Last updated 5Aug24
Waterfalls in the ACT
The best waterfall in the ACT, for views and a dip upstream with family or mates, is Gibraltar Falls.
It’s a 30 minute drive from most parts of Canberra, all on sealed roads. Pop Gibraltar Falls in Google Maps and follow the directions :-).
IT IS CURRENTLY CLOSED FOLLOWING AN ACCIDENT THERE. A second Fall and death today, Saturday 18 February 2023.
There are some nice waterfalls in the ACT (and nearby in NSW – Coree Creek Falls) which are always worth a visit.
Here’s the gpx file of ACT Waterfalls.
Here’s a map (show in full screen for best results)::
Here’s the list:
Waterfall | Location UTM 55H (GDA94) |
Date Visited |
Click on a thumbnail below to see the full sized picture |
1 Bogong Creek Falls | Yaouk 673093-6041997 |
5 Aug 24 29 Jan 13 2 Dec 08* |
|
2 Coree Creek Falls – main 8m? |
Cotter Dam 666413-6093349 |
23 Sep 08 2 Sep 08* 19 Feb 05 |
|
3 Coree Creek Falls – lower | Cotter Dam 667311-6091714 |
20 Jan 09 18 Nov 08 23 Sep 08* |
|
4 Coree Creek Falls – upper 10m? |
Cotter Dam 666315-6093395 |
23 Sep 08 2 Sep 08* 26 Aug 08 19 Feb 05 |
|
5 Coree Creek – cascades | Cotter Dam 667323-6091890 |
20 Jan 09 18 Nov 08 23 Sep 08* |
|
6 Cotter River Falls – lower | Rendezvous Creek 666497-6046125 |
20-21 Jan 18 7-8 Jun 08* |
|
7 Cotter River Falls – upper 5m? |
Rendezvous Creek 667114-6045050 |
20-21 Jan 18 | |
8 Elsies Falls – map marked but not extant | Tidbinbilla 673057-6078987 |
5 Dec 06* | |
9 Gibraltar Creek Falls most folk would know them well |
Tidbinbilla 675504-6071264 |
21 Feb 15 21 Jul 12 3 Feb 09 12 Apr 04* |
|
10 Ginini Falls – main. The highest in the ACT. Discovered 1872 (Source: Rugged Beyond Imagination Matthew Higgins P 26) 80+m |
Tidbinbilla 663713-6070521 |
10 Dec 16 17 Apr 07* 1 Mar 06 |
|
11 Ginini Falls – upper 20m? |
Corin Dam 661442-6068340 |
16 Jan 10 25 Feb 06* |
|
12 Pierces Creek Falls 25m from topo map |
Tidbinbilla 671460-6082399 |
2 Oct 22 (video) 20 Aug 13* 11 Aug 07 |
|
13 Pierces Creek feeder falls Location of geocache GC5CHVG Pierces Plummet. FTF log implies it was flowing in Sep 14 |
Cotter Dam 672696-6083747 |
4 Apr 15* | |
14 Pierces Creek feeder 14r falls – nothing there in Jan 08 | Tidbinbilla 672065-6082770 |
15 Jan 08* | |
15 Punch Bowl Creek falls 12m? |
Corin Dam676071-6068653 and 100m downstream |
29 Aug 15*17 Jul 07 | |
16 ‘Rob Roy’ falls/Lanyon Falls 30m? |
Tuggeranong 691265-6070066 |
21 Aug 22 27 Jul 22 25 Jul 17* |
|
17 Stockyard Creek 13r Falls – main 13m from topo map |
Corin Dam 663935-6066787 |
23 Jun 18 12 Nov 17 22 Jan 08* |
|
18 Stockyard Creek Falls – lower | Corin Dam 664269-6069900 |
24 Mar 09* | |
19 Stockyard Creek Falls – upper | Corin Dam 662456-6065575 |
31 Jan 09* | |
20 Stockyard Creek 20m Falls 20m |
Corin Dam 664381-6069750 |
24 Mar 09* | |
21 Swamp Creek gorge and falls | Umburra 675325-6098501 |
22 Aug 17* |
Silvie
26 November , 2015 10:58 amHi, great list- must’ve been fun compiling! Do you know if some of the cotter waterfalls have been covered by the expanded dam? I’m looking forward to visiting some of these when in canberra
Johnny Boy
26 November , 2015 11:17 amHi Silvie – yes, great spots! I’m not aware of any falls on the Cotter River that would have been covered by the new dam filling. The upper Cotter Falls are pretty remote, upstream from Cotter Hut and Rolleys Flats
Steve
28 April , 2020 6:04 pmDude, what about Ginninderra Falls???
Johnny Boy
11 May , 2020 12:37 pmHi Steve. Agreed, but it’s been closed to the public ever since I began walking, so I’ve never visited it. Cheers. john
Shawnee Kite
14 December , 2016 1:13 pmStockyard creek falls:
How do you access the lower part of the falls? I can’t seem to find anything on the internet in regards of directions or a map.
What do you recommend?
Johnny Boy
14 December , 2016 1:39 pmHi Shawnee
Visit the trip reports via the link next to the falls, for all 4 or the one you are interested in. Each trip report has a kmz file that you can fire into Google Earth. Alternatively, send me your email address via the Contact Johnny Boy message facility and I’ll return back to you map segments with the track on them.
Michael Larkin
5 August , 2022 11:54 amHello John,
Any height estimates on these. As a canyoner may look at abseiling them
Johnny Boy
5 August , 2022 12:58 pmYuma Michael.
I’ve added some figures to the list for waterfalls that have any height. Many are comparative estimates from an old fellow’s memory, a couple come from relative heights marked on 1:25000 topographic maps. A long time since I’ve visited most of them – that won’t make much difference to the height, but might affect access. Lanyon Falls/Rob Roy falls would be a great site for abseiling, but not canyoning. We’re going there on 21 August. If you could canyon/abseil Ginini Falls, the highest in the ACT, you’d be a local hero. But you have to get there first! Hope my estimates help.
Yarra. john