Love chasing waterfalls? It’s time to add one more to your list. Deep in the Oxley Wild Rivers National Park, you’ll encounter the Wollomombi Falls — a magnificent single fall drop that cascades 220 metres over cliffs, into a deep ravine below. At one point this stunning natural wonder was the tallest waterfall in Australia but has since been dethroned by Queensland’s Wallaman Falls. The name Wollomombi means the meeting of two waters, which could not be more fitting as this is where the the Chandler and Wollomombi rivers meet. Nestled amid verdant scenery and rugged wilderness, the falls are well worth the drive out. Here’s everything you need to know about Wollomombi Falls.
Wollomombi Falls, NSW
The falls are a major highlight on the famous Waterfall Way drive and a short drive from Australia’s highest city in the picturesque New England Region of NSW. Conveniently, the falls come with picnic areas and multiple viewpoints including a photogenic main lookout that can be reached within a 200m walk from the Wollomombi Falls picnic area where visitors will walk through lush stringybark and blackbutt forest. The giant viewing area presents some of the best views of the falls and the deep gorge below. The area is also well-known for local wildlife and birdwatching opportunities. Visitors can stay a while and enjoy the amenities available like barbeque facilities, picnic tables, benches, and more. A constant mist shrouds the falls adding to the dramatic scenery along with a thunderous roar of the water as it flows into a large pool in the gorge.
If you want to soak up the full bounty of the area, consider traversing the Wollomombi Walking Track, an easy and scenic walk along the rim of the Wollomombi Gorge, that runs past native wildlife and the wonderful World Heritage wilderness of gorge country and offers an excellent perspective of the falls from high up. The largely flat and easy walk is around 4km and can be completed within an hour. If you want to stay longer, consider setting up a tent at Wollombombi Campground near the falls where you can stay overnight in the heart of the bush and enjoy a barbecue while soaking up the crisp air.
The best time to visit
This is a year-round attraction but to enjoy the full might of the falls, plan your visit after a day of heavy rainfall when the falls cascade dramatically over the long drop.
Summer will usually bring out the best of the falls after a soggy day whereas spring is a great time to tackle the walking trails in the area and enjoy colourful native blooms. Equally, autumn presents temperate weather perfect for enjoying the outdoors. Winter can be frigid because of the elevation but the season offers crisp, clean air and ideal temperature for long bushwalks.
How to get to Wollomombi Falls
The falls are a picturesque 6-hour drive from Sydney via M1 and Thunderbolts Way and just 30 minutes from Armidale.
Turn onto the signposted Wollomombi Falls Road and drive further on until you reach the picnic area. The roads are in largely good condition with easily walkable tracks to the falls. Read more about Wollombombi Falls here.