National Falls
đź“Ť McKell Avenue, Royal National ParkÂ
We love a good hidden gem, and this one genuinely surprised us. National Falls in Royal National Park isn’t about the upper falls; it’s about the lost path to the lower falls. It’s one of those places that feels like it should have a queue. It doesn’t. We had the whole thing to ourselves on a Saturday, and we’re still talking about it.
Park on McKell Avenue, you’ll see a pull in. There’s a wooden staircase that leads you straight down to the upper falls. The rock platform is fenced off these days, so does feel a little like an anti climax, but head back up the stairs as the real showstopper is the lower falls.
About 150m down the road from the car park, you’ll spot an old stone staircase on your left. McKell Avenue is a busy road, so walk behind the safety barrier. There is a 15m section where you will have to walk on the road. Use extreme care here. The trail is completely unsignposted and the path is no longer maintained but perfectly walkable. Just watch your footing as some of the ground is uneven.
You’ll rock hop across a small waterfall on the way (yes, your feet may get wet, and yes, the kids will love it), and then suddenly you’re there: standing behind one of the most stunning rock overhangs we’ve come across.
“You can walk right behind the falls and just stand there, immersed in it. We had a snack, let the kids explore, and nobody wanted to leave.”
The whole lower falls walk is only 600m return, so it’s very doable with little ones, but equally as spectacular for those without kids. Go after a decent stretch of rain if you can; the falls are a whole different thing when they’re really flowing.
We continued on and did some rock scrambling and explored further down the creek and it was wonderful.
Good To Know Before You Go
- Go after rain for the full wow factor.
- No mobile signal at the bottom, let someone know where you’re heading as you won’t come across many people if you need help.
- Wear good shoes — the path is unmaintained and the steps are uneven. The rocks can be slippery when wet
ENJOY!
Love finding places like this? We’re Sam, Geo, Reuben and Eli — a family travelling Australia looking for hidden gems just like this one. Find more adventures by following us on Instagram @thefamilyfind