12 Most Beautiful Waterfalls in Sydney and Beyond

This guide explores the 12 most beautiful waterfalls in and close to Sydney, some easy to get to and others a bit harder to find.

Most of us will enjoy the unique beauty and calming sounds of a waterfall when we’re out in nature. From serene cascades to majestic plunges, waterfalls are a fun way to explore the great variety of Sydney’s national parks.

To help you plan your next adventure, we have selected 12 of the prettiest waterfalls in and close to Sydney. We have included a link to the map location underneath each picture to help you find each of these waterfalls.

1. Minnamurra Falls

Minnamurra Falls
Minnamurra Falls (map location)

Minnamurra Falls is a stunning two-tiered waterfall on the Minnamurra River, peacefully located in a thriving rainforest in Budderoo National Park.

The waterfall can be accessed via a moderately challenging rainforest walk starting at the Minnamurra Rainforest Centre.

The walk to Minnamurra Falls is challenging in the sense that it is a bit steep, but it is a well-maintained path and suitable for all ages and fitness levels.

More information: Minnamurra Falls and Rainforest.

2. Carrington Falls

Carrington Falls
Carrington Falls (map location)

Also located in Budderoo National Park, Carrington Falls is a spectacular waterfall that drops 50 metres down into a deep gorge.

A car park is located close to the waterfall, where you can do an easy circuit trail with three viewing platforms to enjoy great views of the waterfall and its beautiful surroundings.

Also worth visiting is nearby Nellies Glen, a small but very pretty waterfall. It’s only a short drive from Carrington Falls and is a starting point for a couple of great bushwalking trails.

More information: Carrington Falls and Nellies Glen.

3. Belmore Falls

Belmore Falls
Belmore Falls (map location)

Morton National Park in the Southern Highlands may not be as popular as Royal National Park or the Blue Mountains, but it makes for a great weekend escape.

One of the highlights in Morton National Park is Belmore Falls, a stunning plunge waterfall with two drops on Barrengarry Creek.

A short walking track guides visitors past several lookout points that offer fantastic views of the Belmore Falls waterfall and the valley.

More information: Belmore Falls.

4. Fitzroy Falls

Fitzroy Falls
Fitzroy Falls (map location)

The second major waterfall in Morton National Park is Fitzroy Falls, a spectacular waterfall on the Wildes Meadow Creek that drops 80m into the Yarrunga Valley.

Follow the boardwalk from the Fitzroy Falls Visitor Centre to a lookout with beautiful views of the waterfall and the valley below.

Once you’re there, we recommend doing the West Rim Walking Track, an enjoyable bushwalk passing several more lookouts that off fantastic waterfall views.

More information: Fitzroy Falls.

5. Maddens Falls

Maddens Falls in Dharawal National Park
Maddens Falls (map location)

Maddens Falls is a stunning cascade waterfall in the rural locality of Darkes Forest in Dharawal National Park, located 50 km south of Sydney.

A short and easy 1 km trail through scenic bushland brings visitors to a panoramic viewing platform with beautiful views of the waterfall and the surrounding landscape.

Dharawal National Park is a protected national park in the Illawarra region of New South Wales. This small national park is home to a network of creeks, swamp areas, and heath vegetation.

More information: Maddens Falls.

6. Minerva Pool and Waterfall

Minerva Pool and Waterfall
Minerva Pool and Waterfall (map location)

The second waterfall in Dharawal National Park that is worth visiting is the one flowing into Minerva Pool.

This popular natural water hole is accessible via a short and relatively easy walking track through unspoiled bushland.

A fenced lookout platform located towards the end of the walk provides scenic views of the pool, the waterfall, and the surrounding area.

This is certainly not the biggest waterfall in Sydney, but after a period of rain, it’s a beautiful spectacle with all that water thundering into the pool.

More information: Minerva Pool and Waterfall.

7. Wentworth Falls

Wentworth Falls waterfall
Wentworth Falls (map location)

Wentworth Falls is by far the most impressive and tallest waterfall in the Blue Mountains, especially after heavy rainfall when large amounts of water drop into Jamison Valley.

This beautiful 3-tiered, almost 200m high waterfall, is also the name of the town where the waterfall is located. It is one of the most popular bushwalking destinations in the Blue Mountains, attracting large tourist crowds on the weekends.

There are various walking tracks to choose from in the Wentworth Falls area, ranging from short, family-friendly trails to challenging all-day hikes. You’ll also find several lookouts that offer spectacular waterfall and Jamison Valley views.

More information: Wentworth Falls hiking guide.

8. Empress Falls

Empress Falls
Empress Falls (map location)

Empress Falls is the second major waterfall in the Wentworth Falls area, but this one is located close to the old Conservation Hut.

It’s only a short (but quite steep) walking track that leads to this waterfall, with several lookout points along the way that offer panoramic views of Jamison Valley.

Once you’ve reached Empress Falls, you can continue hiking along the Valley of the Waters Track, following the path downstream along the creek where two more waterfalls, Sylvia Falls and Lodore Falls, can be explored.

More information: Empress Falls.

9. Katoomba Falls

Katoomba Falls
Katoomba Falls (map location)

Tucked away between Echo Point and Scenic World in the Katoomba area of the Blue Mountains, Katoomba Falls drops almost 150 meters into Jamison Valley.

A pleasant walking trail, the Round Walk, guides visitors through a patch of rainforest to the waterfall, passing various lookout points offering panoramic valley and waterfall views.

More information: Katoomba Falls.

10. Winifred Falls

Winifred Falls
Winifred Falls (map location)

A short bushwalking trail starting from Warumbul Road in Royal National Park leads to Winifred Falls, a small but pretty waterfall on South West Arm Creek.

It’s a great spot for a picnic, as you can relax and settle in on one of the many rock platforms surrounding the waterfall.

If you’re feeling energetic, the walk can be extended along the creek to visit the South West Arm Pool upstream or Anice Falls upstream.

More information: Winifred Falls.

11. Curracurrong Falls

Curracurrong Falls
Curracurrong Falls (map location)

Curracurrong Falls in the Royal National Park is a unique waterfall, as it’s one of the very few waterfalls in the world that drops into the ocean.

When the winds are strong, the water can often be seen being pushed back up, which makes for quite an amazing spectacle.

To find this impressive waterfall, follow the scenic coastal walking trail from Wattamolla. Once at the waterfall, you’ll also see Eagle Rock, an iconic landmark that resembles an eagle’s beak.

More information: Eagle Rock and Curracurrong Falls.

12. Somersby Falls

Somersby Falls
Somersby Falls (map location)

Brisbane Water National Park is a relatively small protected national park in the Central Coast region, just north of the Hawkesbury River.

One of the highlights of this national park is Somersby Falls, a series of small waterfalls on Floods Creek, with a 500-metre long walking path leading to the base of the falls.

There is also a nice picnic area next to the car park, with excellent facilities, such as barbeques, picnic tables, toilets, and information boards.

More information: Somersby Falls.

JOIN SYDNEY UNCOVERED
Subscribe to our newsletter and receive Sydney and NSW related tips and ideas straight to your inbox!
 

12 Best waterfalls in Sydney

 

Also Read:

 
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.

AJ Mens on LinkedInAJ Mens on XAJ Mens on Facebook
Leave a comment