Dorrigo National Park

Nestled in the mid-north New South Wales coast hinterland is Dorrigo National Park. Accessed from the aptly named Waterfall Way, Dorrigo has a number of waterfalls and plenty of walks to keep you busy.

At the bottom of Dangar Falls

Dorrigo Rainforest centre is a great place to start your walk, particularly if you are not an experienced bushwalked. Entry is only $2 per adult and this money goes towards upkeep of the centre and walking tracks. There you will find an information counter, a cafe and lovely picnic grounds. Stepping just out the back of the Raiforest centre is a very short canopy walk with a panoramic view over the forest.

The view from the canopy lookout

Since I was still recovering from a stomach bug and didn't have a huge amount of energy, we chose to do a short loop track. The Wonga Walk cuts a path through lush rainforest, with towering 600 year old trees trees and impressive strangler figs that create a dense canopy. The sealed pathway meanders its way past moss covered rocks, stinging trees and a number of small streams. Depending on which way you take the loop, you will arrive at either Tristania Falls or Crystal Shower Falls first.

Tristania falls is a small, but pretty cascade with a little bridge in front of it. The distance between the two falls is actually short, and it won't take you long to walk between them. Crystal Shower falls is a taller waterfall that falls in a thin sheet in front of a shallow cave. You can actually walk right behind the falls for a different perspective.

Tristania Falls

After you leave either falls, you are in for an uphill walk unfortunately. Luckily, the cool atmosphere makes the walk more pleasant. All up, including photo-taking time, the walk was under 2 hours for us.

Crystal Shower Falls from behind

Crystal Shower Falls from the bridge

There are many more walks within Dorrigo National Park, including other waterfalls. A quick stop off is Dangar Falls. Just on the opposite side of the town of Dorrigo to the Rainforest Centre is a small picnic ground with a spectacular view of the largest falls in the park. As one trip advisor reivew aptly says, it's no Iguazu (ummm... Dah), but it is worth the trip. There is a short, but slippery path that leads to the bottom of the falls, where you can swim or just enjoy the thick mist off the falls.

Dangar Falls