Sailors Falls, Daylesford, VIC

Waterfall Seasons - The Waterfall Guide

Sailors Falls is a semi-circular sink in the landscape, with tall exposed columns of basalt, over which Sailors Creek falls. You can view the falls from the picnic area, which is situated next to the road in an elevated position on the side rim of the sink. When the falls are flowing well, you can see from here how it splits into multiple segments. Above: Sailors Falls viewed from the base of the falls (Order this image)

The steps down to the base of the falls that were damaged in a landslip in 2016 have now been replaced, so as of August 2017 you can also walk down to the base of the waterfall again. Outside of flood periods, a little track alongside the creek leads you over the fallen rocks to get you close enough to touch the water trickling down from overhead. Above: Sailors Falls from the new staircase, when both segments of the falls were running (Order this image)

From the base of the falls you can continue walking further downstream, all the way to Daylesford if you want. There is a mineral spring about 400 metres downstream of the falls. However, you don't need to walk that far, because a bore was installed at the picnic ground in 2013, so you can get your fix of tangy, fizzy mineral water only a few steps from the car park. Bring your own water bottles and a couple of lemons. I have tasted the water here and it is delicious.

The refurbished picnic area has both sheltered and unsheltered picnic tables and a wealth of information about the history of the falls and surrounding region. It can be a little bit noisy from the cars passing along the Ballan-Daylesford Rd, but it is neat and tidy with a picturesque view looking out over the gorge.

Here is a video of the falls in the late afternoon in spring. The flow over the falls was moderate, but you could easily cross the bridge and walk up close to the base of the falls:

Best Time of Year to Visit:	Best Time of Day to Visit:
Reliable flow in winter/spring. The falls can dry up in summer/autumn.	Visit mid morning to mid afternoon to see the falls in full sun. Being a sink, the light disappears quickly at the base of the falls from mid afternoon onwards.

Before you head out, make sure to read the waterfall safety information and check with the managing authority for any current change of conditions. Specific to this site, a recent visitor (see comment below) advised that the mesh leading to the new steps can be very slippery after rain, so take care approaching the steps. The marker indicates the location of the car park at the falls. If the map is not zoomed in locally, as can occur with some browsers, simply refresh this web page.
View Larger Map Here is a comment from one visitor to the falls after the refurbishment of the steps:

"Great to see Sailors Falls after the rain last night and today. Beware that the mesh downward slope leading to the new stairs is very slippery after rain and I fell, as did another person soon after me!" M. Stafford, Highton, 16/11/2017

Thanks also to K.Clarke of Melbourne who alerted me that there was no flow over the falls at the start of May 2016 after a very dry year, confirming my comments above about the best time of year to visit.

If you would like to leave a comment about this waterfall, please fill in the comment box below. I'm particularly interested in your experiences after visiting, and any changes in conditions, etc. All fields are required if you would like to see your comments appear on this website.

Your name:

Your email:

From (city, country):

Your zipcode:

Your comment:

I consent to having these comments published on this website (Note: your email address is not published).

If you enjoyed reading this content for free, and found it entertaining or useful, a small contribution to help me maintain and improve this website would be much appreciated. Here is where you can make a contribution to Waterfall Seasons, which can be as inexpensive as a cup of coffee. If you are not ready to make a financial contribution, spreading the word about this website on social media can also help to maintain it.

← Back

Next Falls →

Victoria	Western VIC
Safety Info	Map
List of Lists	Your Support
Feedback	Media