Belmore Falls is not just one of the most spectacular waterfalls in the Southern Highlands, but in the whole of NSW. This two tiered waterfall cascades down the mountainside with such force you can almost feel the energy.
It’s hard to truly comprehend the scale, and the scene is stunning, not just the falls themselves but the whole valley setting. There are several incredible view points to take it all in and they are easy to access.
Sadly, you can no longer climb down to the bottom of the falls, nor swim on the very top. Whilst that’s disappointing, we visited one of NSW’s best wild swimming spots nearby that the majority of people miss, with it’s own waterfall and jungle book feel.
So here’s what to expect from your visit to Belmore Falls and how to find that memorable wild swimming spot.
Belmore Falls - Everything you need to know
Here’s everything you need to know before visiting Belmore Falls:
How to plan your visit to Belmore Falls
Working out where everything is at Belmore Falls can be a little confusing. The signs for “Belmore Falls” will point you towards a car park which has a trail to three lookouts - two of which look at Belmore Falls and the other (Hindmarsh) looks in completely the opposite direction!
The falls themselves are surprisingly far away though - in fact you’re at the opposite side of a huge valley.
There’s a third lookout on the top of the falls, but this is further along the road and not signposted. It’s easy to find though, but you’ll want to drive as it’s down an unsealed road.
The first two lookouts
Belmore Falls has three main lookouts, unfortunately none of them offer a close up view of the falls. It’s still spectacular to see Belmore from afar, but these are unlike the viewpoints at Carrington Falls where you can get up close.
The first lookout you’ll come to from the car park only takes a few minutes to get to and involves walking down a couple of staircases. You’ll get a view of the top of the falls and part of the lower falls too.
The first lookout for Belmore Falls
The second lookout is less than a five minute walk further along a flat path. It offers a view which feels a little closer up, but again it’s still distant.
It’s more about taking in the whole scene: the cliffs, the valley and the falls in the distance. It really is a beautiful spot.
The view from the second lookout
The views from this lookout are less obstructed than the first, but you are still far away. This is where a zoom lens can come in handy if you’re a keen photographer!
Hindmarsh Lookout
Before you move onto the top of Belmore Falls, it’s worth checking out the Hindmarsh lookout which is just a couple of minutes walk from the car park. Whilst you can’t see Belmore Falls, the view of Kangaroo Valley is absolutely beautiful. If you’re planning to visit Belmore Falls from Kangaroo Valley, we have a guide on all best things to do there.
You can combine all three lookouts on the same walking trail which is about 15 minutes long, starting with Hindmarsh and continuing on to lookout one and then two.
The lookout from the top of the falls
The third lookout is in a completely different spot and requires driving to.
The third lookout for Belmore Falls is reached by continuing up Belmore Falls Road until you get to a ford. If there’s been a lot of heavy rain the water level over the ford could be quite substantial.
Most cars will have no trouble at all with this, but in our tiny rental we had to walk over the ford instead! In summer this might be quite nice but in winter the water was icy!
There is no car park for the third lookout but you can park along the road side either before or after the ford.
From there it’s just a one minute walk to the lookout. It’s not a manicured path like the others, with a few rocks and bits of debris to climb over but it’s not difficult. It should take a minute or two to get there.
The view is astonishing, especially when you look right over the railings and down into the valley.
You can only see the top of the falls and a small amount of the pool at the base of the first cascade, but this viewpoint was still my favourite because you are so much closer.
You can see the spray and feel the power of the waterfall.
The hike to the bottom of Belmore Falls
The path down to the bottom of the falls is officially closed. People still do the walk in their droves, but every now and again you see stories of people being fined up to $450 per person.
This happened a couple of weeks before we got there. We really wanted to head down, and saw from the lookout three people who got to the pool, but we decided against it in the end.
We can’t comment on the condition of the path from personal experience, but we know from other people who have done it that it is quite rough and steep. It takes you to the pool at the base of the upper falls.
There are two routes down, but we’ve been told that the best is the one beside lookout two. We checked it out and there is a fence but it’s very obvious that it used to be the trail. We’re not saying you should go down, but if you do this is the better of the two routes.
Just be so, so careful if you choose to go down, and be prepared that there is a possible fine waiting for you. It’s super disappointing, as getting to the pool would be amazing, but this is one we’re personally not going to try for ourselves.
We have been down to the bottom of nearby Gerringong Falls though, which is quite an adventure, help with the route is in this post.
Swimming at Belmore Falls and the secret swimming hole
We hate to be the bearers of more bad news but as you are no longer allowed to hike down to the falls you can’t swim in the pool at the base and you can’t swim on top of the falls either.
The bottom of Belmore Falls
However there is another amazing hidden swimming spot very nearby and we think it’s an excellent consolation prize. In fact calling this gorgeous swimming hole a consolation prize really doesn’t do it justice, it’s a stunner.
To get there, you’ll need to find the small car park (the co-ordinates are 34.639256S, 150.560321E). It’s on the side of Belmore Falls Road between the lookouts and the ford, and is easy to see if you keep an eye out. The car park is small, with room for around four cars.
There are no signposts or anything to suggest you are around a 10 minute walk from such a great wild swimming spot.
The narrow track is very beaten down and obvious. Just be warned that after heavy rain the first half is quite muddy. It gets a little overgrown at points but it’s always a clear path. Once you have crossed over the creek you are nearly there. The whole route is only 300 metres long.
Depending on conditions you’ll arrive at an emerald swimming hole with a big and powerful waterfall, or a much smaller one! We visited when the waterfall was raging and it was absolutely stunning. You can also walk behind the falls if you take the passageway to the right of the pool.
The only thing I would say about visiting after very heavy rain is that the falls were churning up the pool a lot and it might not be suitable for children to swim in. I also wouldn’t recommend anyone going under or too close to the falls as they were so powerful.
That caveat aside, this is one of the best wild swimming holes close to Sydney, and really adds a touch of adventure to what is otherwise a very sedate visit to Belmore Falls.
Other waterfalls near Belmore Falls
If you want to spend the whole day chasing waterfalls you won’t be disappointed because Belmore Falls is very close to two other fabulous ones.
Carrington Falls and Fitzroy Falls are both absolutely spectacular and well worth a visit. Carrington Falls is free of charge, and Fitzroy Falls has an $8 vehicle entry fee.
Carrington Falls
There are more waterfalls in the area than this, but these are the big three and some of the most spectacular falls close to Sydney.
If you’re looking for other things to do in Robertson (the closest town to Belmore Falls), we’ve got a full guide here.
Packing Suggestions for Belmore Falls
Having the right gear can make a huge difference to any trip to the bush. Here’s what we pack and have relied upon for years:
Sunscreen: Cancer Council Active. With a high SPF, but not the greasy feel of other sunscreens. Makes a big difference when you’re working up a sweat on a sunny day!
Check it out on Amazon
Good Rain Jacket: North Face This is an essential item we always pack in our bag! This jacket from North Face is designed to keep you dry but also comfortably warm (many rain jackets will make you feel like you’re in a sauna).
Check it out on Amazon
Day Pack: Osprey Talon 22 (we’ve owned this for years). The perfect day pack that is lightweight, doesn’t wear out and carries everything you’ll need.
Hiking Boots: Merrell Moab (for men and women). We’ve both used these for over three years and they just keep going.
Check them out on Amazon
Trekking poles: We’ve used Black Diamond for years as they are light, solid and durable.
Check them out on Amazon.
Reusable water bottle: To avoid single-use plastic.
Check them out on Amazon
Essential information about visiting Belmore Falls
Parking fee
Despite what you might read online, Belmore Falls is actually free. There are no signs about paying and no pay stations or booths. Maybe there used to be but for now there isn’t, so you can visit Belmore Falls for free!
The last 3.5km of the road into Belmore Falls is a dirt road, but it’s in good condition and we had no trouble in a tiny car.
There are no public transport routes to Belmore Falls.
This post may contain affiliate links, meaning at no additional cost to you, that we will earn a small commission if you click through and decide to make a purchase. This helps towards the costs of running our website. Thanks for your support.
Like it? Pin it!
Follow us on Social Media
Are you planning a trip to Belmore Falls? What is your favourite waterfall in the Southern Highlands? Let us know in the comments below!
