12 Most Beautiful Waterfalls in Sydney (And How to Find Them)

Last updated: March 2, 2024

Our guide to 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.

12 Best Sydney Waterfalls:

Waterfall Where
1 Minnamurra Falls Budderoo National Park
2 Carrington Falls Budderoo National Park
3 Belmore Falls Morton National Park
4 Fitzroy Falls Morton National Park
5 Maddens Falls Dharawal National Park
6 Minerva Pool and Waterfall Dharawal National Park
7 Wentworth Falls Blue Mountains
8 Empress Falls Blue Mountains
9 Katoomba Falls Blue Mountains
10 Winifred Falls Royal National Park
11 Curracurrong Falls Royal National Park
12 Somersby Falls Brisbane Water National Park
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12 Best Sydney Waterfalls

Some of the below waterfalls are easy to get to, while others are a bit more challenging to find and require some bushwalking.

To help you find each of these waterfalls, we have included a link to the map location underneath each picture.

1. Minnamurra Falls

Minnamurra Falls
Minnamurra Falls (map location)

Minnamurra Falls is a stunning two-tiered waterfall on the Minnamurra River, quietly hidden away 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, which has a picnic area and a small but scenic waterfall. It’s only a short drive from Carrington Falls and is a starting point for a couple of great bushwalking tracks.

More information: Carrington Falls and Nellies Glen.

3. Belmore Falls

Belmore Falls
Belmore Falls (map location)

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

With remote wilderness, steep gorges, scenic waterfalls, exciting walking tracks, and panoramic lookouts, this national park certainly has lots to offer.

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 spectacular views of the waterfall and the valley below.

Interestingly, Fitzroy Falls is also the name of the village where the waterfall is located, which has a population of just over 200 residents.

The waterfall and the village were named after Sir Charles Fitzroy, Governor of New South Wales, who visited the area in 1850.

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 relatively unknown protected national park in the Illawarra region of New South Wales.

This small but unique national park is characterised by an extensive network of swamp areas, creeks 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 very pretty waterfall 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.

The name Wentworth Falls refers to the famous 3-tiered, almost 200m high waterfall, but it 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.

There are various walking tracks to choose from in the Wentworth Falls area, some very short and others quite long and challenging. You’ll also find several lookouts that offer spectacular views of the waterfall and the Jamison Valley.

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 starting at Scenic World guides visitors through a patch of rainforest to the waterfall, with panoramic views of the valley and beyond to enjoy.

The start of the Katoomba Falls Round Walk is located between the car park and the main entrance to Scenic World. This is also the starting point of the Prince Henry Cliff Walk, a 7 km hike to the Gordon Falls lookout in Leura.

More information: Katoomba Falls.

10. Winifred Falls

Winifred Falls
Winifred Falls (map location)

A short yet scenic bushwalk starting from Warumbul Road in the Royal National Park brings visitors to pretty Winifred Falls, a small but impressive waterfall on South West Arm Creek.

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

Although the trail to Winifred Falls is only 1 km, it is pretty steep. The surface is also covered with loose rocks and tree roots, so it’s recommended to wear hiking shoes.

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

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.

This 8 km return hike to Eagle Rock and Curracurrong Falls is part of the 26 km long Coast Track between Bundeena in the north and Otford in the south.

More information: 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 many 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, garbage bins and information signs.

Conveniently situated close to the freeway, the Somersby Falls picnic area is a popular rest stop along the NSW Central Coast route.

More information: Somersby Falls.

 
 

12 Best waterfalls in Sydney

 
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