Carrington Falls picnic area

Budderoo National Park

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Overview

Be wowed by Carrington Falls from one of three lookouts with great views. You’ll find picnic and barbecue facilities close by along with some short walking tracks.

Type
Picnic areas
Accessibility
Medium
Entry fees

Park entry fees apply in the Minnamurra Rainforest area only

What to
bring
Drinking water, hat, sunscreen
Please note
  • In summer, humidity in the rainforest can reach as high as 90 per cent.
  • Remember to take your binoculars if you want to go birdwatching

With its cascades, waterholes and rockpools, some regard Carrington Falls, where the Kangaroo River plunges over 50m to the gully below, as the most beautiful on the South Coast. Head to Carrington Falls picnic area, also known as Thomas Place, in the park’s north west to see for yourself and there’s a good chance you’ll agree.

Feeling energetic? From the picnic area you’ll find a variety of walking tracks that take you to a series of lookouts fronting the magnificent falls. Be sure to take the short walk along Izzards lookout track to enjoy another spectacular view. For longer walks head to the nearby Nellies Glen picnic area where you can choose from Warris Chair lookout track or Missingham lookout track for views over Carrington Falls Gorge.

After a more relaxed experience? Enjoy a picnic lunch as you listen to the distant crash of the falls or take a snooze in the shade.

For directions, safety and practical information, see visitor info

Map


Map legend

Map legend

Current alerts in this area

There are no current alerts in this area.

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/picnic-areas/carrington-falls-picnic-area/local-alerts

General enquiries

Park info

See more visitor info

Visitor info

All the practical information you need to know about the Carrington Falls picnic area.

Getting there and parking

Carrington Falls picnic area is in the Carrington Falls precinct of Budderoo National Park. To get there:

  • Take Jamberoo Mountain Road from Robertson or Jamberoo
  • Turn onto Cloonty Road at the Carrington Falls sign and follow for about 2km
  • Turn right into Carrington Falls picnic area

Road quality

  • Unsealed roads

Vehicle access

  • 2WD vehicles

Weather restrictions

  • All weather

Parking

Parking is available at Carrington Falls picnic area.

Best times to visit

There are lots of great things waiting for you in Budderoo National Park. Here are some of the highlights.

Autumn

Visit between April and August and you may be treated to the spectacular sight of a male lyrebird displaying for a female during the breeding season The park's waterfalls are at their best during the higher rainfall months of late summer and early autumn Don't be deterred by a bit of wet weather either – the rainforest comes alive in the rain, with the earthy smell of the leaf litter, the calls of the lyrebirds, the rain dripping off leaves and the sound of the river all making for a truly magical environment .

Spring

Enjoy a walk or cycle through the open forest, woodland and heath along the Budderoo track for a good chance to see wildflowers in late winter and spring.

Summer

During the summer months, the canopy of the rainforest acts as a natural sunscreen, filtering out approximately 75 per cent of direct sunlight. The cooler yet humid air makes it an ideal environment to escape the harsh summer sun.

Weather, temperature and rainfall

Summer temperature

Average

17°C and 26°C

Highest recorded

42.4°C

Winter temperature

Average

8°C and 17°C

Lowest recorded

2.3°C

Rainfall

Wettest month

March

Driest month

September

The area’s highest recorded rainfall in one day

304.4mm

Facilities

Toilets

  • Non-flush toilets

Picnic tables

Carpark

Maps and downloads

Safety messages

Mobile safety

Dial Triple Zero (000) in an emergency. Download the Emergency Plus app before you visit, it helps emergency services locate you using your smartphone's GPS. Please note there is limited mobile phone reception in this park and you’ll need mobile reception to call Triple Zero (000).

River and lake safety

The aquatic environment around rivers, lakes and lagoons can be unpredictable. If you're visiting these areas, take note of these river and lake safety tips.

Waterfall safety

Waterfalls are beautiful destinations but please be safe when visiting these natural wonders. Read these waterfall safety tips before exploring waterfalls on your next walk.

Accessibility

Disability access level - medium

Assistance may be required to access this area.

  • There is assisted wheelchair access to the picnic area, but not to any of the nearby lookouts.

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.

Visitor centre

Learn more

Carrington Falls picnic area is in Budderoo National Park. Here are just some of the reasons why this park is special:

A splash of relaxation

Rainforest loop walk, Budderoo National Park. Photo: Andrew Richards

Nurtured and conserved for over a century, the Minnamurra Rainforest is exceptionally precious. At this much-loved tourism destination, you can wander raised boardwalks and explore the rainforest that once blanketed much of the region. For the ultimate experience, combine the Lyrebird loop walk and Minnamurra Falls walk and discover exquisite plants and animals in breathtaking surroundings. If you’ve ever fallen asleep to the sounds of a relaxation CD, you’ll know the peaceful power of waterfalls. And with its own wonderful falls, Budderoo might just be one of the most relaxing places around. Walk to Minnamurra Falls, an amazing double-tiered waterfall, or Carrington Falls, with its fabulous 50m drop. Sit back, listen to the hypnotic sound of flowing water and let your cares drift away.

  • Carrington Falls picnic area Be wowed by Carrington Falls from one of three lookouts with great views. You’ll find picnic and barbecue facilities close by along with some short walking tracks.
  • Carrington Falls walking track Discover fantastic waterfall views on the short Carrington Falls walking track, in Budderoo National Park, near Robertson. It’s a great day trip for families and nature lovers in the Southern Highlands.
  • Friends of Minnamurra Rainforest You don’t have to be a weeding specialist to get involved in volunteer work at Minnamurra Rainforest. Join local experts and like-minded volunteers for bush regeneration in Budderoo National Park.
  • Jamberoo lookout Enjoy spectacular scenic views of Kiama and Lake Illawarra from Budderoo National Park’s Jamberoo lookout. On clear days, this lookout is fantastic for photography.
  • Minnamurra Rainforest Centre Visit Minnamurra Rainforest Centre in Budderoo National Park and chat to the friendly staff before exploring the rainforest along raised boardwalks.
  • Minnamurra Rainforest self-guided audio tours Immerse yourself in the sounds, plants, birdlife and history of Minnamurra Rainforest with this series of self-guided audio tours. Download and enjoy as you stroll along Lyrebird loop walk.
  • Protecting a rainforest environment: Minnamurra Join us as we explore the earth’s environment on this Stage 2 (Years 3-4) geography excursion at Minnamurra Rainforest in Budderoo National Park. Students will investigate the rainforest's climate, natural vegetation and native animals.
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Park life

Eastern water dragon (Physignathus lesueurii), Budderoo National Park. Photo: Rosie Nicolai

You're almost guaranteed to see wildlife in the park, particularly if you visit Minnamurra Rainforest Centre. Look for bowerbirds and king parrots, and visit between June and August for the spectacular image of a male lyrebird displaying his tail. You've a good chance of spotting a swamp wallaby at dawn or dusk, and keep an eye out for an eastern water dragon or perhaps even a diamond python soaking up the sunshine.

  • Birds of Minnamurra self-guided audio tour Take an self-guided audio tour along Lyrebird loop walk with fauna ecologist David Bain and discover some of the fascinating birds that live in Minnamurra Rainforest. See if you can spot the ones that David points out as you explore the incredible subtropical rainforest of Budderoo National Park.
  • Lyrebird loop walk Ideal for walking with children, the beautiful Lyrebird loop walk takes an hour to complete. It’s located within Minnamurra Rainforest Centre in Budderoo National Park.
  • Minnamurra Falls walk Starting at the Minnamurra Rainforest Centre, enjoy spectacular rainforest, waterfall and canyon views from several viewing platforms along Minnamurra Falls walk.
  • Minnamurra Rainforest by torchlight Go on a family-friendly after-hours guided tour in Budderoo National Park these school holidays. See Minnamurra Rainforest by night on this unforgettable adventure, inland from Kiama on the South Coast.
  • Minnamurra Rainforest ranger-guided tour These school holidays, experience the rainforest like never before. Join this ranger-guided walk through Minnamurra Rainforest in Budderoo National Park, west of Kiama on the NSW South Coast.
  • Plants of Minnamurra self-guided audio tour Take a self-guided audio tour along Lyrebird loop walk with botanist Jedda Lemmon and discover some of the plants that thrive in Minnamurra Rainforest. See if you can spot the ones that Jedda points out as you explore the incredible subtropical rainforest of Budderoo National Park.
  • Protecting a rainforest environment: Minnamurra Join us as we explore the earth’s environment on this Stage 2 (Years 3-4) geography excursion at Minnamurra Rainforest in Budderoo National Park. Students will investigate the rainforest's climate, natural vegetation and native animals.
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Walk through history

Illawarra Tourist Drive, Budderoo National Park. Photo: Michael Van Ewijk

A walk around the park reveals its many uses over the years. Spot remaining cedar trees, so prized by foresters in the 1800s. Head downstream from the Minnamurra Rainforest to see the 1853 Kelly's Cottage and its camellia tree, believed to be one of the southern hemisphere's oldest. The land's rich soil and water supply make it ideal for dairy farming, and you can still see the monument to Australia's first butter factory in nearby Jamberoo Valley.

Plants and animals protected in this park

Animals

  • A spotted-tailed quoll walks across a moss-covered forest floor at night. Photo: Lachlan Hall © Lachlan Hall

    Spotted-tailed quoll (Dasyurus maculatus)

    The spotted-tailed quoll is the largest remaining carnivorous marsupial on the Australian mainland. It’s protected as a vulnerable species in NSW.

  • An eastern ground parrot bird's green and yellow colouring camouflages it amongst grassland. Photo: Lachlan Hall © Lachlan Hall

    Eastern ground parrot (Pezoporus wallicus wallicus)

    The eastern ground parrot is a beautiful, ground-dwelling native bird that lives in low heathland habitat along the NSW North and South coasts and escarpments. It’s listed as a vulnerable species in NSW.

  • A juvenile platypus saved by National Parks and Wildlife staff. Photo: M Bannerman/OEH

    Platypus (Ornithorhynchus anatinus)

    One of the most fascinating and unusual Australian animals, the duck-billed platypus, along with the echidna, are the only known monotremes, or egg-laying mammals, in existence. The platypus is generally found in permanent river systems and lakes in southern and eastern NSW and east and west of the Great Dividing Range.

  • Superb fairy wren. Photo: Rosie Nicolai

    Superb fairy wren (Malurus cyaneus)

    The striking blue and black plumage of the adult male superb fairy wren makes for colourful bird watching across south-eastern Australia. The sociable superb fairy wrens, or blue wrens, are Australian birds living in groups consisting of a dominant male, mouse-brown female ‘jenny wrens’ and several tawny-brown juveniles.

Plants

  • Cabbage tree palm in Dalrymple-Hay Nature Reserve. Photo: John Spencer/OEH

    Cabbage palm (Livistona australis)

    With glossy green leaves spanning 3-4m in length and a trunk reaching a height of up to 30m, the cabbage tree palm, or fan palm, is one of the tallest Australian native plants. Thriving in rainforest margins along the east coast of NSW, in summer this giant palm produces striking spikes of cream flowers which resemble cabbages.

  • Old man banksia, Moreton National Park. Photo: John Yurasek

    Old man banksia (Banksia serrata)

    Hardy Australian native plants, old man banksias can be found along the coast, and in the dry sclerophyll forests and sandstone mountain ranges of NSW. With roughened bark and gnarled limbs, they produce a distinctive cylindrical yellow-green banksia flower which blossoms from summer to early autumn.

  • Coachwood flower. Photo: Michael Van Ewijk

    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.

Environments in this park

Education resources (1)

School excursions (9)