7 Stunning Byron Bay Waterfalls You Have to Visit
Leave the beach behind and take a trip to Byron Bay’s most beautiful waterfalls.
Byron’s beaches may be its star attraction, but head inland a little and you’ll find a whole new way to get lost in nature. From thundering cascades to sensational swimming holes, we’ve rounded up seven stunning Byron Bay waterfalls for you to discover.
Whether you’re into challenging hikes or an easy walk from the car park, swimming and rock jumping or just appreciating the views, we’ve got something special for you. So pack a hat, sunscreen, and plenty of water, and enjoy a day of breathtaking beauty.
Map of the waterfalls near Byron Bay
*Note that map pins may not be the exact waterfall location
Minyon Falls
Location: Nightcap National Park
Time/distance from Byron: 45-minute drive / roughly 35 km
Minyon Falls is a spectacular sight, with a 100-meter drop into a beautiful natural pool, surrounded by lush rainforest and eucalyptus trees. The first glimpse of these powerful falls is from the viewing platform above, only five minutes from the car park. Here you can see the upper falls up close.
Drive or walk to the Minyon Grass Picnic Area further around the gorge’s rim for great views and where you’ll find facilities to have a picnic or barbecue.
To enjoy the pool at the bottom will take more exertion, as the trek is a 13 km round-trip taking 3-4 hours and requiring a steep climb back up! Your reward at the bottom is a delightful pool suitable for a swim while you gaze up at the plunging falls exploding into the water below.
Be aware that there may be leeches at the bottom of the falls, particularly on rainy days, so it may be advisable to wear long socks, long pants, and boots in that area.
Killen Falls
Location: Killen Falls Drive, Tintenbar
Time/distance from Byron: 30-minute drive / 30 km
The closest waterfall to Byron Bay, Killen Falls may only drop 10 meters, but it’s a beautiful cascade into a rainforest pool. What’s unique here is that you can walk to the cave behind the cascade without getting wet and get a unique view of the falls plunging into the pool at its base.
First, head to the lookout on an easy trail at the top, just a 10-minute walk. When you’re done admiring the views down to the pool, you can take a slightly rougher path downhill to the base. It’s a 1 km total trip, and it’s advisable to wear enclosed shoes. Swimming is not recommended because of the many submerged rocks and shallow water, but it’s an enchanting place where you can surround yourself with natural beauty. Be aware that parking is limited.
Protestors Falls
Location: Nightcap National Park
Time/distance from Byron: About an hour and 15-minute drive / 63 km
Named after a logging protest that occurred in 1979, Protestors Falls is another impressive waterfall that drops 25 meters into a pool set in a beautiful rainforest setting. An easy 1.5 km round-trip trek takes you along a woodland trail bordering a cascading creek and leads to the falls view. Allow 1-2 hours at a relaxed pace for the full walk.
Although swimming is not permitted because the area is home to the protected Fleay’s Barred Frog, the setting is spectacular and well worth the visit. You can also picnic at the nearby Terania Creek picnic area. At night, the setting takes on a completely different and magical dimension as thousands of glow worms and bioluminescent mushrooms light the surroundings!
Goonengerry Falls
Location: Goonengerry National Park
Time/distance from Byron: 45-minute drive / 30 km
Goonengerry Falls occupy a dramatic position in its namesake National Park, with delightful areas to have a dip in little rock pools at the top of the falls or enjoy a picnic. It’s a 10-minute walk from the north end of the car park (with no initial signage to direct you). But then as you head downhill to the falls, you will spot a reassuring sign that you’re on the right path!
Climb over a few rocks to access the rock pools and the upper waterfall view – the sweeping views at the top take in mountain and forest vistas. There’s a 6.5-mile round-trip trail rated as difficult that takes you past two waterfalls, but the views from the top of the first falls are highly impressive by themselves. This waterfall is off the beaten track, and you should not have crowds to contend with here.
Marom Creek Falls
Location: Dalwood Road, Rous.
Time/distance from Byron: 40-minute drive / 63 km
Another out-of-the-way gem, Marom Creek Falls is on private land, but the owner doesn’t mind visitors. There are no signs or a car park, so look for the dirt patches on the side indicating where to pull off Rous Road between the junction of Ellis and Tregeagle Roads. Hop the fence and it’s about a 500 meter, five-to-eight-minute walk on a well-worn path across the field to the top of the falls.
You can swim in a stream at the top, but to reach the pool at the base requires either jumping ten feet into the water (exercise caution here to be sure the water levels are deep enough) or climbing down using the trail to the left. The round-trip trek should only take about 15 minutes.
Have a picnic or a swim in the stream at the top and admire the views while watching others take the plunge from on high if you’re not comfortable jumping! This is a double waterfall, and there are plenty of big rocks to relax and sun yourself on either at the top or base of the falls.
Whian Whian Falls
Location: North of Dunoon in the Conservation Area near Nightcap National Park.
Time/distance from Byron: 50-minute drive / 45 km
These falls are particularly easy to reach, with a walk of less than five minutes to access the swimming area. There is also plenty of parking. Because of this, it can get crowded at Whian Whian Falls, particularly in the summer months, so make an early start in the morning to have the place to yourself before the crowds arrive.
Although this is a smaller waterfall, it’s still very beautiful with two swimming pools to choose from. Be careful as the path to the falls can get muddy and slippery in certain areas, so wear shoes for this part of the walk. This is also a great place to have a picnic.
Once at the base, you’ll find a single or double plume of water, depending on water levels, plunging into a pool with lots of inviting rocks to clamber up to rest and enjoy the sun and scenery.
Condong Falls
Location: Nightcap National Park
Time/distance from Byron: 45-minute drive / about 35 km
This waterfall is most easily visited as part of a trek to see Minyon Falls. By taking a very short detour on your way to the base of Minyon Falls, you can also see the impressive Condong Falls! This is a gorgeous waterfall, but access is not easy unless you combine it with the Minyon Falls path.
From the Minyon Falls lookout point, take the trail towards its base, and veer off to the right at the unmarked junction 1.9 km into the trek. From here, it’s a 400-meter walk to the top of Condong Falls.
Here you can paddle around in the shallow pool at the top or have a proper swim in the water hole 200 meters up the river. Then re-join the main trail and proceed 150 meters farther on to get the best overall view of the impressive Condong Falls. Though you can’t see the full drop, what you can see is spectacular enough! Be alert for it as you are hiking, as there is no official lookout spot to take in the view.
The best time to visit the Byron Bay waterfalls
It may sound obvious, but the best time to visit any waterfall is when rainfall has been at its heaviest, and the Byron Bay waterfalls are no different. Visiting during a prolonged dry spell could mean the difference between finding a trickle versus a crashing torrent, so summer and autumn tend to be the best time to go. If you want to get an idea of what any of the falls look like before you head off, take a look at recent posts on Instagram.
Heavy rainfall can make the walking tracks slippery, so bear that in mind if you’re planning to trek to the base of a waterfall and potentially wait a few days after the rain has stopped. Also, snakes are more active during the warmer months of Autumn and Summer, so that may affect when you want to visit.
Where it’s available, always check the latest National Parks information when you’re planning your trip as walking tracks and waterfalls occasionally close due to upgrade works, bad weather, or fire danger.
We hope you find our guide to the Byron Bay waterfalls useful. Just so you know, if you book a trip using the links on this page, we may receive a small commission at no additional cost to you. You can view our full disclosure and affiliate policy here.
