Nethercote Falls, Pambula, NSW

Waterfall Seasons - The Waterfall Guide

Nethercote Falls is harder to access nowadays, but with its vertical rock walls in a gorge filled from the waterfall incised at the far end, it is still worth the effort to visit. The bonus is that with fewer people able to make the trek by foot to the falls, you are likely to have the place to yourself. Above: Nethercote Falls (Order this image)

At the falls you can sit at the edge of the pool at stream level, with the sound of the gushing falls channelled towards you through the gorge. This is accompanied by a gentler gurgling sound from the stream making its way over the pool exit behind you. The pool is around 40 metres long and up to 15 metres wide. For the more adventurous and sure-footed, it is possible to sit high up on the side of the gorge, by clambering up the back of the wall for a bird's eye view of this waterfall. People have injured themselves and worse along the creek bed above the falls, which is an area best avoided.

Getting to the falls was harder than I anticipated when I visited and has since been made even harder. Previously there was road access along the link road to either the upper or lower car park. Road access to the car parks has since closed, and the only way to get there is by foot. On the walking track from the lower car park there is one shallow river crossing. I managed to get across on the rocks and logs placed in the river as a makeshift bridge and not get my feet wet, but it would have been much easier just walking through the water in sandals or thongs. Getting to the falls would be difficult and dangerous after rainfall when the river is high.

If you are planning to have a picnic here, there was a solitary picnic table at the falls which may or may not still be there.

Best Time of Year to Visit:	Best Time of Day to Visit:
Reliable flow over the falls all year round. Avoid visiting after rainfall, because the walking track across the creek will be difficult and possibly dangerous to cross when the river is high.	Visit from mid-morning onwards to see the falls in full sun. The falls will be in shadow in the early morning.

NSW Forestry Corporation announced (on 17/8/2015) plans to permanently close access to Nethercote Falls. Here is a copy of the media release from NSW Forestry Corporation. My public statement in response to this issue has been published online and in print in the Merimbula News Weekly, which is the local paper circulating in the area which first reported on this issue. Reducing risks to public safety at the falls is extremely important, however in annoncing the decision, NSW Forestry Corporation does not appear to have considered other alternatives, such as safety barriers, improved signage and widening of the access road to the upper car park. For the record, I supported the closure of the very steep and narrow access road to the lower car park, but opposed the closure of the falls without evidence that other alternatives to improve safety have been duly considered and trialled. This swimming hole is nationally significant, and all effort should be made to keep it open to the public by making safety improvements at the site. A petition opposing the closure of the falls attracted over a thousand signatures, which pressured NSW Forestry Corporation to soften its stance and retain access by foot to the falls, but to stop vehicle access. The last I heard (see below under prohibitions), access was prohibited, but the NSW Forestry Commission was not prosecuting anyone who walked to the falls. Before you head out, make sure to read the waterfall safety information and check with the managing authority for any current change of conditions. The marker indicates the approximate location of the start of the walk to the falls. as can sometimes occur when loading, simply click or tap on "View Larger Map" below.
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