The Top 10 Best Waterfalls of Australia

We had a difficult time putting together a Top 10 Best Australia Waterfalls List.

Such lists tend to subject themselves to criticism because of subjectivity. Even the same waterfall could yield different experiences for different people, which further adds to the variability in a list like this.

We found it particularly challenging to limit a list down to just ten waterfalls for this country. After all, we had a very extensive survey of waterfalls throughout the land down under.

Indeed, Oz posessed too many beautiful waterfalls. We inevitably had to make some very tough choices.

In any case, we based this list on our own personal experiences so you know it’s genuine and from the heart.

However, we expect this page to evolve as we continue to visit more falls from Australia. I could even foresee dramatic changes to this list if fortune smiles upon us and we wind up re-visiting some of the drought-affected waterfalls from some of our earlier trips.

So without further ado, here they are in reverse order…

#10 MONTEZUMA FALLS

West Coast Council / near Rosebery, Tasmania, Australia

This waterfall could very well claim the title of tallest permanent waterfall in Tasmania.

We definitely had to earn our visit with a three-hour return walk. Although the track once served as a causeway to haul mining goods, we saw that the forest has recovered nicely since they re-purposed this place for hiking.

And with its reasonably close proximity to some of Tassie’s wildest places (including Cradle Mountain), this waterfall stood out to us on a trip adversely affected by drought (on our first visit).

Adding to the atmosphere of this falls, we even got to experience it from a scary swinging suspension bridge!

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#9 TIA FALLS

Oxley Wild Rivers National Park, New South Wales, Australia

Of all the waterfalls we visited in the Oxley Wild Rivers National Park, only this waterfall had a healthy and voluminous flow. Indeed, so many others seemed to struggle flowing or ceased to flow altogether.

Whether by circumstance or good land management, the falls seemed to sit in a very good drainage where most of its catchment remained uncleared and intact. And we wound up with a quality experience as you can see in this photo.

Oh and by the way, the waterfall also exhibited power, height, and the precipitous gorge scenery to earn a place on this list.

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#8 RUSSELL FALLS

Mt Field National Park, Tasmania, Australia

This curtain-like multi-tiered waterfall might claim the title of the most popular in the state of Tasmania.

It certainly caught the eye of early visitors since it was the centerpiece of the first national park in the Island State.

With friendly walks among giant gum trees as well as a chance to see wildlife, we relished the Nature on display. We also augmented our experience with another waterfall further upstream in Horseshoe Falls.

Indeed, we spent plenty of time here, which afforded us the ability to see the falls in its best light. So we managed to get great photos to boot!

Based on all these things, we just had to give it room on our regional top 10 list.

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#7 MACKENZIE FALLS

Grampians National Park, Victoria, Australia

This resilient waterfall of over 30m withstood some of the harshest drought-ridden conditions in the country.

During our visit to the southeast of Australia in 2006, we had little reason for optimism. Given the fires that took place in Grampians National Park, we witnessed plenty of evidence of recent fires as well as kangaroo tails sprouting as a result of them.

Yet, the falls still flowed strong!

Indeed, despite all the water problems here, it made us forget what this waterfall overcame to put on a miraculous show.

So for its resilience along with its obvious beauty amidst such difficult conditions, we emphatically included this waterfall on our list of Top 10 Australia Waterfalls.

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#6 BLENCOE FALLS

Girringun (Lumholtz) National Park, Queensland, Australia

Situated in the Herbert River Gorge deep in the Outback of Queensland, this very remote waterfall featured on the reality show “Survivor.”

And true to its claim to fame, we had to earn our sighting of this falls by risking damage to our rental car on some pretty rugged high-clearance 4wd roads.

But once we got to this unique and remote waterfall, we enjoyed its 90m plunge followed by a 230m cascade. Indeed, all that trouble made us realize that the adventure yielded an unforgettable experience.

Thus, with all things considered, this Survivor Country waterfall belongs on the list.

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#5 FITZROY FALLS

Morton National Park, New South Wales, Australia

This impressive escarpment-leaping 120m waterfall in New South Wales’ Morton National Park was a popular attraction.

Not even rain stopped us from sharing the experience with dozens of other tourists!

With its scenic position framing a deep and lush valley when viewed from near its top, we understood why it earned its popularity.

Not to be outdone, we also appreciated its towering size when viewed directly from one of the more distant lookouts further downstream.

And just a few minutes walk further, we encountered another set of waterfalls called Twin Falls to round out the experience.

With all that this waterfall had going for it, it had to make our top 10 list of best Australian Waterfalls.

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#4 ELLENBOROUGH FALLS

Greater Taree Region, New South Wales, Australia

We went on a bit of an unexpected adventure to see this waterfall. But in the end, we witnessed a towering 200m falls decorating the head of the Ellenborough Gorge.

That lofty drop placed this as one of the tallest single-drop waterfalls in Australia. It also possessed the scenic vertical backdrop to boot.

The visitor-friendly walk had interpretive signs while connecting us With several overlooks allowing us to see the falls from different angles. We even felt its mist at its base.

Thus, this excursion presented one of the more enjoyable experiences in the country, and so it clearly made our regional top 10 list of Australia’s best.

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#3 MITCHELL FALLS

Kimberley Region, Western Australia, Australia

Deep in the remote red rock wilderness of the Kimberley Region of Western Australia, this multi-tiered waterfall easily made our top 10 list.

Adding to the gorgeous scene, the deep red cliffs framed and contrasted the white of the plunging Mitchell River.

Plus the fact that nature dominated out in this remote part of the Outback further assured us that beautiful places like this do indeed exist!

However, you definitely had to earn your visit. Indeed, you either had to go on a rough two-day 4wd adventure. Or you had to willingly burn a hole in your pockets to do a flight/hike day trip for this waterfall.

Fortunately, we did have that second option, and the adventure richly rewarded us with an unforgettable experience among unforgettable scenery.

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#2 WALLAMAN FALLS

Girringun (Lumholtz) National Park, Queensland, Australia

Located deep in the UNESCO World Heritage Wet Tropics Area, this was said to be Australia’s tallest single-drop permanent waterfall at 268m.

Viewable from numerous positions across the gorge at the top and from its misty base (after a walk through some of the world’s oldest rainforest), it was fairly easy for us to enjoy the falls as well as catch a rainbow or two.

Add to this the lush and precipitous gorge scenery of the surrounding area and we had ourselves quite an experience at one of the country’s must-see attractions.

We weren’t lucky enough to spot endangered cassowaries, water dragons, and platypus among others here, but the falls alone was worth making the detour to get here!

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#1 JIM JIM FALLS

Kakadu National Park, Northern Territory, Australia

Plunging off an escarpment in the hot and humid UNESCO wilderness of Kakadu National Park, this waterfall just edged out Wallaman Falls for the top spot.

With its 200m height amongst colorful cliffs, the falls was indeed an awe-inspiring sight.

Even though we needed to time our visit for either the Wet Season or the beginning of the Australian winter (dry season at the Top End), it was also the perfect waterfalling excuse for us to witness all the Aboriginal history, the scenery, the wildlife, and of course the character of this falls.

Indeed, we couldn’t help but consider this one our favourite Australia Waterfall of all.

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Below are a few more Top 10 lists of the waterfalls we’ve visited.