If you could travel 20 extra minutes down the road to lose the crowd, you would, wouldn’t you! Tom spills the beans on the best waterfalls on the circuit, except these ones aren’t on the tourist  lists. Hit up Wooroonooran National Park to score some falls to yourself.

Highlights

  • Waterfalls in one of the wettest parts of Australia
  • Pristine rainforest swimming holes

The Lowdown

So many people travel each year to Millaa Millaa for the waterfall circuit tourist drive, and with good reason too. It contains some truly amazing waterfalls in one of the wettest parts of Australia. Each waterfall along the route is also very accessible, being only a short walk from their respective carpark.

But what if these people are all missing out on something? What if 20 minutes down the road there are even more waterfalls only without the crowds?

The locale in question is Wooroonooran National Park, or more specifically, the Palmerston Section of the park. There are 4 significant waterfalls to see; Nandroya, Silver Creek, Wallicher and Tchupala, as well as many other unnamed little cascades.

This section of the National Park is centred around the Henrietta Creek camping area which has spaces for campervans or grassy sites for tents as well as toilets and BBQ facilities. Whilst it might seem an incredibly popular destination, I was lucky enough to get the entire campsite to myself one night once all the day-trippers had departed. The campsite also makes the perfect staging point to explore the rest of the region’s waterfalls.

Wooroonooran National Park, T. Shane waterfall

Wooroonooran National Park

To the East of the camping area are the first 2 waterfalls which are accessible from the highway a few kilometres away. Alternatively, if you’re after more of a hike, there is a track following the creek all the way down to join up with the other access points. Although to hike all the way down you will have to cross Henrietta Creek a few times which may be difficult to impossible in the peak of the wet season, this area gets a lot of rainfall and conditions can change quickly, if you have any doubt don’t risk crossing a flooded creek.

Nandroya Falls however, is the best of the bunch, plunging about 50m straight down and is also the longest walk; a 6km loop, but the falls itself is only 2km along the track so you could turn back and shorten the journey if you wished.

Alternatively, if you’re the type of person who likes to recharge their batteries with a quick swim, the pool at the bottom is the perfect spot to cool off and prepare for the return hike. The Nandroya Falls Track also features Silver Creek Falls and starts from the Western end of the Henrietta Creek camping area.

Essential Gear

  • Swimmers
  • Camera
  • Camping gear (if staying)

How To Get There

This section of Wooroonooran National Park is easily accessed from the Palmerston Highway between Innisfail and Millaa Millaa.

Activities

Skill Level

Beginner

Distance Covered

Walking tracks range from 800m to 6Km.

 

Add these waterfalls to your adventure bucket list

Wet Feet And Waterfalls // Cumberland River Trail (VIC)

Exploring Efate’s Jungle Waterfalls (Vanuatu)

Straight To Stoney Creek Falls // Cairns (QLD)

Ebor Falls and Waterfall Way // Dorrigo National Park (NSW)