On a recent trip down south, I decided to take on the task of travelling along
Waterfall Way and to seek out as many waterfalls and wild swimming 'pools' as I could. As an avid waterfall and National Park lover, I have to kick myself a little that I'd never heard or looked into this trip before!
Waterfall Way is a near 200km stretch of road that connects the
Coffs Coast to
Armidale. Along this journey you traverse through World Heritage listed rainforests and three of the most beautiful National Parks I've had the pleasure to ever come across;
Dorrigo NP,
New England NP & the
Guy Fawkes River NP. To every waterfall lover, this is a road trip for the bucket list!
Dorrigo National Park Skywalk
First stop along the journey was the
Dorrigo Rainforest Centre. With the Canopy Cafe, a souvenir shop & friendly professional rangers giving you the best itinerary for the day's conditions, you can easily spend the day at this centre with all the activities on offer! A must do at this spot is the Skywalk, which boasts impressive views of Dorrigo National Park & Coffs Harbour. Other walks you can enjoy include the 'Lyrebird Track' & the 'Wonga Walk' to see the beautiful Crystal Falls. The centre is free of charge, although there are gold-coin donation boxes you can feel free to donate to. All funds go to maintaining and protecting these beautiful areas all can enjoy.
To get to the centre from the Bellingen exit on the Pacific Motorway, you travel along the scenic route of Waterfall Way for around half an hour until you see the signed turn-off for Dome Road & the Rainforest Centre. The centre is open every day from 9am until 4:30pm (except Christmas Day) and is a must-do stop on the journey of Waterfall Way.
A short downhill walk to Dangar Falls in Dorrigo National Park
My next stop was easily my personal favourite, the beautiful swimming oasis of
Dangar Falls. An easy fifteen minute walk down from the viewing platform of Dangar Falls, you are standing at the base of this 30-metre waterfall surrounded by scenic agricultural farmland. The route to get to these falls is signed from the town of Dorrigo along Waterfall Way and you'll find this spot off Coramba Road.
Dangar Falls 🍃 Photo by Chloe Doyle @chloeoliviad
is an amazing place to enjoy a swim amongst nature, take in the breathtaking views from the lookout platform, or enjoy a picnic amongst the rainforest & amenities in the park. You can even learn something new about the dramatic landscapes and how they have formed to be, thanks to an enlightening informational board located just near the viewing platform.
The mountain view from Ebor Falls Lookout - Photo by Chloe Doyle @chloeoliviad
Last but definitely not least on my trip was the immaculate Ebor Falls. For the most part untouched, the falls are part of the
Guy Fawkes River National Park and consist of not just one but three drops to a large pool. Standing at 100 metres in height, this has to go down as one of the most beautiful waterfalls Australia has to offer. Head to Ebor Falls Road, where you will find a large parking ground with picnic tables, amenities, three lookouts and plenty of nature walks to enjoy this rugged landscape. Ebor is around 40 minutes from Dangar Falls/the town of Dorrigo and is well worth the extra drive for a magnificent final fall.
Three waterfalls in one 💦
