Expert Guide to the Waterfall Way
Ebor Falls in Guy Fawkes River National Park
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Wind from the sparkling seaside of Coffs Harbour to Armidale, travelling through World Heritage rainforests and along the Great Escarpment.
Feel the sense of adventure as you leave the rush of the
motorway behind, slow down to explore the twists and turns of
these country roads, and stop for a while in friendly villages
and towns.As the name suggests, this road trip gives you the
chance to see some stunning waterfalls, but you won’t just see
them from afar. You can also walk behind one and swim behind
another, so if the weather’s warm enough pack your cossie for a
refreshing dip.
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1
Coffs Harbour
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Surfers heading out for a morning surf at Diggers Beach,
Coffs Harbour.
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Our journey begins in Coffs Harbour and, as we’ll be hitting the
road early, you’ll want to spend a day or two here before it’s
time to go. Coffs may have a population of around 70,000 people
but it still feels like an Aussie beach town and, with more than
90km of sandy beaches, there’s plenty of room to spread out. If
it’s whale season (between May and November) you can not only
watch them from the shore you can also go swimming with humpbacks.
The family fun at Australia’s first ‘Big Thing’ the Big Banana is
a whole lot splashier since it added its own Water Park in 2015.
Down at Jetty Beach you can walk out over the northern breakwall
to Muttonbird Island Nature Reserve or explore cafes and
restaurants along the Jetty Strip.
A 10min drive up through the banana plantations will take you to
the Forest Sky Pier at Sealy Lookout where you can breathe in
sweeping coastal views, follow the indigenous story trail along
the Gumgali walking track, or climb up rope ladders and fly down
zip lines on a TreeTops adventure.
Sights & Activities
The Big Banana Fun Park
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The Big Banana is Australia's original and most iconic Big Thing. No trip along the Coffs Coast is complete without a stop!
Jetty Beach
Coffs Coast
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Jetty Beach is a protected beach which is popular with both locals and tourists alike, especially families.
Muttonbird Island Nature Reserve
Photo: Rob Cleary
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The Eastern lookout offers spectacular views of the Solitary Islands. Explore the area's Aboriginal cultural significance on a school excursion, or enjoy some whale watching
Coffs Harbour Marina and Jetty Area
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Exploring Jetty Beach and foreshores is the perfect way start to your visit to Coffs Harbour.
Niigi Niigi - Sealy Lookout
Forestry Corporation of NSW
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Niigi Niigi (Sealy Lookout) in Orara East State Forest was Coffs Harbour's first eco-certified tourism attraction.
Gumgali Track
Louise Faulkner Photography
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Gumgali Track is located in the beautiful Orara East State Forest, also home to Sealy Lookout and the Forest Sky Pier.
TreeTops Coffs Harbour
Treetops Adventure
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Treetop Adventure Park is a recreation activity in the tree tops, where participants slide down flying foxes, move from tree to tree on suspension bridges.
2
Bellingen
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Canoeing along the Bellinger River
Arrive via car from Bellingen36KM / 22MI ~ Approximately 29 minutes
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It’s time to leave the ocean in your rear view mirror. You’ll only
have 22km on the Pacific Highway before you turn off so now’s the
time to set the cruise control and sing along to the TLC classic
'Waterfalls'. Take the Waterfall Way exit, or the B78 as
it’s less romantically known, and drive past farmland with cows
crossing signs on the road.
Skip your hotel breakfast and save your appetite for the Old
Butter Factory Cafe on the way into Bellingen. There’s more than
100 years of history in the old factory, which now has a mix of
galleries and shops. The cow statues on your right let you know
you’re arrived and after a hearty breakfast you’re ready to drive
into town to explore.
Bohemian Bellingen is a mix of independent boutiques, artisan
shops and organic cafes. Admire historic buildings as you stroll
along Hyde Street, including old Hammond and Wheatley Building,
which is now home to Emporium Bellingen downstairs and the Dervish
Gallery above.
If you’re spending a night or two along the Waterfall Way you’ll
even have time to join Bellingen Canoe Adventures for a paddle on
the Bellinger River or to get the blood pumping on a mountain bike
trail.
Sights & Activities
Bellingen Canoe Adventures
Bellingen Canoe Adventures
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Bellingen Canoe Adventures offers canoe trips to all ages, from beginners to the more advanced - flatwater, whitewater, sunset and full moon tours are available.
3
Dorrigo National Park
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Follow the walk to Crystal Shower Falls, Dorrigo National
Park
Arrive via car from
Dorrigo National Park29KM / 18MI ~ Approximately 22 minutes
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Take the slow and winding road between Bellingen and Dorrigo,
where at times it’s so narrow you’ll be taking turns to cross
single lane bridges. If you’ve called shotgun, keep your camera
handy for the small waterfalls you’ll pass along the way. Turn the
music off and wind your window down to let the calls of rainforest
birds create the perfect soundtrack.
At the Dorrigo Rainforest Centre you can learn about local plants
and animals, be tempted by their excellent gift shop, and have a
drink or bite to eat at the Canopy Café. Just outside the centre
the Skywalk takes you out above the edge of the escarpment for
panoramic views of the Bellinger Valley and the Rosewood
rainforest basin.
Drive to the car park at The Glade to shave a little time off your
walk down to the Crystal Shower Falls. This 3.5km return walk in
Gondwana Rainforest takes you through 600-year old trees including
towering, twisted strangler figs before the big reveal of the
falls comes on a suspension bridge. Don’t stop there; go down into
the cavern behind the falls and look back out at the rainforest
through the falling water.
The full Wonga Walk from The Glade is 5.8km and takes around 2.5
hours. If time permits it will also let you see the Tristania
Falls, but there are bigger and better falls coming, so don’t
worry if you have to skip that one.
Dorrigo Rainforest Centre
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Learn about the National Park's flora and fauna in the intriguing education area at the Dorrigo National Park Rainforest Centre.
Skywalk Lookout
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Directly connected to Dorrigo Rainforest Centre, Skywalk lookout offers a bird's-eye view of the surrounding landscape.
Crystal Shower Falls Walk
Photo: Rob Cleary
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Walk through lush rainforest to reach Crystal Shower Falls in Dorrigo National Park near Coffs Harbour. Enjoy spectacular views from the rocky cavern behind the
Wonga Walk
Photo: Rob Cleary
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Take a walk amongst subtropical rainforest and 600-year-old trees along the Wonga walk in Dorrigo National Park, home to the Tristania and Crystal Falls. The
4
Dorrigo & Dangar Falls
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Swim at the base of Dangar Falls near Dorrigo
Arrive via car from
Dorrigo & Dangar Falls4KM / 2MI ~ Approximately 3 minutes
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In the small town of Dorrigo, population 1,042, there’s a sense of
rebirth and reinvention. Younger families have been moving into
town, new businesses have been born and some older ones have been
given a new lease of life.
At Components Café the new owners are serving up delicious all day
breakfasts and lunches, as well as selling local products
including Avirida’s cruelty free organic skincare in compostable
timber pots. At Red Cedar the focus is on ethically made
Australian labels, while Miss Wink has a carefully curated
selection of gifts and homewares to choose from.
Take a few moments to get up close to the huge mosaic mural next
to the Information Centre on Hickory Street, before heading across
the road to see the creations in local artist Peter Mortimore’s
Gallery.
Follow the Coramba Road a few minutes north of Dorrigo to reach
Dangar Falls. The 30m falls are beautiful to see from the viewing
platform right next to the car park, or better yet, take the 20min
walk down to the falls and back. If the water’s warm enough you
can swim out behind the falls, but keep in mind the water is deep
and there’s nowhere to rest so this is for stronger swimmers only.
Sights & Activities
Dangar Falls
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Two kilometres north of Dorrigo town centre is Dangar Falls, a beautiful 30-metre waterfall set amidst scenic agricultural and dairy farmland.
5
Ebor Falls
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Ebor Falls in Guy Fawkes River National Park
Arrive via car from Ebor Falls47KM / 29MI ~ Approximately 31 minutes
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As you head back into town and rejoin the Waterfall Way to Ebor,
it would be easy to believe you’ve taken a wrong turn and ended up
in rural England. The rolling green hills are nothing like the
countryside we’ve driven through so far, and there in the distance
is a glimpse of the wild national parks we’ll be visiting soon.
Just on the other side of Ebor village you’ll turn right to visit
Ebor Falls. Here the Guy Fawkes River turns to whitewater as it
drops 100m over two waterfalls and, while it’s only possible to
see the top falls until a new viewing platform is built, that half
alone is well worth stopping for.
If it’s trout fishing season (and you have your licence and
tackle) you can try your luck in the river right next to the Ebor
Falls Hotel Motel. On the way out of town you can also pay a visit
to the Dutton Trout Hatchery on Point Lookout Road where they
raise around two million fish a year to release into waterways.
If time permits, continue past the hatchery to Point Lookout where
on a clear day you can see all the way to the ocean over World
Heritage bushland from your spot 1,500m above sea level.
Sights & Activities
Ebor Falls
Destination NSW
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Watch the Guy Fawkes River plunging 100 metres over two waterfalls at Ebor Falls.
6
Wollomombi Falls
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The lookout over Wollomombi Falls - Leah Pippos, NPWS
Arrive via car from Wollomombi Falls41KM / 25MI ~ Approximately 28 minutes
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Continue along the Waterfall Way for your final waterfall of the
day, the dramatic and sometimes elusive Wollomombi Falls. Follow
the signs to the Falls Picnic Area and then take the path to the
right to reach the new wheelchair accessible viewing platform that
opened in May 2020.
At 220m or 260m, depending on how you measure them, Wollomombi
Falls are the highest in NSW, cascading over towering cliffs into
the valley below. On a rainy day they may play hide and seek
behind swirling fog and mist, and during long dry spells they may
not appear at all. But even if the falls are out of sight the view
over the gorge is a sight to be seen.
If you have enough energy and daylight up your sleeve, follow the
path to the left of the picnic area through a dingo fence and over
the Wollomombi River to another, closer lookout. But remember it’s
a 4km return, Grade 3 walk that takes around 1.5 to 2 hours to do,
so check sunset times before you set off.
Sights & Activities
Wollomombi Walking Track
Photo: J Lehmann
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It’s all waterfalls and wilderness on this easy walk around the rim of the Wollomombi Gorge high in the falls country of the Northern Tablelands,
Wollomombi Gorge and Falls Picnic Area
Photo: Rob Cleary
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If you love the raw power and beauty of rugged wilderness, then a visit to Wollomombi Falls campground and picnic area in New England
7
Armidale
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The Imperial Hotel and Post Office, Armidale
Arrive via car from Armidale40KM / 25MI ~ Approximately 30 minutes
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The final stretch of the Waterfall Way travels through New England
farmland and ends in Australia’s highest city, Armidale. As you’ll
be arriving at the end of the day you may enjoy celebrating with a
local craft beer at The Welder’s Dog or catching some live music
with a cocktail at Charlie’s Last Stand.
Give yourself a day or two at the end of the road trip to get to
know the city, starting with breakfast at The Goldfish Bowl.
Wander past heritage-listed buildings like the Cathedral and Post
Office, visit the New England Regional Art Museum to see
Australian art treasures including works by Arthur Streeton and
Norman Lindsay, and head just past the airport for a guided tour
of the 30 room Edwardian mansion, Saumarez Homestead.
In the open air Beardy Street Mall, the art deco Tattersalls Hotel
offers fine dining in the restaurant, and right next door the New
England Collective is a treasure trove of products from local
designers and artisans.
To end your journey on a real high, take a Fleet Adventures
helicopter over the gorges to see the Wollomombi Falls and others
from above. You can choose to have the doors on or off for an
extra adrenalin kick, and when you look down at the heart shaped
formation in the mountains known as the Heart of New England,
you’ll feel the love for this special corner of NSW.
The Welders Dog
The Welders Dog
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Experience a huge range of craft beverages, local, regional, international craft beers and local award winning wines and spirits.
New England Regional Art Museum
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The New England Regional Art Museum (NERAM) is the public regional gallery located in Armidale in the heart of the New England North West region
Saumarez Homestead
National Trust of Australia (NSW)
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Saumarez Homestead, an historic country homestead and ten hectare grazing property, was first inhabited by British settlers led by Henry Dumaresq in the 1830s.
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