Australia is an island country of many contrasts. When people think of Australia they immediately consider it to be a vast landscape of desert and open spaces. This is due partly to its affiliation with Uluru and the Red Centre of Australia. But it does in fact boast a wide variety of landscapes, with subtropical rain forests in the north-east, mountain ranges in the south-east, south-west and east areas, and an arid desert at its centre.

But what may come as a surprise to many people, particularly from overseas, is that Australia does have a mountain range that spans the entire east coast from North Queensland to Victoria. The Great Dividing Range, or Eastern Highlands comprise mountain ranges, escarpments, hilly highlands, and plateaus. During periods of high rainfall, generally during the wet season in summer, Australia offers some spectacular waterfalls and waterholes. This begs the question, where are some of Australia’s best waterfalls?

Significant Waterfalls in Australia

If we’re talking about height of waterfalls, then the 268 metre Wallaman Falls in North Queensland is Australia’s tallest single drop waterfall. Wallaman Falls is located on Stony Creek in Girringun National Park, west of Ingham. 

Second to this, is the amazing Wollomombi Falls in the New England Tablelands of New South Wales. These falls include cascades and a horsetail drop of 260 metres and is sometimes quoted as the tallest waterfall in Australia. Wollomombi Falls are located east of Armidale in the Oxley Wild Rivers National Park.

One of Australia’s most renowned falls are Jim Jim Falls in Kakadu National Park in Australia’s Top End. The falls drop 200 metres into a large pool surrounded by 150 metre high cliffs. However, like many Australian waterfalls, these falls only flow during the west season between November and April.

Kimberley Waterfalls in West Australia

The Kimberley in North West Australia has some of the most spectacular falls in Australia that are far off the beaten track.

Horizontal Falls are an unusual natural phenomenon off the coast of the Kimberley region and can only be reached by air and sea. The waterfalls are created by the tides turning each day, where the falls reverse and flow in the opposite direction through the narrow gaps in the McLarty Range.

The unique twin King George Falls, with an elevation approximately 84 metres, are part of the King George River in the Kimberley Marine Park. The only way to see these falls is by boat or from the air from the town of Kununurra.

Other waterfalls in the Kimberley region are reachable only by four-wheel drive off the Gibb River Road. These include:

1. The popular Mitchell Falls in the Mitchell River National Park that are made up of multi-tiered waterfalls and plunge pools.

2. Bell Gorge is another popular stopping point on the Gibb River Road, within the King Leopold Ranges, 250 kilometres east of Derby. The waterfall cascades down the perfectly U-shaped cliffs, into a deep pool ideal for swimming.

3. Emma Gorge is located at El Questro off the Gibb River Road, 83 kilometres west of Kununurra. It is a 63 metres droplet waterfall surrounded by steep cliffs, with a refreshing rock pool to cool off in after the hour walk into the gorge.

Northern Territory Waterfalls

In the Top End of Australia there are an abundance of spectacular waterfalls and waterholes. I’ve already mentioned the famous Jim Jim Falls in Kakadu National Park, but the park also features a couple of other magnificent falls, namely: Twin Falls, Koolpin Gorge and Barramundi Gorge.

Some of the most accessible waterfalls in the Northern Territory are located in Litchfield National Park, only 100 kilometres south-west of Darwin. These include:

1. Florence Falls, a 30-40 metre segmented waterfall on the Florence Creek, flowing into a circular rock pool that is ideal for swimming.

2. Wangi Falls, surrounded by rainforest, boasts two waterfalls that cascade over the rocky escarpment into a large plunge pool.

3. Tolmer Falls is arguably the most spectacular waterfall in Litchfield, as it thunders over two escarpments into the deep pool below. Not suitable for swimming.

4. Buley Rockpools is a series of cascades that are interspersed with flat rock shelves. A perfect spot to cool off in the shallow rock pools.

Near the town of Katherine there is the Nitmiluk National Park, with the world-famous Nitmiluk Gorge (Katherine Gorge). The most popular waterfall is Leliyn (Edith Falls). This stunning series of cascading waterfalls features a large pool at the base surrounded by paperbark and pandanus trees. 

Far North Queensland Waterfalls

The tropical Far North Queensland, with its bounty of rainforests and mountainous terrain, possesses some striking waterfalls.

1. Barron Falls in Kuranda, just west of Cairns, at a height of 250 meters with cascading water, forces its way down the deep Barron Gorge.

2. Josephine Falls is located in the Bartle Frere Range in the Wooroonooran National Park, south of Cairns. It’s a decent-sized waterfall that flows into a large circular freshwater pool.

3. Nandroya Falls, also located in the Wooroonooran National Park, offer an incredible rainforest hike as well as two incredible waterfalls to enjoy.

4. Millaa Millaa Falls is part of the Waterfall Circuit in the Atherton Tablelands. The single-drop, plunging waterfall lies in a hidden rainforest oasis. There are two other waterfalls along the circuit – Zillie Falls and Ellinjaa Falls.

5. The Millstream Falls, located near the town of Ravenshoe in the Atherton Tablelands, features two separate falls – Little and Big Millstream Falls. Both falls are unique and are very accessible from the carparks. Big Millstream Falls holds the title of “Australia’s Widest Single-Drop Waterfall”. 

South East Queensland Waterfalls

There are five stunning national parks in South East Queensland where there are some of the best waterfalls to see in Australia. They include: Springbrook National Park, Lamington National Park, Tamborine National Park, Main Range National Park (Goomburra Section), and Kondalilla National Park.

1. Purling Brook Falls in Springbrook National Park, 45 kilometres from the Gold Coast, are located within Gondwana Rainforest. The 108 metre horsetail waterfall plunges down a steep escarpment and is rated as the best waterfall and walk in Springbrook National Park.

2. Elabana Falls is known as one of the prettiest waterfalls in the Lamington National Park, accessible from O’Reillys Guesthouse. This 25 metre waterfall is on the West Canungra Creek in the Green Mountains. Driving distance from the Gold Coast is around 48 kilometres.

3. Curtis Falls in the Tamborine National Park on Tamborine Mountain involves a short walk through lush rainforest. The waterfall, although only little at 12 metres, has a decent freshwater pool underneath.

4. Queen Mary Falls in Main Range National Park in the Scenic Rim is 85 kilometres south-west of Brisbane. The hike down to the falls has a lookout, where you can watch Spring Creek plunge 40 metres over the falls to the valley floor. 

5. Kondalilla Falls are located in the Blackall Ranges in the Sunshine Coast Hinterland. From the top of Kondalilla Falls, Skene Creek drops 90 metres into the lush rainforest valley below.

New South Wales Waterfalls

In the vast state of New South Wales there are a bounty of beautiful waterfalls, one being one of the highest in Australia – Wollomombi Falls near Armidale. Other contenders are located within the Southern Highlands in Morton National Park; the Waterfall Way from Bellingen to Armidale; the Blue Mountains National Park west of Sydney; Nightcap National Park in Far North New South Wales; Budderoo National Park near Kiama; and the Bulga Plateau at Elands on the Mid-North Coast.

1. Fitzroy Falls, with its village of the same name, is an impressive waterfall that descends more than 80 metres into Yarrunga Valley. It is located in Kangaroo Valley around 52 kilometres south-west of Shellharbour in the Illawarra region.

2. Dangar Falls are just one of the many waterfalls along the Waterfall Way from Bellingen to Armidale, inland from Coffs Harbour on the North Coast of New South Wales. The falls are located near the town of Dorrigo and there are stunning views from both above and below the falls.

3. Wentworth Falls is a town and waterfall located in the heart of the Blue Mountains, 100 kilometres west of Sydney. A three-tiered waterfall fed by the Jamison Creek, Wentworth Falls is probably one of the most well known waterfalls in New South Wales.

4. Minyon Falls, located in Nightcap National Park in the Byron Hinterland, is surrounded by sub-tropical rainforest. The 100 metre falls on Repentance Creek drop over a cliff and are particularly spectacular after heavy rainfall.

5. Carrington Falls in Budderoo National Park drop over 50 metres down into the Kangaroo River. The park is located in the Illawarra Region on the South Coast of New South Wales.

6. Ellenborough Falls is the second highest single drop waterfall in Australia and is an awe-inspiring sight. The Falls are located near the town of Elands, an hours drive from Taree on the Mid-North Coast.

These are just a selection of some of Australia’s best waterfalls. There are plenty more places in Australia to go chasing waterfalls. In most cases the walk in to see the waterfalls is part on the spectacle. So get out there and start exploring!