video thanks Rob. Such a beautiful place ❤

[@bengibson3955]

That was definitely an old bridge abutment at 16:15. Great vid mate and massive thanks for documenting historic places like this. Without maintenance, the bush reclaims these sites and makes them unrecognisable. Your work is important and much appreciated.

[@boldorbiker]

thanks for allowing me to watch and appreciate the history of my homeland, being born in Queenstown in the 60's ensures the west coast of tassie is always close to my heart, thank you for your professionalism and informative videos 👍🏼

[@simon-peterhedditch3416]

Thanks for taking us along.

[@loumarlow7295]

Just breathtaking ❤ thankyou so much for sharing your journey

[@raymondsmit]

Another great watch Rob thank you!

[@davidbennion876]

Hi that’s great memories for me now in my eighties. I used to be in charge of the Williamsford (Hercules) mine haulage way aerial ropeway and mechanical works. I knew the area very well. Your trip was like a walk down memory lane for me. Keep up the good work and thank you for the memories. Regards Dave Bennion.

[@ancientmichigan]

Great news. Great video. We appreciate your hard work.

[@hawthorngrove3629]

Great video, I look forward to seeing more like this.

[@UbuteyAustralia]

Great stuff rob just keep these vids coming as they are a credit to you and tasmania👍

[@SamMarsh04]

Another awesome video Rob. I recently visited Montezuma Falls and was blown away by its beauty and amazing backstory, Montezuma being the mining company that discovered gold and silver in the area, which was inspired by the story of the Spanish conquistadors that raided Montezuma Xocoyotzin's Aztec empire of all his gold and silver.

[@louisaklimentos7583]

Really beautiful Tasmania and thank you for your amazing video !

[@IgmuTu1]

Excellent Rob as usual, stay well .

[@traceynorton4114]

Very interesting area Rob. Thanks for sharing it.

[@sharonmalone8312]

That is a beautiful waterfall. Thank you for the video,it’s the only way I’ll ever see such beautiful countryside.

[@REELRANDOM]

Very interesting video, I enjoyed this Rob. Watching Tassie's West coast in 4K looks great.😎

[@greglance4712]

West coast is just so interesting, great video.

[@helengormlie966]

Incredible work, Rob.. first time I've ever seen your work. Please keep it up!!

[@toddrodgers5108]

I really enjoy the tours and the history. Good hikes through amazing outback places.

[@joeseamon4800]

Love your work mate

[@cherylhowell7534]

Wow! Thank you, love watching your videos, 1st time iv posted a comment. Rainforests, the beauty of tassie is spectacular i was awestruck at the serenity so many beautiful hidden gems to see there. I didnt have enough time to walk the track spent 2 weeks cant wait to come back- We are so blessed to live in the oldest Country on earth!! ✨

[@shirleyfisher138]

Love your stuff mate - keep it coming - great history.

[@sidsventures]

Very cool indeed. I've camped and explored around Montezuma a few times, trying to piece together the old tracks and stories. Thanks for this vid Rob.