Waterfall Way

A well-known scenic drive in New South Wales. It runs for about 185 km between Coffs Harbour on the coast and the inland city of Armidale, climbing the Great Dividing Range. It’s famous for numerous waterfalls – including Dangar, Ebor, Wollomombi, and Crystal Shower Falls. World Heritage national parks – such as Dorrigo National Park, New England National Park, and Oxley Wild Rivers. Dramatic scenery – lush rainforest, deep gorges, lookouts, and highland plateaus. People often drive it for sightseeing, hiking, photography, and visiting small towns like Bellingen, Dorrigo, and Ebor.

When to Go?

Spring — rainforest is vibrant, good for birdlife and lush greenery
Summer — great for cooling off near waterfalls and enjoying water/forest contrast.

What to Pack

comfortable walking/shoes for rainforest & falls walks
raincoat/gear (forest can be damp)
water, snacks/food (if you plan picnics)
first-aid kit
map or offline maps (since reception can drop out)
perhaps a torch if staying rural

Waterfalls

Dangar Falls – A picturesque, easily accessible waterfall just outside Dorrigo.
Ebor Falls – Twin-tiered falls with dramatic basalt cliffs and great lookout platforms.
Wollomombi Falls – One of Australia’s tallest waterfalls, plunging into a deep gorge.
Chandler Falls – A towering waterfall near Wollomombi, visible from the same lookout area.
Bakers Creek Falls – A series of rugged cascades dropping into a remote forested gorge.
Crystal Shower Falls – A delicate veil-like waterfall you can walk behind on the Dorrigo walking track.
Tristania Falls – A lush rainforest waterfall along the Wonga Walk in Dorrigo National Park.
Shower Falls & The Coachwood Falls – Smaller but serene cascades set among dense rainforest.

Waterfall by Waterfall Way NSW-04and (3144418293)

National Parks

Dorrigo National Park
- Explore lush Gondwana rainforest, walk elevated boardwalks and trails through ancient trees, and visit Crystal Shower Falls where you can walk behind cascading water. Enjoy panoramic views from the Skywalk lookout above the rainforest canopy and spot native birds and wildlife.
Guy Fawkes River National Park
- Famous for Ebor Falls, a dramatic tiered waterfall with easy lookouts and picnic spots; plus rugged river gorges, scenic walks and abundant birdwatching and wildlife. It’s a great place for peaceful bushwalking and nature photography.
New England National Park
- Perched high on the Great Escarpment, this World Heritage-listed park offers Point Lookout with sweeping views across forested valleys to the coast, plus walking tracks through snow gum forests and ancient landscapes, and excellent sunrise/sunset spots.
Cathedral Rock National Park
- Known for its striking granite boulder formations and rugged hiking trails that lead to panoramic views. You can hike around Cathedral Rock and up to Round Mountain, the highest point on the New England Tablelands.
Oxley Wild Rivers National Park
- A dramatic wilderness of deep gorges and waterfalls, including the spectacular Wollomombi Falls (one of NSW’s highest drops). Enjoy multiple lookouts, walking tracks, picnics, camping, birdwatching and horse or mountain-bike riding through rugged landscapes.

Typical 2–3-day version from coast (Coffs Harbour) to inland (Armidale)

Day 1 – Coastal → Rainforest / Mountain Escarpment
- Start at Coffs Harbour. Turn off the Pacific Highway at Raleigh ~20 min south of Coffs Harbour to join Waterfall Way.
- Stop at Bellingen — a charming town with arts, crafts, cafés, and local vibe. A nice place for a coffee or lunch.
- Drive up into the mountains / escarpment toward Dorrigo National Park. The road climbs steeply through rainforest to ~750 m above sea level.
- In Dorrigo National Park, do a walk such as the Wonga Walk (or part of it) — this leads to Crystal Shower Falls (with a suspension bridge you can walk behind the falls) and Tristania Falls.
- Spend night here (or in nearby towns) depending on pace.
- Enjoy rainforest ambience, birdlife, maybe a picnic or short hike — a lush contrast to coastal scenery.
Day 2 – Highlands → Waterfalls → Inland Plains / Armidale
- From Dorrigo, continue west along Waterfall Way → reach Ebor Falls. The falls are dual-tiered, great for a short walk and nice views.
- Continue toward the highlands/tablelands region. If you have time, you can take detours to New England National Park — the park’s lookout spots give dramatic escarpment-and-plateau views.
- Near the inland end, visit Wollomombi Gorge and Falls (in what becomes part of the broad park network) — one of the state’s highest waterfall drops and a dramatic gorge landscape.
- End in Armidale — or stay somewhere along the way — depending on your plan.
This 2-day plan gives a good balance of rainforest, waterfalls, highland scenery and manageable driving.
If you prefer a slower pace, you can stretch it across 3 days: Day 1 coast → Bellingen → Dorrigo; Day 2 do forest/walks then head to Ebor; Day 3 finish inland with highland and gorge views then to Armidale.

Safety Tips & Practical Advice

The drive itself (≈ 185 km one-way) can be done in ~2.5 hours nonstop, but realistically you’ll want to allow a full day (or more) — with stops for walks, waterfalls, lookouts, and lunch.
Some sections of road — especially climbing from the coast into the mountains (Dorrigo escarpment) — are narrow and winding, with curves and steep climbs.
The area includes multiple national parks — mobile phone reception may be patchy or absent in some spots. It’s wise to plan accordingly (download maps if needed, inform someone of your route, pack water/food).
For water features: if you plan to go near waterfalls, rivers or creeks — treat them carefully. Rainfall affects flow; avoid risky or slippery areas.
Wildlife & dusk driving: in more rural / highland segments, animals may be around — try to avoid driving at dusk/dark where possible. This is commonly recommended for rural NSW drives. (Many travellers doing Waterfall Way follow this guideline.)
Always check ahead for park-closure alerts (weather, track closures, maintenance). Some sections or park accesses may be closed depending on season or conditions.

Places to Stay & Eat/Towns to Check Out

Here are some good base/town ideas along the route:

Bellingen — nice town vibe, cafés/shops, good for a relaxed stop near the coast side before the climb.
Dorrigo / near Dorrigo NP — good if you want easy access to rainforest hikes & waterfalls without rushing.
Near Ebor / Ebor Falls — there is a small local motel / inn / pub-style accommodation (e.g. “Ebor Falls Motel / country pub” style — ideal if you want a rustic stop en-route rather than pushing to Armidale)
Armidale — inland town, good for a proper night or as base if you plan to explore more of the highlands / national parks beyond Waterfall Way.

Food / eat-out / local vibe: Bellingen & Dorrigo towns tend to have small cafés, local pubs or inns; along the route there are picnic-friendly areas (e.g. at falls / park lookouts) if you prefer packed lunch/food-stop in nature.

Attractions

Armidale
- Heritage Walk
- Sheriff’s Cottage
- New England Hotel
- J.R. Richardson & Co Ltd
- State Bank
- The Minto
- Baptist Church
- Ursuline Convent
- Smith House
- Central Park
- Band rotunda
- Saints Mary and Joseph Catholic Cathedral
- St Peter’s Anglican Cathedral
- Town Hall
- Folk Museum
- Diocesan Registry
- Masonic Lodge
- Solomon’s Cottage
- St Paul’s Presbyterian Church
- Armidale Uniting Church
- Lands Office
- Imperial Hotel
- Post Office
- Court House
- Civic Park
- Judith Wright Monument
- Armidale Bicentennial Arboretum
- New England Regional Art Museum (NERAM)
- Armidale and Region Aboriginal Cultural Centre and Keeping Place
- Bicentennial Railway Museum
- Drummond Park and Apex Lookout
- Dumaresq Dam
- Saumarez Homestead
Bellingen
- Shire of Bellingen Administration Centre
- The Yellow Shed
- Belligen Walks
- Bellinger Valley Historical Museum
- Court House (1910)
- Police Station
- Hammond & Wheatley Emporium
- Federal Hotel
- Old Butter Factory
- The Woodcraft Gallery
- Bellingen Northside – Island, Rainforest & Flying Fox Walk
- Weave Bellingen
- Macleays Museum
- Maam-Gaduying Meeting Place Park
  - Bust of Adam Gilchrist
  - David Helfgott Sculpture of a Piano
Dorrigo
- Dorrigo Steam Railway and Museum
- Dangar Falls
- Dorrigo National Park
  - Dorrigo Rainforest Centre
    - Skywalk lookout
    - Lyrebird Link Track
    - Walk with the Birds Boardwalk
  - Glade Picnic area
    - Crystal Shower Falls walk
    - Never Never Picnic area
    - Rosewood Creek walking track
    - Red Cedar Falls walking track
  - Casuarina Falls circuit
  - Blackbutt walk
  - Griffiths Lookout
Ebor
- Guy Fawkes River
- Ebor Falls
Hillgrove
- Hillgrove Rural Life and Industry Museum
  - As of 11-12-2025 “temporarily closed as it is receiving some much needed renovations”¹
- Oxley Wild Rivers National Park
  - Long Point
  - Wollomombi Falls
  - Bakers Creek Falls
Woolomombi
- Wollomombi Gorge
- Chandler walking track
- Wollomombi walking track
- St John’s Church
- St John’s Presbyterian Church