Dights Falls, Melbourne, VIC

Waterfall Seasons - The Waterfall Guide

Dights Falls was originally a natural rock barrier in the Yarra River that was first converted into a weir in the 1840s. The purpose of the weir was to divert water to drive a flour mill on the northern bank of the river. Remants of the old mill and the water race are still evident at the site. The weir has been modified several times, including the construction of a fishway, viewing platform and shoring up of the weir in 2012. Above: A tree stump lodged in Dights Falls (Order this image)

The falls are short in height, but they are the only waterfalls on offer in inner Melbourne. The site is reasonably picturesque if you can ignore the muffled drone of cars on the nearby Eastern Freeway. There is plenty of bird life and native vegetation around. The exposed geological folds of the rock hill opposite are also worth a look for budding geologists. The site is popular with inner city kayakers wanting to train against a strong, turbulent current of water, but genuine picnickers are few and far between. Most people take a look around and then move on shortly after. My favourite time to visit is just after the rain has stopped when the river is in flood. You can watch the cormorants drying out their wings on the bike path, which is usually cut off in floods. Walk up to the junction of Merri Creek where you can see the grey soup from Merri Creek mixing with the brown mud of the Yarra River.

The falls can be viewed from any angle on the northern side of the river, including from the viewing platform beside the falls. You can also view the falls from the walking trail above the southern side of the falls. You cannot touch the waterfall because of a viewing platform blocking access to the water. Prior to the construction of the viewing platform you could walk out along the bluestone wall during summer and autumn low flow periods.

Here is a video of the falls, taken on a sunny spring morning, when the Yarra River was high, but not in flood:

Best Time of Year to Visit:	Best Time of Day to Visit:
Reliable flow all year due to upstream flow regulation at Upper Yarra Reservoir	Visit in the afternoon to see the falls in full sun

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 location of the falls. If the map is not zoomed in locally, as can occur with some browsers, simply refresh this web page.
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