Carrington Falls, Budderoo National Park, Robertson, NSW

The Kangaroo River falls 50m (150') into the Upper Kangaroo Valley over a sandstone escarpment.

In Australia, even waterfalls burn in the summer heat. A couple of years ago Carrington Falls on the Kangaroo River burnt. As of the time of writing, it is still dangerous to venture into the area (the waterfall still works, but fire makes the tall trees and the rock cliffs unstable).  

Near the highland town of Robertson, the Kangaroo River has cut a series of high waterfalls and a couple of waterholes (Nellies Glen) into the escarpment. Many of the lower waterfalls are inaccessible. Some canyon waterfalls can create their own wind. In combination with ordinary weather and bushfires, this can create dangerous conditions for hikers.

The impressive Carrington Falls is accessible, but (as of October 2018) viewing platforms are closed due to fire damage (present status can be checked here). Above this fall and a little to the left is a large swimming hole with its own fall (Nellies Glen) which remains open. There is no apparent access to the base of the waterfalls although there are accounts of people descending into the canyon near Missingham’s Steps, but this seems a fraught path. Budderoo National Park, access by traveling along the Jamberoo Mountain Road from Robertson or Jamberoo. Turn onto the unsealed Cloonty Road at the Carrington Falls sign and follow for about 2km. Watch the road signage carefully, as online maps may take you to the wrong location. There are two separate car parks, one for the waterfalls (closed in 2016 due to bushfire damage), and the other for walks (open in 2016).

The waterfall was named after the Governor of NSW, Lord Carrington (1885-1890) (in later years, he was known as Charles Robert Wynn-Carington, 1st Marquess of Lincolnshire). A liberal (even perhaps a radical) he was a champion of colonial independence: his encouragement and support of a federation of Australian states was an important driver to the creation of a unified Australia.

Location

Budderoo National Park, access by travelling along the Jamberoo Mountain Road from Robertson or Jamberoo. Turn onto the unsealed Cloonty Road at the Carrington Falls sign and follow for about 2km. Warning: watch the road signage carefully, as some online maps may take you to the wrong location.

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