6 waterfalls near Kiama, all within an hour's drive

Compare the waterfalls within an hour of Kiama

Kiama sits below the Illawarra escarpment, so the waterfalls are up the hill, not on the coast. Six falls are within about an hour's drive of Kiama Ridge Waters, and two of them you can only see from lookouts. Drive times below are from the apartments at 2 Surfleet Place to each car park.

Walk lengths, grades and fees come from NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS). Fees and track conditions change, so check before you go. For walks closer to the apartments, see our guide to walks in Kiama.

Start with Minnamurra Falls in Budderoo National Park

Minnamurra Falls is the closest waterfall to Kiama and the easiest to fit into a morning. Drive about 25 minutes (18 km) through Jamberoo to the Minnamurra Rainforest Centre at 345 Minnamurra Falls Road. From there, the Minnamurra Falls walk branches off halfway around the Lyrebird Loop.

NPWS lists the walk as 4.2 km return, 1 to 2 hours, Grade 4. It follows an elevated walkway and paved track with steep sections, and there are seats along the way. You pass viewing platforms over the lower and upper falls. There's no wheelchair access on the falls walk.

Park entry is $12 per vehicle per day in the Minnamurra Rainforest area. The gates open at 9am and close at 5pm, last access is 3pm, and the Rainforest Centre is open 9am to 4pm (closed Christmas Day). There's no river access and no swimming here, which protects water quality, and pets aren't permitted. NPWS says the centre can close at short notice when the car park fills, and suggests arriving outside 11am to 2pm.

Our Minnamurra Rainforest guide covers the Lyrebird Loop, the picnic area and wildlife in more detail.

Look down on Carrington Falls from the Falls View platform

At Carrington Falls the Kangaroo River drops more than 50 metres into the gully below. It's about 40 minutes' drive (34.2 km) from Kiama Ridge Waters, up Jamberoo Mountain Road and along Cloonty Road to the Carrington Falls picnic area, also called Thomas Place.

The Carrington Falls walking track is a 0.6 km loop, 30 to 45 minutes, Grade 3, with short steep hills and many steps. It takes in the Falls View and Valley View lookout platforms, then drops down a steep metal stairway into a rainforest gully. There's no wheelchair access. The short Izzards lookout track gives another view of the falls.

Across the river, Nellies Glen picnic area sits under tall eucalypts, with the longer Missingham and Warris Chair lookout tracks over the gorge. NPWS mentions a dip in the waterhole at Nellies Glen, but keep well back from the cliff edges and never try to reach the top or base of the falls. There's no park fee here, as fees apply only in the Minnamurra Rainforest area.

If you are travelling with a dog, leave it behind for this one. A 1080 fox baiting program covers Carrington Falls, the Budderoo Plateau and Barren Grounds until January 2027, and pets aren't permitted in the area.

Follow the creek to the Cascades at Macquarie Pass

The Cascades walk in Macquarie Pass National Park is the quickest rainforest waterfall walk after Minnamurra. It's about 29 minutes' drive (31.1 km) from Kiama Ridge Waters, at the foot of Macquarie Pass on the Illawarra Highway, starting from the Cascades picnic area.

NPWS lists it as 2 km return, 45 minutes to 1 hour 15 minutes, Grade 3. The track follows a creek through shady rainforest to a pool and waterfall. Look for lyrebirds, goannas and native figs, and bring insect repellent for leeches and ticks. There's no wheelchair access.

Two other tracks in the park are closed: the Macquarie Rivulet (Jump Rock) track, because of steep, unstable ground, and the informal Clover Falls track, because of rockfall risk. Stick to the signposted Cascades walk.

See Belmore Falls from the lookouts, never the base

Belmore Falls is in Morton National Park, near Robertson, about 57 minutes' drive (48.2 km) from Kiama Ridge Waters. The last stretch from Robertson is a narrow, winding dirt road, so drive with care.

The Belmore Falls walking track starts at the Hindmarsh lookout car park, which looks out over Kangaroo Valley. NPWS lists it as 1.8 km return, 30 minutes to 1 hour, Grade 3. The track passes several lookouts and finishes at a view of the falls. In spring, look for honey flower, banksia, yellow wattle and white tea tree.

All access to the base of Belmore Falls is permanently closed because of the risk of falling from the cliff edge. The closure includes the top of the falls and access from the Belmore Falls Road causeway. NPWS also asks visitors not to try to view the falls from the Barrengarry Creek crossing. Stay on the marked track and enjoy the view from the lookouts.

Walk the boardwalk to Fitzroy Falls

Fitzroy Falls drops nearly 100 metres over sandstone cliffs into the Yarrunga Valley. It's about 58 minutes' drive (57.5 km) from Kiama Ridge Waters, at the Fitzroy Falls Visitor Centre, 1301 Nowra Road, Fitzroy Falls.

This is the easiest big waterfall view in the region. An elevated boardwalk runs along the creek to a platform at the escarpment edge, just 150 metres from the visitor centre, with step-free access. The visitor centre has accessible toilets, a parent and carer change room and accessible parking, and it's open 9am to 4pm daily (closed Christmas Day).

For a longer walk, the West Rim walking track is 3.5 km return, 1 hour 30 minutes to 2 hours 30 minutes, Grade 3, following the escarpment edge to Renown lookout. Parking at Fitzroy Falls costs $4 per vehicle per day, paid at machines that take cash and cards.

Leave Gerringong Falls to experienced bushwalkers

Gerringong Falls is in Budderoo National Park near Carrington Falls and Kangaroo Valley. It's not a quick stop. The only way in is the Hersey trail, which NPWS lists as a challenging 17.6 km return walk through exposed heathland to the top of the falls, for experienced bushwalkers only.

The trail is an unmarked fire trail, mobile reception is limited, and emergency access is difficult. NPWS recommends carrying a personal locator beacon and leaving a trip intention form with an emergency contact. Access to the base of Gerringong Falls has been prohibited since December 2023 because of loose rocks and steep, unstable ground, and there's no approved track down.

If you want a waterfall without a full day in the bush, NPWS points you to Minnamurra Falls or Carrington Falls instead.

Check NPWS alerts before you go

Budderoo, Macquarie Pass and Morton national parks are always open, but NPWS can close them in poor weather or high fire danger. Track closures, pest control programs and car park limits are posted on each park page, so check the NPWS alerts on the morning you drive up.

Mobile reception is patchy on the escarpment. NPWS suggests the Emergency Plus app, and the National Parks Contact Centre is on 1300 072 757, 7am to 7pm daily. Bring water, a hat, sunscreen and sturdy shoes. The falls run hardest after rain, which is also when tracks are slippery.

Plan a waterfall day from Kiama Ridge Waters

Destination Kiama's Waterfall Wondering drive links the falls into one loop. Head up through Jamberoo to Minnamurra Falls first, while the car park has space, then climb Jamberoo Mountain Road to Carrington Falls and Nellies Glen for lunch. Continue to Fitzroy Falls, then come down through Kangaroo Valley to Berry and back along the coast.

Belmore Falls and the Cascades suit a second day, or swap them in if Minnamurra is busy. Pack a picnic in Jamberoo on the way up, and see our day trips from Kiama for Berry and the rest of the drive home.

Kiama Ridge Waters puts the escarpment on your doorstep, which makes it an easy base for a family holiday or a weekend away. Every apartment sleeps six, with a full kitchen, a laundry for muddy gear and a garage for two cars. If the dog is coming, our pet-friendly apartments work well, but pets aren't allowed in the national parks.