Nandroya Falls is a 50-metre high waterfall residing in the Wooroonooran National Park.
The hike towards the falls is also a beauty in its own. You will hike your way through the tropical rainforest coming across unique plant life and wildlife.
The waterfall is a perfect place to relax and swim as you soak in the surrounding lush, overgrown, greenery of the rainforest.
How to get to Nandroya Falls
Address: Nandroya Falls, Wooroonooran QLD 4860, Australia
Parking address: Henrietta Camp Ground, Bunda St, Wooroonooran QLD 4860, Australia
Nandroya Falls is located within the Wooroonooran National Park and can be reached via the Palmerston Highway.
If you are driving from Cairns to Nandroya Falls the journey will take you around 1 hour 30 min to drive the 117 km stretch. Other people often drive from nearby waterfalls such as Millaa Millaa Waterfall being a short 15 min drive.
They don’t make the parking easy so we will clear it up.
The official Nandroya Falls address is provided above; however, we wouldn’t recommend putting this into your GPS. Use the alternative address for the Henrietta Camp Ground. This is because there seems to be no official parking outside Nandroya Falls, just a batch of grass.
Now, some people park on this grass but to us, it seemed out of the ordinary and there were no official signs. We feared getting a parking ticket, or worse, towed.
Alternatively, you can use the free parking at the Henrietta Camp Ground, just put the above address in Google Maps and you will come across a sign pointing towards ‘Henrietta Creek’ 2 min away from the Nandroya Falls address.
The Nandroya Falls track starts at Henrietta Creek Camp Ground and makes it convenient to leave your car there.
Henrietta Creek Camping
Stating the obvious, you can camp at Henrietta Creek. There are gas BBQ areas, picnic areas, toilet facilities and also swimming holes.
To view prices and to book your spot visit a booking website for further details.
The Nandroya Falls walking track
Make your way following the signs towards the track; you will know you are going the right way because you will have to cross a metal-railed walking bridge first, from the car park.
Other signage towards Nandroya Waterfall is clear and helps you on your way.
You will get to the entrance of the rainforest to continue your hike towards the waterfall.
Pay close attention to the warning signs as there are stinging trees. Stinging trees are native to the region and contribute to the natural environment; however, they are harmful to humans.
The sting of the tiny silica hairs from the leaves, stem and fruit from the tree is painful. You have been warned so don’t come crying back to us.
The beautiful plant life and wildlife
The hike takes you through the tropical rainforest and you will be sure to come across some eye-catching nature.
The Strangler Fig Tree is one of the most eye-catching trees you will see on your journey. It gets its name because it covers the host tree and grows its trunk around it.
Other fascinating and weirdly looking trees are those with buttress roots. These kinds of trees were the first we have come across and it was quite striking to see for the first time.
They have these buttress roots that grow wide and long, stabling the tree whilst enabling it to gather more nutrients.
Beware of the infamous Cassowary as well. They have been spotted here so if you are lucky enough to see one keep your distance and admire from afar.
Continuing towards Nandroya Falls
A little into the walk and you will find that the track splits in a fork formation. The left-hand side of the fork is shorter and leads to Silver Falls, about 1.7 km.
The right-hand side of the fork takes you along Douglas Creek featuring a handful of rock pools and some scenic views of the gorge. This route is around 3.5 km.
Regardless of the route you take, they both meet at the bottom of Nandroya Falls.
If you are like us and prefer to just get to the waterfall in less time as possible, head towards the left.
A few people have noticed the streams on the hike can be invested with leeches so keep an eye out for them.
Silver Creek Falls
Continuing the shorter journey you will reach the cute little Silver Creek Falls.
It breaks up the journey nicely and allows you to cool off if you need to. Silver Falls is not as captivating as Nandroya Falls, but it is a lovely stop and preparation for the main event.
We visited during a drought so Silver Creek Falls wasn’t flowing as heavy and was a little tame; however, it was nice to see nevertheless.
Continuing to Nandroya Falls make sure you have stable footing and the ability to climb down narrow paths.
What to expect at Nandroya Falls
The leech sucking blood, sweat and tears will be all worth it when you eventually reach the bottom of Nandroya Falls.
When we first witnessed Nandroya Falls it was genuinely eye-catching. The water plunging from a 50-metre drop crashing in the below pool was amazing.
As you tread over the rocks at the bottom gradually getting closer to the beast you can feel its power. Wind and water droplets refreshingly brush over your skin cooling you down from the Australian sun and the warmth of the forest.
As we have previously visited Millaa Millaa Waterfall, Zillie Falls and Ellinjaa Falls as part of the Atherton Tablelands waterfall circuit, we found Nandroya Falls to be the most impressive.
The pool at the bottom is fine to swim in and can be enjoyed. However, a word of caution about the leeches, they seem to be in the streams but we are not sure about the actual waterfall pool. No one else seems to care though.
Other things to do near Nandroya Falls
The falls are close to other beautiful waterfalls and people often do the Atherton Tablelands waterfall circuit. We would also suggest checking out Josephine Falls which is one of the most exciting falls we have visited because it has a naturally formed water slide.
Other noteworthy places are the Mamu Tropical Skywalk and Tchupala Falls back along the Palmerston Highway.
All in all, we spent around 2-3 hours enjoying the hike and being at Nandroya Falls, taking the shorter trail. It is something we enjoyed and would 100% recommend to anyone considering it. Just allow yourself plenty of time and do not leave it too late when it gets dark.
TOP TIPS
- Take the left of the fork route for a shorter journey towards the falls, seeing Silver Creek Falls on the way
- Bring insect repellent as March flies/ Horse flies are in their numbers in the rainforest and crave your blood
- Make sure to park at the Henrietta Creek Camping car park
FAQ
How big is Nandroya Falls?
Nandroya Falls is 50 metres in length.
How far is the hike to Nandroya Falls?
The shortest hike is around 6 km return taking about 1.5 hours. The longer route is around 8 km return and would take just over 2 hours.
Where is Nandroya Falls?
Nandroya Falls is located within the Wooroonooran National Park, 117 km away from Cairns.
Where can I park at Nandroya Falls?
You can park at the nearby Henrietta Camp Ground.
