The waterfalls around Byron Bay are some of the most magnificent in all of NSW. There’s a lot of variety too, from ones which drop 100m over cliff edges, to ones you can jump off and those with easy access swimming holes. In short, there’s something for everyone, whether you’re looking for a dip or simply just to admire them. There’s even one which you can visit at night and we guarantee that will leave you in awe.
We visited as many falls as we could to bring you this guide. There are a few waterfalls that used to be known as local secrets which we’ve left off this list because they are sadly now closed to the public and might get you fined. All the falls below are in the good books, but that doesn’t mean we haven’t scouted out some hidden gems for you!
Here are the very best waterfalls near Byron Bay.
Byron Bay’s Best Waterfalls
A note on Byron Waterfalls
Before we kick off I thought I’d better start by saying that the best time to visit any of the waterfalls in the Byron Bay area is after some decent rainfall, or at least not during a long dry spell.
Many of them reduce to a mere drizzle or even dry up altogether during long dry periods, as we sadly found out when we flew to Byron just to go chasing waterfalls and found there to be none! We learnt the hard way so you don’t have to.
The second time we visited we were wiser and picked what can only be described as a monsoon season and it didn’t disappoint!
If you’re unsure as to what the rainfall has been like prior to your visit I would recommend checking out the recent hashtags for some of the falls on Instagram.
Check to see whether the latest posts from those locations are showing water and if a lot of them are (to make sure you’re not just seeing someone’s latergram) then you’re good to go!
The 8 most spectacular waterfalls in Byron Bay
These are the 8 best waterfalls near Byron Bay. You can click on the links below to read more about each one, including how to get there and what to expect.
You can see the rough locations on the map below, or click on this link for them on Google Maps.
1. Minyon Falls - the most epic one for swimming
Minyon Falls in full flow is nothing short of jaw dropping. At over 100m high, it’s the tallest on this list and an absolutely magnificent sight.
From the Minyon Falls Lookout at the top of the falls, you can see the upper part of the waterfall close up, which is incredibly impressive. To see more of the falls, you need to head over to the lookout at Minyon Grass picnic area, although it’s at a distance from here.
Both lookouts are very short (just a couple of minutes) flat walk from the respective car parks.
But if you truly want to appreciate the real majesty of Minyon Falls you need to hike to the bottom and swim in the pool at the base.
It’s a bit of a climb back up again but it’s worth it, and you’ll pass through some of the most sensational rainforest in NSW too. There are two possible routes to the bottom and we discuss both in this post, including which is easiest and what you’ll see along the way.
The walk down to the falls
The view from Minyon Grass
If you love the idea of walking to the base and taking a dip, but you don’t feel confident going independently or you don’t have access to a car, you can go with a local on this Airbnb experience.
Distance from Byron: Roughly 35km, a 45 minute drive.
2. Protestors Falls - the one that hides a night-time secret
You know that feeling when you have no expectations and then something just blows you away? That was Protesters Falls for us. I didn’t look at any pictures online before we went and had no idea what to expect. What we found was truly breathtaking and by far one of our favourite experiences in Byron Bay!
A huge waterfall in the most sublime rainforest setting. The walk to get there is easy and very pretty too. It’s an absolute must visit.
One thing to note though is that you cannot swim here due to the endangered Fleay’s barred frog, which inhabit the area. You will see people break the rules but please don’t join them. It’s their home, not ours, and you’re spoilt for choice with epic swimming spots in Byron.
But back to the good stuff, and a secret that we uncovered about Protesters Falls that absolutely blew us away.
If you’re up for an adventure, re-enter the rainforest at night and your path will be lit by thousands of glow worms, yep it’s like walking through a glow worm galaxy! Add to that a sprinkling of bioluminescent mushrooms and you have for a really magical experience!
Exactly where to find the glow worms and bioluminescent fungi are in this post.
Distance from Byron: 63km, roughly a one hour 15 minute drive.
3. Goonengerry Falls - the one you can picnic on top of
Right from the off you should know that you can’t see the whole waterfall at Goonengerry Falls. However, the setting is one of the most dramatic of all. It’s also well off the beaten track and I’d be surprised if you have to share this spot with anyone.
From the top of the falls you’ll be able to see nothing but mountains and forest and if you have a bit of swirling mist like we did, it’s one of the most atmospheric waterfalls on this list.
There are lots of little pools you can paddle in on top of the falls, as well as spots you can sit and have a picnic!
As soon as we saw the view and the little rock pools we didn’t care that we could only see the top of the falls! It’s just a 10 minute walk from the car park, but there’s no sign to point you in the right direction. You need to take the trail at the north end of the car park, part way along you will pick up one signpost which will reassure you you’re heading in the right direction.
It’s mainly downhill on the way and a short climb on the way back up.
When you get to the end of the path you need to climb over a few rocks to access the pools and the view. There are no railings, it’s all wild and free here. You can scramble a little down the cliff on the left side to see more of the falls, but I don’t recommend it, Joe did it and it was precarious and not worth it.
From my point of view Goonengerry Falls is about the spectacular setting and the novelty of having a picnic or just relaxing on top of a giant waterfall!
Distance from Byron: 30km, a 45 minute drive.
4. Killen Falls - the Instagrammer’s favourite
Killen Falls has become a bit of an Instagram sensation over the years. It’s a lovely waterfall and relatively easy to access, not to mention closer than most to Byron.
It has a big swimming hole - although not as big as it looks in pictures because a lot of it is shallow. The setting is really pretty and you can walk right the way behind the falls too.
You can view the falls from the lookout at the top which is on well maintained path, or head down to the pool at the base on a slightly rougher track.
It’s a very popular spot but we’ve got tips on how to avoid the crowds in this post, as well as everything else you need to know about visiting the falls.
If you don’t have your own wheels you can visit Killen Falls as part of this well reviewed Byron Bay tour.
Distance from Byron: 30km, a 30 minute drive.
5. Marom Creek Falls - the one you can jump off
Marom Creek Falls is a bit of a locals secret and you won’t find any signposts to this one! In fact there’s no car park, you just pull over on to the grassy verge and climb through the fence (you can see the dirt patches for parking on Rous Road. It’s on the section between the junctions for Ellis Road and Tregeagle Road).
Don’t worry though, whilst Marom Creek Falls are on private land, the owner is on the record as saying he doesn’t mind visitors (thank you!) and there are none of the keep out signs you’ll find at some of the other local waterfalls around Byron.
It’s roughly a 500m, 8 minute walk through a field to reach the top of the falls. It’s a well worn path so you won’t have any trouble locating it. At the top of the falls you’ll find a stream you can swim in, but to swim in the pool itself you either need to jump off the top or climb down the sketchy looking track to the left.
Once down your only way up is that slightly dodgy track so take a look and make sure you’re happy with that before jumping. When we visited all the local kids were having a fab time jumping off, climbing up and repeat!
We didn’t jump and we would always say to check the depth first, but we were one of only a handful of people not jumping. We did visit after a lot of rain so the water level must have been really high, we can’t be sure it’s like this year round.
If you don’t want to jump it’s still a cool spot to sit and have a picnic or cool off in the stream. Although we normally try and avoid crowds it was actually pretty fun just to be a spectacter to the jumpers here!
Distance from Byron: 63km, a 40 minute drive. Click on this link to find the exact location
6. Whian Whian Falls - the easiest one for a dip
If you want a swim but don’t want the big hike down to the pool at Minyon or to jump off the top at Marom Creek then you need to head to Whian Whian Falls. This is a smaller waterfall, but still absolutely beautiful with two pools to choose from.
You can access the swimming spot via a 250m walking track, which takes less than five minutes. The path can get muddy and slippery in parts, so take your time and it helps to have shoes rather than flip flops.
Whilst it is a beautiful spot, it can become a bit of a theme park. When we visited (which was during the summer holidays) there were people blaring out music and drinking beer. For serenity during holidays and at weekends you need to go early in the morning.
Distance from Byron: 45km, a 50 minute drive.
7. Hanging Rock Falls - the locals’ favourite
You’ll find Hanging Rock Falls close to the small colourful village of Nimbin. It’s not a huge waterfall but it has a lovely large emerald green swimming hole at the base. Unfortunately when we visited the pool had flooded so we couldn’t go in - this is one of those falls that you don’t want to visit in a big dry spell, but you also don’t want there to have been too much rain!
Assuming the conditions are right, you can access Hanging Rock Falls via an easy 100m bush track. It’s slightly downhill on the way and then a very gentle climb back up. There are steps down to the water at the top of the falls.
Once you’re in the pool you have to climb back up the rocks beside the waterfall to get back out again.
We were visiting at the same time as a local family and they showed us how to do it, or we wouldn’t have seen a way back out! When the flow is too heavy you wouldn’t be able to get back out so don’t swim when it’s flooded!
There is periodically a rope swing here too which keeps being cut down and then put back up again. We don’t recommend using it because there have been several tragic deaths, there are rocks under the water that you can’t see from above. As with all rope swings, there will always be people using it but we highly recommend giving it a miss here.
There have been cries to close these falls following a number of incidents, but when we spoke to the family visiting at the same time as us they said it’s a great swimming spot if you’re careful and happy to climb back up the rocky gully close to the flow of the waterfall. As with all swimming spots be mindful of conditions and your own comfort zone.
Distance from Byron: 90km, a 1 hour 20 minute drive, best visited on a trip to Nimbin
8. Condong Falls - the one you can paddle on top of
Condong Falls (formerly known as Quandong Falls) is worth a visit if you’re planning to hike to the bottom of Minyon Falls as it’s a very short detour off that track.
It’s an absolutely gorgeous waterfall and one of the biggest in the area but for whatever reason there isn’t really a great way to access it, which is why we say to join it on to Minyon. With better access it would be well worth a visit in its own right.
From Minyon Falls Lookout head along the trail to the base and 1.9km into the track, you’ll reach an un-signposted junction. From here turn right and it’s a 400m walk to the top of Condong Falls. You can have a paddle in the shallow pool at the top of the falls and if you’re keen for a proper swim, there is a water hole 200m up the river - though it was flooded on our visit!
Once you’ve had a paddle, you re-join the main trail, and from here it’s a 150m walk further along the path to the best view of Condong Falls. Although you can’t see the full drop, what you can see is gorgeous! Just make sure you look out for it as there is no lookout so you could walk on by if you were absorbed in a conversation!
Incidentally, don’t bother bush bashing around the top of the falls trying to find a viewpoint, we tried a lot of different overgrown paths and none led to a good view!
Distance from Byron: Roughly 35km, a 45 minutes drive.
Essential information about visiting Byron Bay Waterfalls
Facilities - or lack there of
Almost all of the waterfalls on our list have little to no facilities. Please take all litter with you, including toilet paper should you get caught out! Let’s keep these spots beautiful and pristine for everyone to enjoy. There’s nothing worse than arriving at what should be paradise to find everyone else’s trash ruining it.
Safety
As with visiting any waterfalls or swimming spots anywhere in the world you need to be mindful of conditions. If you’re going to jump from the top of a waterfall make sure you’ve checked the depth first and that there aren’t submerged rocks. Also make sure you’re comfortable with the route out - sometimes jumping is the easy bit!
Occasionally there is so much water in some of these falls that swimming isn’t safe, even when it would normally be very safe. That was the case for us at Minyon Falls. The water was so powerful and covering the pool to an extent that swimming was just not an option. Same with Hanging Rock Falls. We did visit after unprecedented rainfall though, so it’s probably not regular to experience this but just be aware it could happen. If it does places like Marom Creek, Whian Whian and Killen will be good for a swim.
Crowds
It’s no surprise that the majority of these spots can get very busy if you go at the wrong time. Even the falls that are tucked away deep in national parks on really long dirt roads can surprisingly become very crowded, especially during the school holidays. This is Byron Bay after all, which is famous for overcrowding.
If you are like us, and prefer your waterfalls in peace and quiet, then aim to arrive as early as possible. We went to Killen Falls at sunrise, had it all to ourselves, and then saw people beginning to arrive at 7.30am!
We would normally also recommend late afternoon as a good time, but that’s not the case in Byron Bay - people do tend to hang around in the waterfalls after dark.
Where to stay in Byron Bay
Byron Bay is a very pricy place to stay, if it is out of your budget we’d recommend staying in the Hinterland, or Ballina. Our preference would be the beautiful hinterland, although Ballina does have lovely beaches.
Byron Springs
Byron Springs has light and airy rooms and modern bathrooms. Brekkie is included and the grounds are really pretty with lots of plants and a swimming pool. It’s a 20 minute walk or 5 minute drive into Byron.
Lily Pad at Byron Bay - self catering option
Lily Pad is a great option if you’re looking for more space and your own full kitchen. All the decor is modern and stylish and there’s a gorgeous shady deck with BBQ for outdoor dining. It’s a 5 minute drive from Main Beach and the town centre.
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