Falls Lookout walk
Boonoo Boonoo National Park
Overview
For views of magnificent Boonoo Boonoo Falls, why not wander along Falls Lookout walk, only 35km from Tenterfield.
- Where
- Boonoo Boonoo National Park in Country NSW
- Accessibility
- No wheelchair access
- Distance
- 0.6km return
- Time suggested
- 6 - 15min
- Grade
- Grade 4
- Entry fees
- Park entry fees apply
- What to
bring - Drinking water, hat, sunscreen
- Please note
- The weather in this area can be extreme and unpredictable, so please ensure you’re well-prepared for your visit.
- Remember to take your binoculars if you want to birdwatch
Stroll along Falls Lookout walk from Boonoo Boonoo Falls picnic area to a fantastic lookout over the falls, only 35km from Tenterfield. Take the time to notice trees and plants in the bushland. Can you recognise the flowers of the boronia, banksia and grevillea that add their colours to this landscape? Keep an eye out too for wallabies, kangaroos and birds such as the glossy black-cockatoo.
The walk ends at the viewing platform overlooking fabulous Boonoo Boonoo Falls. Here, according to legend, is where Banjo Patterson proposed to his sweetheart, Alice Walker. Over the sound of the pounding waterfall, Banjo was relieved to hear, or at least lip-read, an unmistakable ‘yes’.
Keep a lookout for endangered brush-tailed rock-wallabies. They live in the refuge around the falls. Although most active at night, they can sometimes be seen during the day foraging for food or sheltering in rock crevices and under overhangs.
Combine this walk with Rockpools View walk where you can see rockpools reflecting the sky and surrounding bushland. For a longer leg stretch, why not hike along River walk and spend the night at Cypress Pine campground?
Nearby
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Boonoo Boonoo Falls lookout
Boonoo Boonnoo Falls lookout is in Boonoo Boonnoo National Park. You can reach this dramatic waterfall by making a short stroll down Boonoo Boonoo Falls walking track.
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Boonoo Boonoo Falls picnic area
Boonoo Boonoo Falls picnic area is not only a great place to eat and rest, it teems with wildlife and wildflowers and is close to walking tracks, lookouts and Boonoo Boonoo Falls.
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Rockpool Ramble walk
Rockpool Ramble walk is in Boonoo Boonoo National Park, near Tenterfield. It’s a great way to see Boonoo Boonoo River and its lovely rockpools.
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River walk
River walk offers excellent scenery, wildlife watching, swimming and picnicking. It connects Morgans Gully picnic area, Cypress Pine campground and Platypus Hole picnic area with Boonoo Boonoo Falls picnic area.
Map
Map legend
Map
Local alerts
For the latest updates on fires, closures and other alerts in this area, see https://www.nationalparks.nsw.gov.au/things-to-do/walking-tracks/falls-lookout-walk/local-alerts
General enquiries
- National Parks Contact Centre
- 7am to 7pm daily
- 1300 072 757 (13000 PARKS) for the cost of a local call within Australia excluding mobiles
- parks.info@environment.nsw.gov.au
Park info
- in Boonoo Boonoo National Park in the Country NSW region
Boonoo Boonoo National Park is always open but may have to close at times due to poor weather or fire danger.
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Park entry fees:
$8 per vehicle per day. The park uses a self-registration fee collection system. Please bring the correct change.
Buy annual pass.
Visitor info
All the practical information you need to know about Falls Lookout walk.
Track grading
Features of this track
Distance
0.6km return
Time
6 - 15min
Quality of markings
Clearly sign posted
Experience required
No experience required
Gradient
Very steep
Steps
Many steps
Quality of path
Formed track, some obstacles
Getting there and parking
From Tenterfield:
- Turn right onto Naas Street at the northern end of Rouse Street, then turn left onto Logan Street.
- Drive for 21km down sealed Mount Lindesay Road, passing Basket Swamp National Park.
- Turn rignt onto sealed Boonoo Boonoo Falls Road, and drive for 5 km to the park entrance.
- Continue along unsealed Boonoo Boonoo Falls Road for 9 km to Boonoo Boonoo Falls picnic area where you can park.
From Stanthorpe:
- From High Street, turn right on Amosfield Road, then take a slight right towards Tenterfield along sealed Mount Lindesay Road.
- Crossing Mursons and Jenner Creeks, continue past Bald Rock National Park.
- Turn left onto sealed Boonoo Boonoo Falls Road, and drive for 5 km to the park entrance.
- Continue along unsealed Boonoo Boonoo Falls Road for 9 km to Boonoo Boonoo Falls picnic area where you can park.
Road quality
Check the weather before you set out as the road to Boonoo Boonoo Falls can become flooded during heavy rain.
- Mixture of sealed and unsealed roads
Vehicle access
- 2WD vehicles
Weather restrictions
- All weather
Parking
Parking is available at Boonoo Boonoo Falls picnic area, including 1 accessible parking spot. Bus parking is available south of Boonoo Boonoo Falls picnic area.
Best times to visit
There are lots of great things waiting for you in Boonoo Boonoo National Park. Here are some of the highlights.
Spring
This is the season for wildflowers. The mild weather at this time of year is also particularly good for camping.
Summer
The water in the large secluded rock pools along the river will give sweet relief from the summer heat.
Winter
Temperatures can plunge overnight and mornings are often frosty at this time of year, so be well-prepared if you're camping. However, winter days are often sunny, cloudless and warm enough to enjoy a picnic or a long hike.
Weather, temperature and rainfall
Summer temperature
Average
14°C and 27°C
Highest recorded
38.3°C
Winter temperature
Average
2°C and 14°C
Lowest recorded
-10°C
Rainfall
Wettest month
January
Driest month
August
The area’s highest recorded rainfall in one day
228.6mm
Facilities
- There is no drinking water available so please bring your own.
- There are no rubbish bins so please take all your rubbish away with you.
Maps and downloads
Accessibility
Disability access level - no wheelchair access
Permitted
Fishing
A current NSW recreational fishing licence is required when fishing in all waters.
Prohibited
Gathering firewood
Pets
Pets and domestic animals (other than certified assistance animals) are not permitted. Find out which regional parks allow dog walking and see the pets in parks policy for more information.
Smoking
NSW national parks are no smoking areas.
Learn more
Falls Lookout walk is in Boonoo Boonoo National Park. Here are just some of the reasons why this park is special:
Fabulous falls
The park's jewel is Boonoo Boonoo Falls. If you'd like to see what this feature is really made of, visit during the wetter months of summer. Even if the falls aren't pumping, though, they're still beautiful and there will always be rockpools along Boonoo Boonoo River to swim in, walking tracks to follow and riverside picnics to indulge in.
Gold fever
Morgans Gully and Ropers Gully are two sites in the park where alluvial gold was discovered in the late nineteenth century. As a result, there was a huge influx of European and Asian prospectors to the area. As well as giving the nearby town of Tenterfield a massive economic boost, the village of Boonoo Boonoo temporarily flourished, though it is now in ruins.
Though nature has reclaimed these gullies too, imagine what the areas might have looked, sounded and smelt like when they were teeming with men from here and all over the world, half-crazy with gold fever.
Have you seen the wildlife?
Boonoo Boonoo takes its name from the Jukambal language and means ‘big rock’. Known for its stunning waterfalls, secluded waterholes and many walking trails, this national park is home to many plants and animals including kangaroos, endangered brush-tailed rock-wallabies and vulnerable spotted-tailed quolls which you may see throughout the park in the early morning and late afternoon. You may also be lucky enough to spot platypuses frolicking in Boonoo Boonoo River.
- Boonoo Boonoo Falls picnic area Boonoo Boonoo Falls picnic area is not only a great place to eat and rest, it teems with wildlife and wildflowers and is close to walking tracks, lookouts and Boonoo Boonoo Falls.
- Falls Lookout walk For views of magnificent Boonoo Boonoo Falls, why not wander along Falls Lookout walk, only 35km from Tenterfield.
- Morgans Gully picnic area Visit Morgans Gully for a relaxing picnic, and investigate gold mining historic heritage surrounded by wildflowers and embellished with a waterfall and geological formations.
- River walk River walk offers excellent scenery, wildlife watching, swimming and picnicking. It connects Morgans Gully picnic area, Cypress Pine campground and Platypus Hole picnic area with Boonoo Boonoo Falls picnic area.
- Rockpool Ramble walk Rockpool Ramble walk is in Boonoo Boonoo National Park, near Tenterfield. It’s a great way to see Boonoo Boonoo River and its lovely rockpools.