Tuross Falls walking track
Wadbilliga National Park
Overview
Turross Falls walking track is a medium difficulty 4km bushwalk at Wadbilliga National Park featuring scenic views, waterfalls, picnicking opportunities and birdwatching.
- Distance
- 4km return
- Time suggested
- 1hr 30min - 2hrs 30min
- Grade
- Grade 4
- What to
bring - Sunscreen, hat, drinking water
- Please note
- There is no mobile reception at the Cascades precinct and very limited mobile reception in this park
- 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 bird watch
- For more information please contact the Bombala office on (02) 6458 5900 between 9am and 12.30pm Monday to Friday.
If you’ve got a half-day to while away in Wadbilliga National Park, making the journey along the Tuross Falls walking track is highly recommended. This medium-difficulty, 4km return bushwalking track will reward your efforts with amazing views and wildlife.
At the viewing platform at the end of the walk, you can enjoy incredible panoramic views out over the park where the Tuross Falls tumbles dramatically down rocky outcrops into the gorge.
The area is also famous for its greater glider population. If you’re lucky, you might also spy the spotted-tail quoll in this area. Birdwatchers should be sure to bring their binoculars, as there is a huge diversity of birdlife here, with over 122 native species being sighted in the area.
Map
Map legend
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/tuross-falls-walking-track/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 Wadbilliga National Park in the South Coast and Snowy Mountains regions
Wadbilliga National Park is always open but may have to close at times due to poor weather or fire danger.
Visitor info
All the practical information you need to know about Tuross Falls walking track.
Track grading
Features of this track
Distance
4km return
Time
1hr 30min - 2hrs 30min
Quality of markings
Sign posted
Experience required
Some bushwalking experience recommended
Gradient
Short steep hills
Steps
Occasional steps
Quality of path
Rough track, many obstacles
Getting there and parking
Get driving directions
Tuross Falls walking track is in the Cascades precinct of Wadbilliga National Park. To get there from Canberra:
- Head south towards Cooma on the Monaro Highway. Exit just north of Cooma, turning left onto Polo Flat Rd and then left again after crossing the train line onto the Numeralla Rd.
- Follow this for about 40 minutes, then turn right onto Badja forest Rd, which turns into a dirt road immediately after the turn off.
- From here, follow the signs to the Cascades by turning right onto Peters Rd and then right onto Tuross Falls Rd.
- Follow Tuross Falls Rd to the end, where you will find a parking area.
Road quality
Check the weather before you set out as the road to the Cascades Precinct can become boggy when it rains.
Parking
Parking is available on Main Road, a short walk from the walking track.
Best times to visit
There are lots of great things waiting for you in Wadbilliga National Park. Here are some of the highlights.
Autumn
Walk to Tuross River Falls now that the days are getting a bit cooler. Or, follow one of the many unsealed roads through Wadbilliga on a mountain bike.
Spring
Walk to Turross River Falls for a great half-day adventure. Or, take a back-country hike to Wadbilliga Trig.
Summer
Lilo and swim in the many gorgeous pools at the cascades. Camp at the Cascades and watch for greater gliders at night.
Weather, temperature and rainfall
Summer temperature
Average
8°C and 23°C
Highest recorded
38.3°C
Winter temperature
Average
-3°C and 10°C
Lowest recorded
-10.5°C
Rainfall
Wettest month
December
Driest month
August
The area’s highest recorded rainfall in one day
256mm
Facilities
- There is limited water available in this area, so it’s a good idea to bring your own.
- Firewood is not supplied and may not be collected from the park
- You are encouraged to bring gas or fuel stoves, especially in summer during the fire season.
Maps and downloads
Permitted
Fishing
Fishing from a boat, the beach, the rocks or by the river is a popular activity for many national park visitors. If you’re planning a day out fishing, check out these fishing and rock fishing safety tips.
Prohibited
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
Tuross Falls walking track is in Wadbilliga National Park. Here are just some of the reasons why this park is special:
A botanist's wonderland
Wadbilliga has many impressive examples of open forest, woodland, heath, swamp, bogs and numerous pockets of rainforest. There are some rare species of eucalypt and acacia that do not occur anywhere else. In the Wadbilliga Valley, yellow box and forest red gum can be seen, while on the ridge tops tower large stands of silvertop ash with snow gums at high altitudes. The Wadbilliga Plateau also has dwarf she-oaks and rare stunted mallee eucalypts.
- Cascades walking track and viewing platform Cascades walking track takes you to a viewing platform with scenic views of the spectacular Tuross River, which cascades into a refreshing pool that’s ideal for a summer swim.
A glimpse of gold mining history
The surrounding area has a variety of artefacts, structures and features that hark back to gold and silver mining eras, as well as the early forestry history of the local area. Today, visitors can still view various mining remains that are evidence of once arduous searches for gold and other precious materials.
A natural animal sanctuary
Due to the rugged and isolated nature of the park, animal populations here have remained relatively undisturbed. Many of the park's animals are large marsupials such as swamp wallabies, eastern grey kangaroos and wombats. There are also possums, platypuses and echidnas and one of the biggest greater glider populations in all of Australia. The birdlife is varied too, with over 120 native species. Lyrebirds are common as are many colourful and tuneful bush birds.
- Cascades walking track and viewing platform Cascades walking track takes you to a viewing platform with scenic views of the spectacular Tuross River, which cascades into a refreshing pool that’s ideal for a summer swim.
- Tuross Falls walking track Turross Falls walking track is a medium difficulty 4km bushwalk at Wadbilliga National Park featuring scenic views, waterfalls, picnicking opportunities and birdwatching.
Aboriginal cultural heritage
The Yuin people consider Wadbilliga National Park a sacred place and many sites in the park are strongly associated with Dreamtime stories. The dissected, rugged escarpment contains a network of bridle tracks that follow both high country and river courses, which Aboriginal people originally used. The bridle tracks are also the most tangible historical link with the first Europeans in the area and were used for transporting produce and moving stock from one location to another. The park is abundant in traditional foods and medicines.