The best waterfalls in Australia

Cedar Creek Falls has fast-flowing water, which feels very refreshing.

Although it’s quite close by, this was my first time visiting. During the dry season, I’ve seen people jumping into the water here, but this time the flow was strong enough that I didn’t dare try.

Coming up from downstream, there are many sections where you need to wade through water or even swim across. The water quality is fairly good. I was also lucky that there were no leeches this time.

Checked in at the curtain-like giant strangler fig tree, one of the most famous sights on the Atherton Tablelands. Walking a full circle around it really lets you feel the beauty and vitality of life.

Not far away is Millaa Millaa Falls, a South American–style curtain waterfall that has been used as a filming location for many movies. We explored it by campervan, visiting Millaa Millaa Falls and the waterfall circuit, with so many stunning photo spots along the way.

One of the best tips: we arrived at Millaa Millaa Falls around 10 a.m. and instead of going to the car park, we took the turn down via Burs Park Road. Then we parked right opposite the waterfall. You can take photos from inside the car, and even sit there enjoying snacks and drinks while taking in the view—super relaxing and enjoyable.

This is the highest single-drop waterfall in Australia, with a vertical drop of about 268 meters. The scale of it is extremely impressive.

Wallaman Falls is located in Girringun National Park and is part of the Wet Tropics World Heritage Area.

The area is not only known for the waterfall itself but also for its rich rainforest ecosystem. It is home to rare wildlife, including endangered species such as the Southern Cassowary.

Somersby Falls is located about 70 km from Sydney by car. It sits in the western outskirts of Gosford in the Central Coast region.

If you want a quick escape from the city without a long drive, Somersby Falls is a great option. It’s a small waterfall where you can bring a blanket and chairs and spend a quiet, relaxed time surrounded by nature. You can enjoy the sound of the water, spot wild birds, and walk through lush rainforest.

Somersby Falls is about a 1-hour drive from Sydney CBD.

Ellenborough Falls is about a 3.5-hour drive from Sydney. It is one of the tallest waterfalls in New South Wales, with a drop of up to 200 meters, making it the second tallest in Australia.

It is located around 1.5 hours from Forster. The route includes about 30 minutes of unsealed dirt road, so driving carefully is important. It is not recommended to visit in rainy weather.

You can view the waterfall from the top lookout, which gives a full panoramic view of the falls, or walk down the 600+ steps to the base. The descent is quite steep, around a 45-degree slope in parts, and the path can be narrow.

Walking around Ebor Falls is really relaxing and enjoyable.

This waterfall is located in Guy Fawkes National Park in New South Wales, and the natural scenery here is excellent. Ebor Falls has two levels. The Upper Falls is powerful, with water dropping straight down from a high basalt cliff. The Lower Falls is wider and more open, like a long natural landscape painting.

It is currently autumn in Australia, and walking along the trail feels very comfortable with cool breezes. The leaves are also starting to change color, giving the whole place a quiet and gentle atmosphere.

Springbrook has a really nice hiking route.

The Purling Brook Falls Circuit is about 4 km in total, with a difficulty level of 3. If you don’t want to challenge yourself too much, it’s better to walk clockwise, so you get more downhill stairs and mostly gentle uphill slopes. We walked quite slowly and it took about 1.5 hours. This year there has been a lot of rain, so the waterfall looks great, but parts of the track can be muddy.

After visiting the waterfall, there is also Best of All Lookout nearby. After parking, it is about a 300 m walk through the national park. Along the way, you pass some ancient beech trees. The lookout has a very wide view, and it feels very peaceful once you arrive.

Wattamolla Falls is a perfect day trip.

Last weekend, we finally visited one of Sydney locals’ favourite “backyard escapes” — Wattamolla Falls.

It is only about a 50–70 minute drive from Sydney CBD (depending on traffic). After entering Royal National Park and paying a $12 vehicle entry fee, you arrive at this stunning spot that combines a lagoon, waterfall, and beach in one place.

This time at Waterfall Gully, we only visited two waterfalls. Next time, we’ll definitely challenge ourselves with the hike to Mount Lofty Summit.

With plenty of recent rain, the waterfalls were looking spectacular. You can even spot rainbows in the mist up close.

Hiking Route

Curracurrong Falls is one of the few waterfalls in the world that flows directly into the ocean, with a drop of 82 meters.

On windy days, you can even witness the rare "reverse waterfall" phenomenon, where strong winds blow the falling water back up toward the cliff.

Today's coastal hike took us from Wattamolla Beach to Eagle Rock and Curracurrong Falls. The round-trip distance was 8.8 km and took about 4 hours.

The driving distance from the famous port town of Strahan in Tasmania to Russell Falls is about 3 hours and 45 minutes.

After taking a Gordon River cruise in Strahan, which finished around 3 p.m., we decided to stay overnight at a homestay near Russell Falls so we could visit the waterfall early the next morning.

We’re really glad we made that decision, because Russell Falls in the morning is incredibly peaceful and beautiful. There was not a single other visitor except us, and it felt like a hidden, mysterious world deep in the forest.

Just got back from the Great Ocean Road today and wanted to share a few short walking tracks we did.

Erskine Falls and Straw Falls near Lorne (Photos 1–4). Erskine Falls is probably the largest waterfall around Lorne, and the main lookout gets quite crowded. These two waterfalls are very close to each other, and the walking route is short at about 1.3 km.

You can also make the walk a bit more challenging by climbing over rocks along the way. The rainforest section on the way to Straw Falls is especially beautiful and almost dreamlike, and there are very few people on that part of the track.

Cairns – Josephine Falls

Distance: 74.6 km Driving time: about 1 hour Address: LOT 1 Josephine Falls Walk, Bartle Frere QLD 4861

Josephine Falls is located in Wooroonooran National Park near Cairns. It is a three-tier waterfall with a total drop of about 192 meters.

Sydney Hiking | Wentworth Falls + Darwin’s Walk

A light recommendation for this Blue Mountains hiking route.

The full loop is around 10 km. It’s not extremely difficult, but there are quite a few ups and downs, so beginners should take it slow on the climbs and allow enough time.

A 90-meter waterfall crashes down with a powerful roar, while a rainbow shimmers faintly through the mist.

It's very short — if you walk at a good pace, the return trip takes about 30 minutes.

MacKenzie Falls is definitely your kind of place.

📍 MacKenzie Falls, Zumsteins VIC 3401

Why it’s worth visiting:

This is a small tropical rainforest not far from the city, but you do need to drive to get there. There are very few tourists, only a handful of locals, and it feels completely undeveloped. It’s exactly the kind of rainforest walking environment and atmosphere I personally love.

There is a trail that is more of a naturally formed path from foot traffic. It is relatively easy, but since it had rained that day, the ground was quite slippery, so we only walked part of it before turning back. It was still unforgettable.

Crystal Falls is about a 20-minute drive from the city. It is also suitable for rock swimming. There is a car park with toilets and change rooms.

The drive takes about two hours, and there is also a hike involved, so it’s not very beginner-friendly. However, it is truly beautiful.

Set your navigation to Belmore Falls and drive directly to the forest park area. There is a nearby parking area, and it is recommended to park near the lookout sign, which is free.

Once you enter the forest park, there is a sign that shows you how to reach the lookout.

Fitzroy Falls is not far from Bowral, and it is only about 150 meters from the car park. There is also a walking track along the cliff where you can get a more distant view of the waterfall.

We only stayed at the main lookout, and were lucky enough to see a rainbow over the falls.

About 2.5 hours’ drive south of Sydney, this hidden waterfall is considered one of the most beautiful in the Blue Mountains region.

Liffey Falls | Tasmania

It takes about one hour to drive from Devonport, or around forty minutes from Launceston. Just follow the signs and you’ll get there easily (make sure not to turn toward the campsite). The road has quite a lot of potholes, so if you’re driving a low-clearance car, it’s worth thinking twice—although many roads in Tasmania are like this.

The return walk takes about 45 minutes. The trail is very easy and well maintained. We only met a few people on the way back; for most of the time, it felt like we had the entire place to ourselves. It’s a very peaceful walk with a strong sense of solitude.

**Hopetoun Falls**

I've always had a soft spot for rainforests. I hope to explore rainforests of all sizes across Australia one day. I love the soothing sound of water cascading down waterfalls—it feels incredibly healing. I also enjoy wandering through the wet, uneven rainforest trails, which remind me of the treasure-hunting adventures I played as a kid. You never know what breathtaking view awaits just beyond the next bend or behind a curtain of leaves. That sense of excitement with every step—isn't that exactly what travel is supposed to bring us?

Looking for a waterfall hike along the Great Ocean Road? This one is a must.

The loop trail is easy to walk, and the three-tier waterfall flows like silk. After rain, the water volume is at its peak and becomes especially spectacular.

We discovered an incredibly beautiful waterfall hike near Melbourne that’s suitable for all ages Steavenson Falls

Located in Yarra Ranges National Park in northeastern Melbourne, not far from the town of Marysville.

As a backdrop for photos, it almost doesn’t look real—it’s absolutely stunning. One of the best things about this walk is that there are different route options, so you can choose based on your fitness level. If you don’t want to walk 🚶 or are visiting with kids, you can simply walk straight to the waterfall.

Trentham Falls

The walk from the town of Trentham to Trentham Falls is about 3.5 km. Trentham Falls is the tallest single-drop waterfall in Victoria, standing at 32 meters high. It is considered one of the eight most spectacular waterfalls around Melbourne.

During the wet season, the water flow becomes very powerful, creating a truly impressive cascade. Standing on the viewing platform, you can even feel the mist hitting your face!

I didn’t expect there to be proper waterfalls around Sydney.

Surprisingly, the waterfalls around Sydney actually have quite impressive drops.

Carrington Falls is located in Robertson, New South Wales, Australia. Plunge falls in Budderoo National Park. Visit guide and safety information will be added soon.

Govetts Leap is the closest and most easily accessible of the spots I’ve visited to Blackheath Station and Wentworth Street. Starting from Wentworth Street, you simply follow Govetts Leap Road north to the very end—about 3 km away, a 5-minute drive or roughly a 40-minute walk.

At the site, there are parking spaces, picnic areas, public toilets, and a large viewing platform. The lookout, car park, and facilities have recently been upgraded, with the original gravel surfaces replaced by concrete and asphalt, and the railings renewed. From the viewing platform, the panoramic scenery opens up immediately, with the waterfall visible on the right side.

There are also multiple walking tracks for hiking enthusiasts. For example, heading right along the Cliff Top Track leads to Barrow Lookout, and further on to Evans Lookout.

Empress Falls – Valley of the Waters Track (Blue Mountains)

Recently discovered a really enjoyable and high-reward hiking rout. Valley of the Waters Track (Blue Mountains)

Starting from Conservation Hut This trail links together three waterfalls along the same valley.

We set off early in the morning to Apsley Falls, about a 1.5-hour drive from Tamworth.

The waterfall itself is quite impressive in person, and the surrounding mountains shaped by years of natural erosion are also very unique. Of course, you also get the classic Australian bush scenery along the way.

Personally, I don’t think it’s a must-visit destination on its own—it’s more of a nice stop if you’re passing through the area. On the way there and back, we also drove through a small town called Walcha, which is very small but has some surprisingly nice scenery.

Wollomombi Falls: a combination of canyon and waterfall—it’s quite nice overall. We completed both walking tracks in about two hours in total. The trails are very well maintained, and there weren’t many people around.

For the past few days, I had this strong feeling that I wanted to go to Dorrigo to see the rain.

Maybe it was because it had been rainy and cloudy at home lately, or maybe because I had visited the Dorrigo Rainforest Centre before but didn’t have time to walk the trails, and felt like I had left something unfinished.

But one after another, strange little things started happening.

Rainforest waterfall hike in Australia — Crystal Shower Falls Coffs Harbour nearby trip Dorrigo National Park (national forest park)

First stop: the stunning Skywalk lookout (adults $2, kids $1) Then we chose a hiking trail suitable for both adults and kids with little experience

3.6 km return, about 1–1.5 hours The waterfall is the destination, and you can even walk behind it to view it The path is easy to walk, and it’s like a natural oxygen bar — breathe in as much fresh air as you want~

Minyon Falls

One of the biggest waterfalls in Australia. About 2.5 hours return.

Minyon Falls, Whian Whian NSW Minyon Falls Lookout Track Overlooks the waterfall — short and easy track, no difficulty. After parking, it’s about a 10-minute walk. The view is wide and open.

**Beauchamp Falls — Great Ocean Road forest waterfall walk (Victoria)**

The forest air is humid and comfortable. All the way downhill, a small creek flows beside you. Walking along the track, you can clearly smell wood, leaves, and fresh soil.

From the car park to the waterfall is a 2.5 km return walk, taking about 1 hour. The last 200 meters are a bit steeper, and after rain the rocks can be slightly slippery.

Set off early in the morning with my roommate for Apsley Falls. It’s about a 1.5-hour drive from Tamworth.

The waterfall does look pretty impressive in person, and the mountains shaped by time and nature are quite unique. Of course, there’s also that classic Aussie bush scenery.

Personally, I don’t think it’s worth making a special trip just for it — but if you’re passing by, it’s definitely worth a quick stop.

Have you heard of Gibraltar Falls in Canberra?

Even though people often say Canberra is a bit “boring”, the natural scenery is honestly one of its biggest highlights. When you have time, it’s always worth getting out and exploring places like this.

Gibraltar Falls is a relatively underrated spot. The environment here is stunning — lush, peaceful, and the water is incredibly clear. It’s a place we’ve visited quite a few times, and almost every friend or relative we bring here ends up loving it too. It still feels like a bit of a hidden gem, mostly visited by locals rather than tourists.

Wangi Falls Was the Best Day of the Whole Trip, McDonald's Breakfast and All

We landed in Darwin the day before and didn't do much with it — you never do, after a flight. Litchfield National Park was the actual start of the trip as far as we were concerned, and we treated it that way, breakfast included. Nobody wanted to cook, so it was McDonald's from a drive-through on the way out of town, eaten more or less in the car.

Litchfield is about 90 minutes to two hours south of Darwin, depending on where in the city you start, and the road in is sealed the whole way, so it's an easy drive even half-asleep with a McMuffin in one hand.

We Should Have Bought the Pool Noodle at the Servo

This was before Wangi Falls, earlier the same day. We pulled into Florence Falls right around one or two in the afternoon, which is not when you want to be doing anything active in the Top End, but it turned out to be exactly the right time to be getting into cold water.

Florence Falls is inside Litchfield National Park, a bit over an hour and a half south of Darwin, and it shares a road with Buley Rockhole, so the two are easy to hit on the same stop. The falls themselves are fairly modest by waterfall standards — twin drops of somewhere around 10 to 15 metres — but what people actually come for is the plunge pool underneath them, and that thing is enormous.

Jim Jim Falls, Northern Territory

Kakadu National Park is a UNESCO World Heritage Site covering 19,816 km²—roughly half the size of Switzerland. It's one of Australia's largest national parks and a sanctuary for countless native wildlife species.

Unlike Uluru, Kakadu doesn't have well-developed tourist infrastructure. Many of its most spectacular attractions are only accessible by 4WD, so if you're renting a vehicle, make sure to check whether the rental company allows off-road driving. The trip also requires a reasonable level of fitness, and with crocodiles found throughout the park, it's definitely not a place to take unnecessary risks.

Just a 40-minute drive from Perth, Serpentine Falls is one of those spots that feels far more remote than it actually is. Tucked inside Serpentine National Park, it's an easy half-day trip that works whether you're bringing the whole family or tackling one of the park's hiking trails.

What You'll See

The falls tumble into an emerald-green pool so clear you can see straight to the bottom. The water is cold — the kind that makes you gasp on first contact — but that never seems to stop anyone. Kids in particular tend to lose all track of time here, splashing around long after the adults are ready to head back to the car.

We Went to Katoomba Falls on a Whim, and the Water Wasn't Even Running That Hard

A friend suggested Katoomba Falls the way people suggest things when they've already decided for you. "It's close to the car park, we'll be back in half an hour." That part turned out to be more or less true, which is rare enough that I'm writing it down.

Katoomba Falls sits just outside Katoomba, near Echo Point, inside Blue Mountains National Park. It's fed by the Kedumba River and drops in stages down into the Jamison Valley — Wikipedia lists it as a segmented waterfall, and the total drop gets quoted anywhere from about 150 metres to over 200, depending on whether the source is counting the upper cascades too. I didn't measure it myself, obviously. I was too busy watching my feet.

Weekend Hike: Standing at the Top of Morans Falls

📍 Lamington National Park

We finally got around to Morans Falls Track this weekend. Here's the breakdown, the way I'd want someone to lay it out for me before I went.

Twin Falls Circuit: The Rainforest an Hour Behind the Gold Coast

When you think the Gold Coast is all beach, there's a rainforest hiding about an hour's drive inland that says otherwise. Walk in through the trees, get to the waterfall, step behind the curtain of water, and the mist hits your face before you've had time to say anything about it.

This is Twin Falls Circuit in Springbrook National Park, part of the Gondwana Rainforest World Heritage area.

Wentworth Falls: The Blue Mountains Waterfall I Keep Going Back To

If you asked me to pick one Blue Mountains spot I'd happily visit over and over, Wentworth Falls would be on that short list. It's just under two hours west of Sydney, which makes it an easy day trip, but it never quite feels like "just" a day trip once you're standing in front of the falls.

The walk in doesn't give much away at first. You're surrounded by all the scenery the Blue Mountains are known for — sandstone cliffs, eucalypt forest, valley after valley folding into the distance — and it's beautiful, but it's the kind of beautiful you can start to expect after a few visits to the area. Then you get closer to the falls and that expectation gets thrown out. Wentworth Falls actually drops in three tiers down into the Jamison Valley, dropping close to 190 metres in total, and the scale of it doesn't really land until you're right there.

I'd spent most of my Australia trip in South Australia, where the "waterfalls" are, generously, garden hoses trickling over rocks. So when I pulled into the car park for Nelson Falls, on the drive from Hobart toward Queenstown, I genuinely wasn't ready for what I was about to see.

It had rained the day before, and the falls were running at full volume. So much spray was hanging in the air that my camera lens fogged up after a single shot. I tried a long exposure anyway, and every frame came back with tiny water droplets smeared across the lens that no amount of editing could fix afterward. If you're the type who likes a perfectly clean shot, bring a lens cloth and expect to use it constantly. If you're the type who doesn't mind a bit of chaos in your photos, this is one of those waterfalls where the imperfections are kind of the point.

Here's what you actually need to know before you go.

Queen Mary Falls, about 2+ hours from Brisbane's southern suburbs.

This is somewhere I'd always wanted to go, but every time I thought about it I went "ugh, so far" and never actually went. Today I finally ended up there, kind of by accident.

Verdict first:

This has to be the most popular waterfall around Perth, and every time I go it's busy — big drop, plenty of water, dog-friendly, and you get a view over the city from the top. It's become a bit of a yearly thing for me.

It's about a 30 to 40 minute drive from the CBD, out in Mundy Regional Park, and easy enough to find if you just search the name. There are two car parks, one at the top and one at the bottom of the falls. Only the top one has toilets, and even though neither is small, we still end up squeezed onto the roadside pretty much every time we go.

If you park at the bottom, you head to the base of the falls first. There's a fairly steep shortcut nearby that cuts straight up the hillside to the lookout at the top, but it's rough going with kids, so if you've got them with you it's easier to go back to the car park from the base and take the gentler slope up instead. Do it the other way round — park at the top — and you walk the easy slope down to the bottom, cross over to the base of the falls, then climb the shortcut back up if you're up for it.