WALLAMAN FALLS

Welcome to Wallaman

Welcome to Wallaman Falls, Australia’s highest single drop waterfall. This remarkable natural phenomenon is located in the midst of the Girringun National Park and is surrounded by spectacular World Heritage-listed rainforest. 

Be mesmerised and rejuvenated by the crashing roar of the water as it tumbles over ancient rocks which hold secrets and stories long cemented over thousands of years. If you choose to visit Wallaman Falls in the morning, you may be treated to a perfect rainbow as the sunlight reflects off the glistening, cascading water. 

Wallaman Falls can be accessed at any time of year, as it flows year-round. However, it is at its peak during the wet season, which is from November to April. Wallaman Falls is a popular tourist destination. Visitors who prefer to experience the falls with less crowds are recommended to visit during the week, if possible, as tourists can flock to the area during the weekends. 

There are a variety of tracks you can choose to walk or hike during your visit to Wallaman Falls. The tracks range from short and easy to steep and adventurous. These range from 800 metre walks to hikes that can take several days. 

Although swimming is not encouraged at the base of Wallaman Falls, there is an idyllic swimming hole to be discovered if you take an 800-metre return walk along the Bangguru walking track. This short track begins at the camping area, and leads to a cool, deep, crystal-clear series of large natural rockpools that the whole family can enjoy, as well as sandbars, perfect for soaking up the sun, breathing in the crisp air and listening to the sounds of nature. The Bangguru walk follows Stony Creek which feeds Wallaman Falls, and you may also spot platypus, eastern water dragons and saw-shelled turtles in the water along your way.

The Road Less Travelled

The journey by car from Ingham to Wallaman Falls is spectacular and unique in its own right. Once you have reached Ingham, the road to Wallaman Falls is a fully sealed bitumen road the entire way and is also well signed. This journey is your perfect vantage point for the rural landscapes you will drive through in this very special part of the country. Ingham is primarily a sugarcane town, and as you head west, you will drive through sugarcane fields and farmland. You are likely to spy some local cattle along the way. Drivers should be aware that the cattle do tend to wander out onto the road. If you’re lucky, you may also spot a friendly cassowary or two meandering along the side of the road. 

The landscape will soon transform from farmland to undulating mountains, as you will be traversing the Seaview Range, which is a picturesque, mountainous range rising 792 metres above sea level. Once you reach the top of the range, there are two roads you can take. If you turn right onto Lookout Road, you will reach the Wallaman Falls lookout. If you keep going straight ahead, you will reach the camping area, where by day, you will hear the sounds of birdlife such as crimson rosellas, golden whistlers and Lewin’s honeyeaters. At night, the forest comes alive with the sounds of frogs, brushtail possums, sugar gliders, red-legged pademelons and bandicoots scurrying through the vegetation

If you’ve chosen to turn right towards the lookout, you will see a large car park area offering abundant free parking. From here, it’s just a 30-metre walk to the main Wallaman Falls Lookout. 

Not Just Any Lookout

The main lookout point provides stunning, panoramic and uninterrupted views of Stony Creek as it plummets downwards, often through a rainbow-fringed halo of mist. Visitors who are standing at the lookout point can expect to be captivated by the magnificent flow of tumbling water as it cascades down a clear, single drop of 268 metres. The shear vertical rock face is quite a sight to behold, as it is surrounded by stunning tropical greenery. You will smell the air – fresh and earthy – and just inhaling deep breaths of it will make you feel alive and rejuvenated.

You will hear the constant, powerful roar of the falls as it plunges down the rockface into the crystal pools below. For guests who want to make a day of it, the lookout area also provides shaded picnic spots with tables and public toilet facilities. 

Spectacular Wallaman Falls is nestled within the Wet Tropics World Heritage Area, home to some endangered plant and animal species and some of the oldest rainforest on earth. It’s located on the lands of the Warrgamaygan People, the traditional custodians of these lands. It also serves as the gateway to the Wet Tropics Great Walk – a challenging yet rewarding 70-kilometre multi-day trekking adventure for experienced hikers.

From this main lookout area, guests can also take a short stroll to a second lookout point overlooking the lush gorge and Herbert River Valley. 

Djyinda Walk

The Djyinda Walk is a moderate 3.2-kilometre return trek, requiring a moderate level of fitness. It is estimated to take approximately two hours to complete. The walk begins from the Wallaman Falls’ main lookout car park and ends at the base of the falls. The track begins as a bitumen path which slopes gently down to the gorge, before becoming rougher and steeper. Hikers are advised to descend with care and be aware of their footing at all times. 

The track delves through open forest along the escarpment and provides incredible vistas of the Herbert Valley. It then descends deeper into the gorge, where the light becomes dappled and the scenery changes from open forest to denser, vine-thicket rainforest as the air becomes thicker and cooler, and the sunlight struggles to reach the forest floor. Moss droops from vines and covers rocks, creating a somewhat eerie green glow. The Brilliant blue of the Ulysses butterfly flit through the air, and Australian brush turkeys may be heard scratching through leaf litter. 

On your walk you may also happen across the incredibly unique and brightly coloured fungi that thrive in these misty, tropical conditions. While most of these have the appearance and shape of garden mushrooms, the colours are quite psychedelic and vibrant, including bright shades of yellow, coral pink and softer tones like cream. 

Continue along the track to the base of the falls. Before you, a breathtaking scene of natural splendour unfurls. The narrow and towering cascade of Wallaman Falls plummets in a single vertical drop down a steep and rugged cliff clad in textured rocks. Some greenery clings perilously to the cliff-face, as if defying the forces of nature. The mist from the falls creates a rainbow of colour over the pool below when struck by sunlight, giving an almost magical aura to the serene scene. The falls are framed by the lush green forest vegetation of the World Heritage-listed Wet Tropics Area, further adding to the breathtaking beauty of the vista. 

Accessibility

Wallaman Falls is a 52-km scenic drive West of the Queensland town of Ingham. Ingham is located roughly 110 km North of Townsville and 235 kilometres south of Cairns. For guests who are not self-driving, there are public transport options available to get you to Ingham. Queensland Rail operates a train from Brisbane to Ingham five times a week. Premier Motor Services and Greyhound Australia also operate daily bus services from Brisbane to Ingham. Bus and train services from Townsville to Ingham are also available. 

Once you have arrived in Ingham, the road to Wallaman Falls is a fully sealed bitumen road the entire way. The road is suitable for conventional vehicles, but as the road is quite mountainous and windy, the towing of caravans is not recommended. Please also note that this access road may be closed during the wet season and during times of heavy rainfall. Please visit the Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service website at parks.desi.qld.gov.au for the latest park alerts. 

Guests who cannot self-drive should be aware there is no public transportation to get from Ingham to Wallaman Falls. Unfortunately, at the time of publishing this audio guide, there were no tour companies visiting the falls as part of their tour itinerary. 

WallamanFalls is open 24 hours per day. There are no restrictions on when you can visit the national park. However, some walks may be closed during months with heavy rainfall – November to May.