Ellenborough Falls is the second highest single drop waterfall in Australia and a truly jaw-dropping sight. The waterfall is spectacular and the surrounding gorge would be worth a visit in its own right, the two combined make for one of the most incredible views in NSW.
You can see the falls at a number of different vantage points, with the most awe-inspiring being from the swimming hole at the very bottom.
In this guide we’ll detail each of the viewpoints and whether they are worth the walk.
Ellenborough Falls
Ellenborough Falls has four different lookouts, as well as an additional option for swimming if you don’t want to, or can’t swim at the base of the falls.
You can see on the map below, there are two viewpoints at the top of the falls close to the car park, one at the bottom of the falls and a final one that looks square onto the falls.
The viewpoints at Ellenborough Falls
The top of the falls - 100m each way
The top of the falls (known as the head of the falls on map by the car park) is a 100m walk each way from the car park (it’s not signposted, but it’s the one you can see heading straight on from the car park).
It’s down a series of steps and only takes a few minutes to reach. You will arrive at a large viewing area which to be honest does not have the best view.
You can see some small cascades, but you don’t really see any of the waterfall itself and the gorge view is not as good as from the next viewpoint along.
We always like to check out every single vantage point when we visit a waterfall, but if you prefer just to see the wow views then you can give this one a miss as it’s probably the least impressive of the four.
The main viewpoint - 1 minute walk
The main lookout is not even a one minute walk from the car park and it’s a truly awe-inspiring view. It’s the best one for taking in the whole scene as it offers an expansive look at the gorge too.
You view the waterfall from side on, but I loved the dramatic setting, so I actually preferred this view to the closer vantage point at The Knoll (although Joe preferred The Knoll).
It really is a wonderful sight and if you don’t want to walk too far it’s perfect. However, if you want to view the falls at closer range and front on you will need to walk a little further.
The Knoll - 750m each way
The lookout platform at The Knoll faces the falls head on and from here you’ll see it has several cascades which you won’t notice from the side on viewpoint. You also feel much closer to the falls.
You don’t see as much of the gorge, but in terms of viewing the waterfall, it’s fantastic.
The walk to get there is easy, there are a few stairs to climb up and down, but the majority of the walk is flat. It’s narrow at points but never feels precarious. Even after a lot of rain, the trail was in good condition.
If you’re walking to the base as well, the first 120m of the walk to The Knoll is shared with the trail to the bottom of the falls, so you can knock that off the total distance.
The base of Ellenborough Falls - 720m each way
The best way to experience Ellenborough Falls if you don’t mind climbing a few staircases on the way back is from the bottom of the falls.
Considering how tall the waterfall it is, it’s a surprisingly easy walk. The path is well maintained and it’s basically all wooden steps.
The staircases make quick work of the descent and also stop the path getting muddy, which is something that can’t be said for nearby Rawson Falls (which is still very much worth the visit regardless of the mud factor!).
As well as being a great trail, the walk to the bottom of the falls is beautiful. It’s through some seriously stunning rainforest which also keeps the track nice and shady.
There are plenty of benches to take a break on which might be more of a thing on the way up than the way down!
As you near the bottom (10m before the end of the trail) you’ll see a little path off to the left which offers a really close up view of part of the falls.
There’s a bench seat here too and it’s a wonderful spot to sit and watch the thundering cascade.
From here you descend a little further and will arrive at a picnic bench - which must be one of the most incredible picnic spots in NSW!
That is unless, like us, you are visiting after really heavy rain when the spray reaches this spot with ease!
When you’re ready to climb back up to the top you have 641 steps to go.
I remember thinking that was quite a lot at three times the number at Hopetoun Falls, which we’d recently visited. Happily it doesn’t feel that much as you go up, and as mentioned, there are many shady benches if you do need a break.
I think it would be much harder if the trail was exposed so I was really grateful for all the dense trees!
Swimming at Ellenborough Falls
I’d come in my swimsuit ready for a dip before realising that the flow was waaaaay too powerful. I can’t complain because seeing the falls with that huge volume of water was extraordinary.
It was captivating to watch and even catching glimpses of the water through the trees on the way down was amazing.
If it weren’t for the excellent pathway it would have felt like we were out in a wild jungle somewhere!
In the end I decided to go for a bit of a shower in the spray, but would love to return for a proper dip. In normal times, accessing the pool is not too difficult.
There are some large rocks and boulders to climb over, but there is also a little dirt path for some of the way and it would only take a few minutes to get there. When wet, the rocks can be quite slippery though.
The pool is actually a pretty good size for a dip and viewing the falls from the water must be a humbling experience. If you want a proper swim though, there is another spot you can reach from the car park which offers a great way to cool off after climbing back up!
The swimming hole by the top of Ellenborough Falls - 100m each way
If you want to go for a long swim you can easily access the river, which is just 100m from the car park. The path is not signposted at the trailhead, but it’s the trail in-between the toilets and the track to the head of the falls - on the left side of the car park (it’s on the map on the info board).
It heads gently downhill on stairs before you arrive at the waters edge. You can step straight into the river from the little manicured ‘beachy’ area.
It’s shallow at first and then quickly deepens. You can go for a long leisurely swim and there’s even a rope swing. It’s surrounded by picturesque bushland and you can hear the falls roar in the distance, which gives it a lot of atmosphere.
The water was a little high on our visit but still quite clear and I can only imagine it’s even better when the river is lower.
It was really peaceful and the perfect end to our trip to Ellenborough Falls.
Getting to Ellenborough Falls
Ellenborough Falls is located roughly 1.5 hours (85km) from Port Macquarie. It’s approximately 4.5 hours from Sydney. There are two access roads, both of which require some distance (minimum of 18km) on a gravel road. At time of writing each route was in good condition and didn’t require any special kind of clearance.
The road which is sealed for the longest distance is the Comboyne Road, which goes via Wauchope.
Facilities at Ellenborough Falls
There are flush toilets, as well as picnic benches and a kiosk at the car park. Please remember to take all rubbish with you and note there are no facilities once you leave the car park.
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.
