Lawson Falls, Bunyip State Park, VIC

Waterfall Seasons - The Waterfall Guide

Surprisingly close to Melbourne, particularly if you live in the south-eastern suburbs, this lesser known waterfall is a cascade on a small creek in the depths of the Bunyip State Forest. Viewing the falls in their entirety is difficult due to the forest cover, as well as the slight bend in the falls near the bottom. However, you can access the water and touch the lower cascades. Above: Lawson Falls during moderate flow conditions in spring (Order this image)

There are two ways to access the falls. If you have the time and want a mildly challenging walk through the forest, you can take the 2-3 km walk to the falls from the Lawson Falls Picnic Ground. Starting this walk can be a little bit tricky, as you need to walk up the steps at the north-eastern end of the picnic ground, and then follow the left branch of the road for a few hundred metres until you cross the creek, where you will see the sign for the walking track itself. The track is wide and clear at the beginning, broadly following the creek on a mild uphill grade, but it deteriorates as you progress due to vegetation reclaiming the track, so a cap, long-sleeved shirts and pants are recommended. As you approach the falls you'll find a signposted spur track that leads down a steep gully to the base of the falls, which can be slippery in wet weather. Once there you can catch glimpses of the falls from the elevated mounds on the edge of the creek, or jump down to the creek bed and find a rock or two to perch on. In this enclosed space you can take in the sight and sounds of the cascades directly in front of you, and feel the weight of the surrounding gully ridges that seem to close in on top of you. Above: The upper cascade of Lawson Falls (Order this image)

If you want to visit the falls in the shortest time possible, you can continue driving past the picnic ground, a few kilometres further along Forest Road (i.e. veer right immediately after you pass the picnic ground). Look for a small wooden sign on the left hand side that points to both the Lawson Falls Walking Tk and the Discovery Walking Track. From here it's only a few minute walk to the falls. The downside is that there is no car park at this end of the track, and only a few small to medium sized cars can squeeze onto the roadside verge. Larger SUVs and 4WDs will protrude out onto the road. The quality of the unsealed section of Forest Road is fair, however there are lots of potholes along the way and a few muddy corners that I found easily navigable in a 4WD, and which would have probably been ok for a 2WD vehicle with reasonable height clearance in dry weather.

Even if you don't make it to the falls, the Lawson Falls Picnic Ground is a pleasant lunch or afternoon tea stop in the forest. It is a flat clearing encircled by tall gum trees with a handful of well spaced picnic tables and lawn in between, with access to the little creek that runs along one edge.

Here is a video of the falls, taken in the late afternoon in October, when the creek was flowing steadily, but not in flood:

Best Time of Year to Visit:	Best Time of Day to Visit:
The highest flows typically occur in winter and spring. There is no flow data at this site, but the nearest similar catchment in the Bunyip State Forest still maintained a trickle in previous droughts on record.	Avoid driving here in the dark so you can still see the potholes. Visit in the middle of the day to see the most light on the falls

Before you head out, make sure you read the waterfall safety information and check with the managing authority for any current change of conditions. Specific to this site, I spotted a leech on my boot when walking along Forest Road before I reached the falls, so it's a good idea to have your favourite leech remedies on hand to remove them safely. The marker indicates the approximate location of the start of the walk to the falls, near the Lawson Falls Picnic Ground. If the map is not zoomed in locally, as can occur with some browsers, simply refresh this web page.
View Larger Map Here is one visitor's experience of accessing the falls from the other direction (via Powelltown):

Comment:"Falls still flowing. Large stone steps have been placed on the last half of the descent to the falls. The falls can also be accessed via Powelltown, Learmonth Creek Rd, Bunyip Rd then Forest Rd. The 25 km is in excellent condition, with a few potholes and some fallen trees, and very dusty. Seven Acre Rock, 18 km to the north on Bunyip Road, is also well worth a look" - R. Curtain, Melbourne, Australia 20/12/2017

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