Fitzroy Falls

The 2019/20 Neoliberal bushfires have burned a significant percentage of south-eastern Australia. Many of the beautiful escarpment waterfalls will have been affected. Though it doesn’t compare to the extensive loss of animal and human life, losing our beautiful places still hurts.

*The eastern seaboard on fire. The only effective firebreak is the blue one on the right of the map.*

As of last night the new Morton fire (the single red diamond on the map above) was a scant two kilometres from Fitzroy Falls, the jewel in the Southern Highlands’ crown. It may well have been burned, and the lovely visitor centre lost, as I’m typing this. So I thought I’d give you a tour of the falls so you can see what’s at risk.

*The eastern extent of the Morton fire as of 0700, Sunday 5 Jan, 2020. If the front is still active the valley will draw the fire north like a chimney.*

Fitzroy Falls is the most well known of the Southern Highlands waterfalls as it is literally 50m from one of the highways from the coast to the interior of eastern Australia. You park your car, pay a small fee, and two minutes later you stand on a platform directly above the waterfall and look out over the valley (and look down if you’re brave). 90% of tourists satisfy themselves with this view, but there are better.

*The escarpment wall, the upper reaches of the falls in the foreground. Average flow. The Morton fire may well be visible in the valley in the distance. Shot with a standard 55m lens.*

*Waterfall from extreme edge of first lookout, using 10mm wide angle lens. Note distortion. Water above average flow.*

A track winds its way west and south along the top of the escarpment, and 800m further on you are given a much better view of the main fall. Of those who get to this point, most go no further, and neither should you – unless there’s been recent substantial rain. In that case, continue, as there are four more waterfalls to see.

*From second lookout. First lookout visible to top left. Photo using iPhone 6, April 2017. Above average flow.*

The first two are Twin Falls, and I’ve only seen them running once out of the twenty or so times I’ve visited the area. There’s something fascinating about a rarely flowing fall: will it or won’t it be flowing? What will it look like? I thought them beautiful.

*Twin Falls – the only time I’ve seen them with water flowing. These are on the way to the farthest lookouts at Fitzroy Falls. Can you spot both waterfalls? People top right for scale.*

*Telephoto shot of the smaller of the Twin Falls, Fitzroy Falls walkway.*

*First of the Twin Falls, Fitzroy Falls walkway. Only worth going to see after heavy rain.*

A very small waterfall is accessed from just below the track. Beyond this the track continues to the final viewpoint, which gives an excellent, if distant, view of Lady Hordern Falls, which looks better through a telephoto lens than it does in real life.

*Lady Hordern Falls doesn’t normally look this good. Taken from the Renown Lookout, the furthest south viewpoint.*

*Looking north from Renown Lookout, 2km south of Fitzroy Falls.*

A note: all of eastern Australia is affected by a prolonged drought. Though water is drawn from the headwaters of this river for Hydro and irrigation, the dam does ensure a minimum flow in all but the worst conditions. However, these waterfalls are definitely best viewed after rain.

And unburnt.

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