Forty Foot Falls in Mittagong NSW is The Perfect Pitstop

Spice up your drive from Sydney to Canberra by calling in at Forty Foot Falls in Mittagong. If forty feet of waterfall isn’t enough, you can always push on to Sixty Foot Falls – we’ll let you work out how high that one is!

We acknowledge that this adventure is located on Gandangara Nation, the traditional Country of the Gandangara people who have occupied and cared for this land for thousands of years. We pay our respects to them as the Traditional Custodians and recognise that sovereignty was never ceded.

Quick Facts Forty Foot Falls

Distance: 12km, if you complete the Boxvale Tramway Track and the detour to the falls
Duration: 3 hours, including stops to take photos
Closest Town: Mittagong

About Forty Foot Falls

These thunderous falls in Mittagong are a must-visit for rare hybrid waterfall chasers and history buffs. But it’s also pretty cool for those of us into just one of the two!

The epic cascade is tucked within a scenic bushwalk that takes you through lush forest and an 84m long abandoned train tunnel. Don’t forget your torch! Along the way, you’ll also learn about the fascinating history of Mittagong, making it a perfect blend of natural beauty and local heritage.

How To Get to Forty Foot Falls

You’ll find these stunning falls located off the Hume Highway about 75 minutes from Sydney and just shy of 2 hours from Canberra.

Forty Foot Falls leads off the Boxvale Tramway Track. To get there, follow the signs to Mittagong, get onto the Old Hume Highway and turn onto Boxvale Road at Welby. You’ll then see a small car park and signage pointing you onto the Boxvale Tramway Track.

Skill Level

Beginner

There are a couple of short steep sections, and some rocks to scramble over to access the waterfall, but the rest of the trail is mostly flat.

Essential Gear

• Hiking shoes
• Rain jacket
• Insect repellent (for leeches)
• Water
• Head torch

Read more: Packing List for Day Hikes

What it’s Like to Visit Forty Foot Falls

Nestled between Sydney and Canberra is a hidden gem of a waterfall. Forty Foot Falls is a stone’s throw from the Hume Highway but you wouldn’t know it. On a tip from a fellow Explorer, I sought out this waterfall near the small town of Mittagong.

The route to the falls veers off the Boxvale Tramway Trail – named for the tramway that used to run through the area. The tramway became operational in 1888 to haul coal extracted from the Nattai River Gorge to the Great Southern Railway. At its peak, the mine produced 100 tonnes of coal a day.

Make your way through the tramway tunnel

Coal extraction finished in the area in 1896 and the bush grew back over the railway, before bushfires destroyed the railway trestle bridges. The Boxvale Tramway Track was opened in 1986, following the line of the former tramway track.

The 12km return hike to the falls takes you through rock cuttings built for the coal transporting tramway. It’s mostly flat until the last section where you go down a series of steps and a ladder built into the rock, that’s when you’ll see the falls – all  40 feet!

You can walk around the back of the falls and stand under them, and there’s also a lookout above the falls. If you don’t mind a bit of rock scrambling, you can head further down the Nattai River to get a view of the falls from the front.

From the falls, you can continue across the Nattai River and take the trail to Mittagong and Sixty Foot Falls, or return back to the Boxvale Track via the old tramway tunnel – an impressive 84 metre tunnel carved into the rock.

Read more: Remember to leave no trace!

FAQs Forty Foot Falls

How long is the hike to Forty Foot Falls?

The hike to the falls is a 12km return trip if you follow the Boxvale Tramway Track, including the detour to the falls. The walk takes about 3 hours, including stops for photos and exploring the area.

Can you walk behind Forty Foot Falls?

Yep, you can walk behind the cascading water and even stand under the falls for a helluva massage!

What’s the difference between Forty Foot Falls and Sixty Foot Falls?

Forty Foot Falls and Sixty Foot Falls are two separate waterfalls near Mittagong. Forty Foot Falls is accessed via the Boxvale Tramway Track, while Sixty Foot Falls requires a further hike along the Nattai River.

What is the Boxvale Tramway Tunnel, and can I walk through it?

The Boxvale Tramway Tunnel is part of an old tramway and it an 84m long tunnel carved into the rock. The tunnel is part of the Boxvale Tramway Track, and you walk through it as part of your journey to the falls. It’s an epic highlight!

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