Discover Fitzroy Falls in Morton National Park

Fitzroy Falls is a stunning waterfall in Morton National Park in the Southern Highlands, located in a village that goes by the same name.

A short walking trail from the Fitzroy Falls Visitor Centre leads to a lookout platform that offers spectacular views of the waterfall and the Yarrunga Valley.

In this article, we’ll tell you everything you need to know about visiting this beautiful waterfall, including popular walking tracks nearby.

How to Get There

To visit the Fitzroy Falls waterfall, you will need to park at the Fitzroy Falls Visitor Centre (see map location).

If you’re driving in from Bowral, follow Kangaloon Rd, Sheepwash Rd, and Nowra Rd to the visitor centre. From Moss Vale, follow Illawarra Highway and Nowra Rd to the visitor centre.

If you’re driving in from Wollongong or Kiama, follow Illawarra Highway through Macquarie Pass National Park, and then Pearsons Ln, Myra Vale Rd, and Nowra Rd to the visitor centre.

Parking at Fitzroy Falls costs $4 per vehicle for a whole day. Unfortunately, dogs are not allowed into the area because it is a National Park.

Official address of the Fitzroy Falls Visitor Centre:

1301 Nowra Rd
Fitzroy Falls NSW 2577

Map of Fitzroy Falls and Visitor Centre

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About Fitzroy Falls

Fitzroy Falls is a rural village located in the Southern Highlands region of New South Wales, with a population of just over 200 people.

The village carries the same name as the impressive waterfall that drops over 80 metres into Yarrunga Valley.

Fitzroy Falls
Fitzroy Falls

The waterfall forms part of Wildes Meadow Creek that flows into Yarrunga Creek, which connects with the Kangaroo River further south.

The name Yarrunga was also the original name for what is now called the Fitzroy Falls area.

Fitzroy Falls in the 19th century
Fitzroy Falls in the 19th century (Credit: Southern Highland News)

Charles Throsby, a surgeon and explorer, was the first European settler to see the waterfall in the early 19th century.

The waterfall was ultimately renamed after Sir Charles Fitzroy, Governor of New South Wales, who visited the area in 1850.

The waterfall slowly evolved into a tourist attraction in the 19th century, but the village itself has always remained sparsely populated.

Visitor Centre and Lookouts

The Fitzroy Falls Visitor Centre is located next to the car park on Nowra Rd and is open daily from 9 am to 5 pm. The cost of parking is $4 for the whole day.

Visiting the award-winning visitor centre is the perfect way to start your visit to Fitzroy Falls.

The centre offers lots of information about the history, wildlife, and Aboriginal culture of the area. The centre can also arrange environmental programmes for schools and tour groups.

Fitzroy Falls Visitor Centre
Fitzroy Falls Visitor Centre

You’ll also find a gift shop in the centre with many authentic, Australian-made souvenirs for sale. Next door, the little café serves coffee and delicious cake, with a small area for children to play.

To get to the main lookout, follow the signs from the visitor centre. An easy-to-follow path along the creek brings visitors to a beautiful lookout point with breathtaking views of the waterfall and the Yarrunga Valley.

Fitzroy Falls as seen as from the Jersey Lookout
Fitzroy Falls as seen as from the Jersey Lookout

Not too much further along the same path (West Rim Track) is another lookout point, the Jersey Lookout.

The views of the waterfall from that lookout are fantastic, with plenty of unique photo opportunities.

Fitzroy Falls Reservoir

Mostly overlooked by visitors to Fitzroy Falls, there is, in fact, a dam and a large water reservoir nearby: the Fitzroy Falls Reservoir.

The area is home to a pleasant picnic area, if you’re keen to have a picnic in quiet surroundings. It’s only a short drive from the visitor centre.

Read more about the Fitzroy Falls Reservoir and other dams in our list of dams in Greater Sydney.

More Waterfalls

A visit to Fitzroy Falls is often combined with visits to three other waterfalls nearby. In geographical order, these waterfalls are:

  1. Belmore Falls
  2. Fitzroy Falls
  3. Carrington Falls
  4. Minnamurra Falls

If you start early, it’s possible to visit all four waterfalls in one day.

However, the only waterfall that requires a relatively long hike (4 km) to get to is Minnamurra Falls, so it might be best to leave that waterfall for another day.

Walking Tracks at Fitzroy Falls

The walk to the main Fitzroy Falls lookout is only short, but luckily, there are a couple of longer walking tracks to get your bushwalk fix.

The two main walking tracks are the West Rim Track and the East Rim Track. These two tracks are quite different in regards to scenery, so it’s worth doing (parts of) both if you have the time and energy.

East Rim and West Rim walking tracks
East Rim and West Rim walking tracks

1. West Rim Walking Track

The West Rim walking track is a 3.5 km return walk with great views of the Yarrunga Valley. There are several different lookouts along the way to explore.

This walking track is considered the easiest of the two and offers slightly more exciting scenery than the East Rim walking track.

West Rim Track signpost
West Rim Track signpost

Overall, the West Rim Track is relatively easy, with only a few steep sections. Just be mindful that the track can get a bit slippery, especially after a few days of rainfall.

The West Rim Track terminates at the Renown Lookout, a beautiful lookout from where you can see both Fitzroy Falls and Lady Hordern Falls.

2. East Rim Walking Track

Also known as the Wildflower Walk, the East Rim walking track is a 7 km return walk through a lush rainforest environment with lots of wildlife.

East Rim Track Lookout
Lookout on the East Rim Track

This track also offers views of Fitzroy Falls and the Yarrunga Valley but from different angles.

The start of the East Rim is directly underneath the bridge, where the boardwalk branches off towards the east.

 

Fitzroy Falls in Morton National Park

 

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Author:

AJ Mens

AJ Mens is a digital publisher based in Sydney, Australia, and the editor-in-chief of Sydney Uncovered and Blue Mountains Uncovered.

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2 Comments
  1. Both the “East Rim” and “West Rim” walks are great, a lot of spectacular scenery for relatively little effort. If time is limited, the Visitor Info Centre to The Grotto and back is the most scenic section (West Rim). The West Rim gets more visitors and can get crowded on public holidays / school holidays.

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