Crystal Shower Falls in Dorrigo National Park is easily one of the most beautiful waterfalls in NSW. It’s not just the waterfall itself, but the whole rainforest setting. It is magnificent old growth forest which just has that special feeling about it. As well as having several different spots to admire the falls from - including a fantastic suspension bridge - you can walk right behind it, just be prepared for lots of spray!
What you may not know is that Crystal Shower Falls hides a secret by day. At night it is lit by hundreds of twinkling blue lights - it’s a hidden glow worm colony that absolutely no one we met knew about, including the visitor centre!
Here’s everything you need to know about Crystal Shower Falls by day and by night.
Crystal Shower Falls Walking Tracks
There are a couple of different ways you can reach the falls depending on how long you want to walk for.
The Crystal Shower Falls Walk - 3.2km return
This is the quickest way to get to the falls, starting from the Glade Picnic Area (which is a two minute drive from the Rainforest Centre). It’s a paved trail which is predominantly downhill and flat on the way and then flat and of course uphill on the way back.
It’s an easy trail and the rainforest is so magnificent that the hill on the way back will be nicely broken up by lots of photo stops.
There are also some informative signs along the way telling you about the different plants you’re passing.
If you are lucky enough to do this walk on a misty day (which is not uncommon) then you are going to be in for an even more incredible experience. It’s one of the most atmospheric walks I’ve ever done in my life!
Crystal Shower Falls is a fitting end to a beautiful walk in its own right. If you’re planning on heading into the rainforest at night then this is definitely the route you want to use.
If you’re interested in other walks in Dorrigo National Park, we hiked them all and in this post we rank them from best to worst.
The Wonga Walk - 6.6km return
The Wonga Walk is a longer circuit trail and can either be started from the Rainforest Centre, which is where we started, or from the Glade Picnic Area (which is a few hundred metres shorter).
If you have the energy we’d highly recommend doing the full circuit. The trail is one of the best walks we’ve done in NSW (and we have walked a lot of trails here!).
You’ll get to experience even more of that sensational rainforest, as well as an extra set of falls, Tristania Falls.
If you’re visiting after some decent rain, Tristania will be thundering down the cliffside, and if it weren’t for the fact it is so close to the more famous Crystal Shower Falls, it would be a destination in its own right.
You’ll reach Crystal Shower Falls at about the mid point of the track (3.1km if you go anti-clockwise, 3.7km if you go clockwise), and it’s a beautiful stop midway through.
The Wonga Walk is entirely paved and though it does have a few more hills to climb than the shorter track, it’s not a difficult walk. The fact it’s paved means you don’t have to watch your feet and can stare up at the canopy and the incredible scenery all around you.
You’ll find that the forest is so beautiful you stop a lot anyway. It took us half an hour to walk the first kilometre of the track, we just couldn’t help stopping to marvel at everything we were seeing.
Both trails have lots of birdwatching opportunities and the various sounds will be a constant backdrop to your hike. Here’s our full trail guide for this incredible walk.
The best spot for photos at Crystal Shower Falls
The great thing about visiting Crystal Shower Falls is that there are so many different points to admire it from. Here’s our tips as to where to get that perfect shot.
Above - from the suspension bridge
Our favourite spot for getting a wider perspective of the whole scene is from the suspension bridge. You can capture the whole waterfall as well as a lot more of the rainforest setting.
However, getting a photo from here can be tricky when other people are walking on the bridge. You may struggle with the bridge bouncing up and down so you’ll want to come early or late in the day to avoid the crowds.
Down below at the falls
Once you’ve enjoyed the views from the bridge you can head down through the gate and walk behind the falls. It’s a proper metal boardwalk so it’s not slippery at all.
If the waterfall is really powerful there will be a lot of spray so be prepared to get wet! You can get some lovely shots of the falls from behind.
You can also get a lovely shot of the swing bridge from just before the walk behind the falls.
Crystal Shower Falls by night: the glow worm wonderland
We’ve spent quite a bit of time lately uncovering some of the glow worm colonies in the Blue Mountains, and when we saw Crystal Shower Falls we had our suspicions that this was the perfect habitat for them. We checked online and asked locals, and there was absolutely nothing suggesting they would be there.
We decided to go for it anyway and headed down the shorter walking track. If you want to do the same, here are some tips:
Just before you reach the suspension bridge there is a smaller waterfall. Turn out your lights here as this is where you’ll find the first glow worm colony.
There are quite a few scattered along the cliff walls just before the falls and then more around the falls themselves. It is way too steep and slippery to go in for a closer look, so even though we think there are many more, you’ll probably see around 100 here. The colony is nowhere near as big as the Grand Canyon in the Blue Mountains, but it is still an incredible sight.
Just remember that you need to let your eyes adjust. Allow at least five minutes for this, but ten is even better. When you first turn your light off, you’ll probably only see 20-30, but more will appear with each passing minute.
After you’ve had a little look at this colony head over the suspension bridge and walk behind Crystal Shower Falls. Again you need to allow your eyes the time to adjust and when they do, you’ll be standing underneath a whole different kind of starry night sky!
There are several hundred here, on the overhang and in various little nooks and crannies. The densest patch is unfortunately at the far side of the falls, just beyond the rocks that you aren’t allowed to walk past. You need to bend down a little to look underneath and you’ll see huge numbers!
It’s incredibly magical to stand beside the thundering falls and look up at all the tiny little blue lights. And as this is definitely not a well known glow worm spot, I can’t imagine there will be anyone else there. It was a wonderful experience and we stayed for a long time.
The only downside to this spot is the fact that the majority of glow worms are in the area you can’t stand under, so you do have to keep crouching which is a shame. There are still many scattered along the rest of the overhang, but not in as big numbers. That’s a small downside in an otherwise wonderful experience though!
We didn’t see much wildlife on the night walk beyond a few possums, but there were some giant snails so just make sure you don’t squish them by mistake. I’d also recommend grabbing a stick at the beginning of the walk and waving it ahead of you to clear away any pesky webs.
Because the trail is paved, it’s a really easy walk to do at night as you don’t need to worry about footing and you couldn’t possibly get lost as there’s only one path.
Taking care of the glow worms
Please don’t shine light on the glow worms, they don’t like it and will turn their lights out. To find a spot to sit and relax in you can use a torch shone directly at the ground, and then turn it out.
You’ll see so much less if you keep a light on. Bringing a torch with red light is even better, although still don’t shine it on the glow worms directly.
Also if you’re keen on getting a photo, bring a tripod which will allow you to capture the glow worms without shining a light on them. If you need any tips, please feel free to ask! You don’t need light to photograph them if you have a tripod and the right settings.
Other tips for visiting Crystal Shower Falls
How to get the falls to yourself
This is a popular waterfall and if you’re visiting during holidays or on a weekend it can get quite busy. We visited in the Christmas holidays when the entire area of Bellingen and Dorrigo had fully sold out accommodation.
We decided to get to the falls quite late, around 6pm, and we had them all to ourselves for well over half an hour. An alternative to going later in the day would be to go very early. Although the visitor centre doesn’t open until 9am, you can walk through the side gate anytime after 5am.
Can you swim at Crystal Shower Falls?
You are not allowed to swim at Crystal Shower Falls, and you wouldn’t want to! The pool at the bottom of the falls is pretty small, and is either very shallow, or becomes a raging river after a lot of rain. Sadly, this is one where you don’t want to bring your swimmers.
The entry fee
Entry to the Skywalk lookout, rainforest centre and walking trails in this part of the park is by gold coin donation. There’s a donation box outside if you’re visiting after hours.
How to get to Crystal Shower Falls
Crystal Shower Falls is located in Dorrigo National Park, around 4.5km from the little village of Dorrigo. They are just under a 30 minute drive from Bellingen and 1 hour 30 from Armidale. They are just under 6 hours drive from Sydney, located along the Waterfall Way.
Packing suggestions for the walk
Having the right gear can make a huge difference. You will also want to additional things if you are going looking for glow worms. 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 them out on Amazon
Head torch with red light: If you’re going on the search for glow worms, a head torch is a must. We recommend this one as it has a red light. Check it out on Amazon
Day Pack: Osprey Talon 22 (we’ve owned this for years). Check on Amazon or direct with Osprey
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 out on Amazon.
Reusable water bottle: To avoid single-use plastic. Check them out on Amazon
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