Surrounded by miles and miles of nature’s untouched beauty is the Waterfall Way drive, an overlooked part of NSW’s road trip scene and well worth the cost of gas from the city. This breath-of-fresh-air drive is most famous for the sublime waterfalls it goes through, with pristine swimming holes and lush rainforests but it’s much more than just that. Dotted along the way are country towns, verdant forest scenery, walking trails galore and a staggering range of landscapes. If you think this all sounds a bit too ambitious for one road trip, you’ll be surprised to know you can cover all of this in just under 3 hours. Of course with so many excellent stops along the way, you could spend days exploring this splendid part of NSW.
If you need a break from reality, here’s a guide to the Waterfall Way drive including the best times to visit, highlights of the drive, the waterfalls to chase along the way and more.
Waterfall Way, NSW
The 185-kilometre drive links the coastal city of Coffs Harbour and the vibrant city of Armidale with plenty of highlights and must-hit stops along the way. The major highlights to keep on your radar are undoubtedly the waterfalls and rainforests, some of NSW’s finest and most rewarding scenic vistas and crystal clear waters.
The drive starts in Coffs Harbour, well known for the Big Banana, one of NSW’s most iconic big things. Coffs Harbour is also popular for its beaches, adventure parks and wildlife and makes for a popular weekend getaway amongst city dwellers. From here you’ll need to head to the town of Bellingen with the drive going past the Bongil Bongil National Park, home to one of NSW’s largest populations of koalas. Head west from here and you’ll officially find yourself on the Waterfall Way.
A drive further down the road will take you to the spectacular Dorrigo National Park, home to the photogenic Crystal Shower Falls that you can walk behind in an atmospheric, rainforest setting. Head to the Dorrigo Rainforest Centre and Skywalk for an unforgettable aerial view of the forest. A 2m drive past the lovely town of Dorrigo in the Northern Tablelands will lead you to an even lovelier sight — the scenic Dangar Falls, a 30-metre waterfall that comes with its swimming hole and it’s an all-out feast for swimmers.
West of Dorrigo, you’ll pass more lush rainforest scenes into the heart of Waterfall Way with several National Parks within arms reach. Make a pitstop at the New England National Park, home to the World Heritage Gondwana Rainforest with magnificent views and fabulous walks. Also in the New England region are the Ebor Falls, a beautiful, tiered waterfall with three lookout platforms and an incredible bushland backdrop. A drive south will bring you to the Cathedral Rock National Park which is an excellent spot if you want to set up a camp and enjoy a picnic.
The final waterfall on the drive is the spectacular Wollomombi Falls — one of the highest falls in Australia. Cascading into a dramatic gorge, you’ll find this waterfall in the Oxley Wild Rivers National Park near Armidale, also part of the Gondwana Rainforests of Australia World Heritage. The drive ends in the city of Armidale where you can enjoy a bite and soak up the views.
When is the best time to go on the Waterfall Way drive?
This scenic drive is perfect any time of the year but especially during summer and spring as the rainforests are in bloom. But autumn is also a great time to visit to see the leaves changing colours. The misty rainforests and waterfalls are best enjoyed after a day of rainfall.
It’s about a 6-hour drive from Sydney with a 210km driving distance in total.
This is by no means an exhaustive list and there are plenty of gems you will stumble upon along the way. You can make the most of the drive over a few days on an easy road trip or cover it in less than 3 hours if you’re short on time.
Find the map for the Waterfall Way drive here. Get more information about Waterfall Way and plan a road trip here.