Minyon Falls lookout
Nightcap National Park
Overview
Minyon Falls lookout offers stunning views of the waterfall and rainforest. With easy parking, picnic spots and barbecue facilities, it's a great day trip location for people visiting Byron Bay.
- Type
- Lookouts
- Where
- Nightcap National Park
- Accessibility
- Easy
- Price
- Free
- What to
bring - Drinking water
- Please note
- Please note there is no public access within 100m of the top of Minyon Falls.
- Check the weather before you visit Minyon Falls, as the falls might not be flowing strongly if you are visiting during a dry spell. They will be at its most impressive after wet weather.
The view from Minyon Falls lookout is the best in the area; not only of the falls themselves, but on a clear day you might be lucky to see all the way out to the coast.
From the lookout, watch the cascades flow over Minyon Falls to a deep palm-shaded gorge roughly 100m below. The tops of the cliffs are forested with Australian eucalypts, like blackbutt and scribbly gum. At the base of the falls is a beautiful natural pool that was made for swimming.
Minyon Falls is a great place for a quick stop, but if you’d like to spend longer at this pretty place, there's a picnic area with plenty of shady trees, barbecues and picnic tables. There are also a couple of bushwalks that leave from the picnic area, including Boggy Creek walk, which takes you to Rummery Park campground, and Minyon Falls walking track, which takes you down to the base of the falls.
Local alerts
For the latest updates on fires, closures and other alerts in this area, see https://www.nationalparks.nsw.gov.au/things-to-do/lookouts/minyon-falls-lookout/local-alerts
Park info
- in Nightcap National Park in the North Coast region
Nightcap National Park is open sunrise to sunset but may have to close at times due to poor weather or fire danger.
Visitor info
All the practical information you need to know about Minyon Falls lookout.
Getting there and parking
Minyon Falls lookout is in the eastern precinct of Nightcap National Park. To get there:
From the eastern park entrance (via Rosebank):
- Follow Minyon Drive to Minyon Falls picnic area
- It is a short walk from the carpark to the lookout
From the southern park entrance on Nightcap Range Road (via Dunoon):
- Follow Nightcap Range Road north up to the top of the range, following the signs to Rummery Park campground.
- Continue on Minyon Drive past Peates Mountain Road, crossing the causeway to Minyon Falls picnic area.
- It is a short walk from the carpark to the lookout
Road quality
- Unsealed roads
Vehicle access
- 2WD vehicles
Weather restrictions
- All weather
Parking
Parking is available at Minyon Falls picnic area.
Best times to visit
There are lots of great things waiting for you in Nightcap National Park. Here are some of the highlights: Weather in the northern rivers region is generally mild in winter ranging to hot in summer. It can be very wet (the park receives the highest annual rainfall in NSW) and misty so check local weather conditions and pack suitable clothes as well as a hat, sunscreen and insect repellent.
Weather, temperature and rainfall
Summer temperature
Average
18°C and 29°C
Highest recorded
40°C
Winter temperature
Average
6°C and 19°C
Lowest recorded
-0.6°C
Rainfall
Wettest month
February
Driest month
September
The area’s highest recorded rainfall in one day
350mm
Facilities
Drinking water is not available in this park so it's a good idea to bring your own, and also something to take your rubbish away in.
Toilets
- Non-flush toilets
Picnic tables
Barbecue facilities
- Gas/electric barbecues (free)
Carpark
Maps and downloads
Accessibility
Disability access level - easy
This area is fully wheelchair accessible
- The lookout is accessible, as are the picnic area and toilets
Prohibited
Pets
Pets and domestic animals (other than certified assistance animals) are not permitted. Find out which regional parks allow dog walking and see the pets in parks policy for more information.
Smoking
NSW national parks are no smoking areas.
Nearby towns
Bangalow (14 km)
Bangalow is a relaxed but stylish village close to Byron Bay. It's set in lush green hills near the coast.
Byron Bay (22 km)
Byron Bay is Australia's easternmost town and 'style capital' of the North Coast. It's a place of outstanding natural beauty, set against lush volcanic hills.
Mullumbimby (12 km)
Mullumbimby sits on the Brunswick River and is overshadowed by subtropical hills.
Learn more
Minyon Falls lookout is in Nightcap National Park. Here are just some of the reasons why this park is special:
Aboriginal heritage
Nightcap National Park is the traditional land of the Bundjalung People, in particular the Widjabul People who have inhabited the area for thousands of years. The park contains many ancient sites of cultural significance, including ceremonial and sacred sites that are still used by local Aboriginal people today. The creeks, plants, animals and landscape of the park feature in the stories, teachings and practices of Aboriginal people that continue to be passed on today.
Ancient rainforest
Nightcap National Park's rainforests are part of the Gondwana Rainforests of Australia World Heritage Area, the largest area of subtropical rainforest in the world. They are a living link to the environment of ancient Australia and give us insight into the environment of the ancient supercontinent of Gondwana. This lush and diverse conservation area protects a number of vulnerable and threatened species such as the rufous scrub bird, red goshawk, sooty and masked owls and regent bowerbirds. It is also home to the recently discovered nightcap oak, which can grow up to 40m high.
Frogs galore
The rainforest creeks in Nightcap National Park are home to a number of threatened frogs, including Fleay's barred frog and the pouched frog. You might see Fleay's barred frogs hiding under leaf litter near streams or foraging for food on the rainforest floor, but you're more likely to hear their chorus, a distinctive 'arrrrrrk'. This rare frog feeds mainly on insects and invertebrates, so crickets, moths and beetles make a good meal. Keep your eyes open for this pale brown frog around Terania creek at the base of Protesters Falls.
- Goorgana walking track Goorgana walking track is ideal for experienced bushwalkers keen to tackle the challenging iconic peaks in Nightcap National Park.
- Terania Creek picnic area Terania Creek picnic area is a great place for a family picnic or barbecue. Close to the carpark, walking tracks and waterfalls, its home to birds and goannas.
History buffs
Nightcap National Park contains a number of sites of historical interest, including a flying fox on the Googarna track. The flying fox was used to lower logs 500m down to the Kunghur mill during the 1940s and 1950s. The historic Nightcap track provided the first bridle track and telegraph line between the Richmond and Tweed valleys in the 1870s, and today you can explore this track on foot, camping overnight in the bush.
Plants and animals you may see
Animals
-
Satin bowerbird (Ptilonorhynchus violaceus)
With vibrant blue-violet eyes and curious antics, the satin bowerbird is a favourite for bird watching and easy to spot as it forages for food in open forest. Relatively common across eastern Australia, in NSW they’re found in coastal rainforests and adjacent woodlands and mountain ranges.
-
Australian brush turkey (Alectura lathami)
The Australian brush turkey, also known as bush or scrub turkey, can be found in rainforests along eastern NSW. With a striking red head, blue-black plumage and booming call, these distinctive Australian birds are easy to spot while bird watching in several NSW national parks.
-
Lace monitor (Varanus varius)
One of Australia’s largest lizards, the carnivorous tree-dwelling lace monitor, or tree goanna, can grow to 2m in length and is found in forests and coastal tablelands across eastern Australia. These Australian animals are typically dark blue in colour with whitish spots or blotches.
Plants
-
Coachwood (Ceratopetalum apetalum)
Coachwood trees are Australian native plants that grow in warm temperate rainforests along coastal NSW. Also known as scented satinwood, the mottled grey bark of the coachwood has horizontal markings and a delicate fragrance.
-
Blueberry ash (Elaeocarpus reticulatus)
The blueberry ash is a rainforest shrub which produces blue olive-shaped berries and spectacular bell-shaped flowers, which often appear on the plant together. It is a tall slender shrub or small tree found in rainforest, tall eucalypt forest and coastal bushland in eastern NSW, south-east Queensland and Victoria.
