11 waterfalls to visit in and around Wollongong

MINNAMURRA FALLS: Enjoy spectacular rainforest, waterfall and canyon views from several viewing platforms along The Falls walk, which starts halfway through the Rainforest loop at Minnamurra Rainforest Centre. Click the photo for details. Instagram photo: mattydalcol

MINNAMURRA FALLS: Enjoy spectacular rainforest, waterfall and canyon views from several viewing platforms along The Falls walk, which starts halfway through the Rainforest loop at Minnamurra Rainforest Centre. Click the photo for details. Instagram photo: megankish

CURRACURRONG FALLS: The challenging 10km Curra Moors loop track takes you past the Curracurrong waterfall, which empties into the ocean, and is a short detour from the magnificent Eagle Rock. NSW National Parks and Wildlife Services recommends checking the weather before you set out as Curra Moors walking track can become boggy when it rains. Visitors are reminded to experience the beauty of this natural wonder without risking their safety. Click the photo for details. Instagram photo: bevangemmellphoto

KELLY'S FALLS: Located near Helensburgh within the Garawarra State Conservation area, Kellys Falls cascades over rocks and drops into a pool. From the picnic area, you can walk up to one of four scenic lookouts to take in the views of waterfalls and the rainforest-lined gullies below. Click the photo for details. Instagram photo: liezel_ktr

KELLY'S FALLS: Located near Helensburgh within the Garawarra State Conservation area, Kellys Falls cascades over rocks and drops into a pool. From the picnic area, you can walk up to one of four scenic lookouts to take in the views of waterfalls and the rainforest-lined gullies below. Click the photo for details. Instagram photo: aidanjhaynes

MADDENS FALLS: It's an easy walk to the lookout for a view of the waterfall dropping from Maddens Creek to the pools below. The short walking track is a great one for walking with children. Click the photo for details. Instagram photo: emilykeough

MADDENS FALLS: It's an easy walk to the lookout for a view of the waterfall dropping from Maddens Creek to the pools below. The short walking track is a great one for walking with children. Click the photo for details. Instagram photo: c.tra

MADDENS FALLS: It's an easy walk to the lookout for a view of the waterfall dropping from Maddens Creek to the pools below. The short walking track is a great one for walking with children. Click the photo for details. Instagram photo: tfrippstar

NELLIES GLEN: A beautiful, shady swimming hole that a lot of people miss as it's not really signposted. Take the road to Carrington Falls, but where the main road goes left and over the bridge, go straight ahead. Cross a small ford, then turn right at the toilet blocks. The water hole is deep enough in the middle so you can't touch the bottom but there are some rocky parts, so you can't dive in. Click the photo for details. Instagram photo: hef70.images

NELLIES GLEN: A beautiful, shady swimming hole that a lot of people miss as it's not really signposted. Take the road to Carrington Falls, but where the main road goes left and over the bridge, go straight ahead. Cross a small ford, then turn right at the toilet blocks. The water hole is deep enough in the middle so you can't touch the bottom but there are some rocky parts, so you can't dive in. Click the photo for details. Instagram photo: jerry4010

BELMORE FALLS: A 100-metre waterfall plunges into two rocky pools, creating two waterfalls that flow into Barrengarry Creek. The area has bushwalks, picnic areas and lookouts over the rainforest valley below. Click the photo for details. Instagram photo: @danzphotography via @startlivingtravel

BELMORE FALLS: a 100-metre waterfall plunges into two rocky pools, creating two waterfalls which flow into Barrengarry Creek. The area has bush walks, picnic areas and lookouts over the rainforest valley below. Instagram photo: amietara

BELMORE FALLS: A 100-metre waterfall plunges into two rocky pools, creating two waterfalls that flow into Barrengarry Creek. The area has bushwalks, picnic areas and lookouts over the rainforest valley below. Instagram photo: craigschulstad

FITZROY FALLS: The popular Southern Highlands waterfalls, located at the north-eastern end of the 162,000 hectare Morton National Park, are accessed from the Fitzroy Falls Information Centre, which provides picnic facilities near Yarrunga Creek. Click the photo for details. Instagram photo: apertureadv_co

FITZROY FALLS: The popular Southern Highlands waterfalls, located at the north-eastern end of the 162,000 hectare Morton National Park, are accessed from the Fitzroy Falls Information Centre, which provides picnic facilities near Yarrunga Creek. Click the photo for details. Instgram photo: maximus_n_co

FITZROY FALLS: The popular Southern Highlands waterfalls, located at the north-eastern end of the 162,000 hectare Morton National Park, are accessed from Fitzroy Falls Information Centre, which provides picnic facilities near Yarrunga Creek. Click the photo for details. Instgram photo: krups29

CARRINGTON FALLS: With its cascades, waterholes and rockpools, some regard Carrington Falls, where the Kangaroo River plunges over 50m to the gully below, as the most beautiful on the South Coast, according to NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service. Click the photo for details. Instagram photo: travel_life_family

CARRINGTON FALLS: With its cascades, waterholes and rockpools, some regard Carrington Falls, where the Kangaroo River plunges over 50m to the gully below, as the most beautiful on the South Coast, according to NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service. Click the photo for details. Instagram photo: _leigh_scully_

CARRINGTON FALLS: With its cascades, waterholes and rockpools, some regard Carrington Falls, where the Kangaroo River plunges over 50m to the gully below, as the most beautiful on the South Coast, according to NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service. Click the photo for details. Instagram photo: aaronxkelly

BYARONG CREEK: These cascades on Mount Keira lead you up to various pools and waterfalls, very similar to the cascade trail in Macquarie Pass National Park. There is even rope to assist the climb up the side of the larger waterfall, where you'll be greeted by more pools and cascades. Click the photo for details. Photo: bushwalkthegong

BYARONG CREEK: These cascades on Mount Keira lead you up to various pools and waterfalls, very similar to the cascade trail in Macquarie Pass National Park. There is even rope to assist the climb up the side of the larger waterfall, where you'll be greeted by more pools and cascades. Click the photo for details. Photo: bushwalkthegong

MACQUARIE PASS CASCADES: The easy and rewarding Cascades walk will take you through rainforest and tall eucalypt forest along a creek to the beautiful cascades. Click the photo for details. Instagram photo: hikeandseek

MACQUARIE PASS CASCADES: The easy and rewarding Cascades walk will take you through rainforest and tall eucalypt forest along a creek to the beautiful cascades. Click the photo for details. Instagram photo: nath.nguy

CLOVER HILL: For a varied and interesting walk, take the Clover Hill trail. This old logging route leads to Rainbow Falls and three smaller falls upstream on the Macquarie Rivulet. After walking in the dense shade of the forest, suddenly the landscape opens up at Clover Hill – these are the paddocks cleared by farmers over a century ago. High above, the massive cliffs of the escarpment glow yellow and orange in the sunlight. Photo: jerry4010