My latest visit to Curracurrong Falls justifies the big words. I admit you need the right conditions, but this unique waterfall which is thrown into one of the most beautiful settings I’ve ever seen deserves the praise.
Curracurrong Falls is a coastal waterfall, one that empties into the ocean. And to do so it plunges down from dramatic high cliffs – the top of the cliff wall where the Royal Coast Track leads. The scenery is breathtaking there even without a waterfall.
But there’s 82 meters high Curracurrong Falls, consisting of two parallel cascades, backed up by Eagle Rock, a pretty sandstone rock formation that looks like an eagle’s head. And there’s a third waterfall a few hundred meters further, also directly plunging into the ocean.
the third, temporary waterfall
How to access Curracurrong Falls?
Curracurrong Falls requires hiking, it’s along the Royal Coast Track in Royal National Park, south of Sydney. The easiest access is from Wattamolla Bay, via Providential Point (just to add another breathtaking viewpoint to the route). It’s 4.7 km one-way.
To reach Wattamolla Beach, turn onto Wattamolla Road from Sir Bertram Stevens Drive. It’s about 3 km long, but it’s a paved road, so it couldn’t be easier. It ends at a huge car park, and you also find toilets, BBQs and picnic tables (and Wattamolla Beach which is a nice attraction by itself on a hot summer day). At Wattamolla you can also join the Royal Coast Track.
Where (and when) to enjoy the best views of Curracurrong Falls?
There’s a few tricks to see Curracurrong Falls at its best. First of all, you need to leave the track to get the best views, both from the north and south.
From the north the best vantage points are Eagle Rock and the rock plateau south of it. You can find lots of unofficial paths across the heathland to reach them, and you can see the entire waterfall, along with a more distant view of the other one plunging down a few hundred meters further from the same cliff wall. Powerful waves crash into the rock wall to make the scene perfect. Be careful not to venture too close to the edge though. The cliff edges in Royal National Park are unstable and can be dangerous, that’s why it’s officially quite discouraged to leave the boardwalk. But you won’t see the waterfall from the track.
the northern viewpoint
You can enjoy a different, but also quite pretty view from the south. Near the junction of the Royal Coast Track and the Curra Moors Trail, get down the boardwalk to get a view of Curracurrong Falls from the top of the cliffs. You can also see Eagle Rock to the right of the falls. It’s also a postcard-perfect scene.
the southern viewpoint
If you cross the next creek, Curra Brook, you can look down on the upper section of that third waterfall, but you can also get a nice, but more distant view of Curracurrong Falls.
But another thing to consider is the weather. The best time to visit Curracurrong Falls is after heavy rainfall. It’s a permanent waterfall, but it becomes very thin during dry spells (and is sometimes almost fully blown away by the wind), and the third waterfall further along the cliff wall only exists if there’s enough water in the creek.
I’ve seen Curracurrong Falls twice during drier periods and once after two weeks of heavy rain, and the difference is shocking! It’s a roaring, powerful, very impressive waterfall after heavy rain. When there’s little water in it, it can still look pretty, but mostly because the scenery here is quite pretty already. It became my very favorite waterfall after I saw it in full glory.
with little water
Royal Coast Track from Wattamolla to Curracurrong Falls & Eagle Rock
This relatively easy and incredibly scenic section of the Royal Coast Track is rich in waterfalls. It starts at the popular Wattamolla Lagoon where you can find the first waterfall: Wattamolla Falls.
Hiking essentials:
- Trailhead: Wattamolla Beach parking
- Length: 4.7 km one-way
- Difficulty: easy
- See the trail map here.
Wattamolla Falls
Getting to the viewing platform means a short detour, 5 minutes of walking from the car park, and very much it’s worth it. It’s a permanent waterfall that empties into Wattamolla Lagoon, but heavy rain makes a huge difference.
Then get back to the toilets, because the trail towards Providential Point starts just south of it.
Providential Point
view of Wattamolla Bay from Providential Point
Actually, there are two trails to choose from: the Providential Lookout Track and the Royal Coast Track. Eventually the Providential Lookout Track joins the Coast Track, and it’s a bit of a detour again. But this route takes you through Providential Point which offers picturesque views of Wattamolla Bay and the dramatic cliff wall towering above you.
It’s also a popular whale-watching spot in winter.
Continue on the Royal Coast Track
Then you join the Coast Track. Most of the trail is on a flat metal boardwalk, with very little elevation change. There are some gradual uphills and downhills, and a few staircases and creek crossings (usually with stepping stones). You get fantastic views for much of the way, and you’ll see lots of birds when the trail ventures into the dense bushland.
Curracurrang Falls
As you cross the Curracurrang Gully, there’s another optional detour to a very quiet, barely known waterfall: Curracurrang Falls. Yes, it’s a different one, letter “a” or letter “o” refers to a different waterfall in this case.
It’s much smaller than Curracurrong Falls, which is definitely the highlight (along with Eagle Rock), but it’s a set of pretty cascades with a small, gorgeous swimming hole at the bottom. You can swim directly under the waterfall.
Keep your eyes open for a side trail just before the creek crossing in the gully. It’s about an extra 200 meters walk through a fairy tale palm jungle that ends at Curracurrang Falls. See this detour on a map here.
Eagle Rock (or Eagle Head Rock)
After getting back to the main track, you’ll climb up to the top of the cliffs again after the gully. The coastal views mean constant amazement, but there’s a unique rock formation jutting out of the cliff wall: Eagle Head Rock. You assumed correctly, it looks like an eagle’s beak. But you won’t notice it from the track, so check your trail map.
You can stand on it if you dare, but be extremely careful as there’s no fence. Never venture to the very edge of the cliffs anywhere in the park. Eagle Rock is a large enough area though, so you don’t need to be anywhere near the edge to get a good photo. For the best picture, the photographer should stand further along the trail, looking back at you.
Upper Curracurrong Falls
Okay, I’m not sure that the small cascades on Curracurrong Creek, right above Curracurrong Falls, have a proper name, but Upper Curracurrong Falls would be proper. I’d also note that they don’t look anything special during dry spells when the water is just trickling. However, the scene changes dramatically after heavy rains: multiple waterfalls flow across the wide ledge, roaring and soaking you in mist.
To find them, you need to leave the official track just before crossing Curracurrong Creek. Walk towards the cliff edges along the creek. This is also the way to find the best northern vantage points of Curracurrong Falls (in addition to Eagle Rock).
Curracurrong Falls
The twin waterfall is actually on Curracurrong Creek, so you can enjoy the best views of it before and after crossing the creek. I explained how to find the best viewpoints earlier, and once you reach the last southern vantage point past Curra Brook, you can turn back. You can’t get a closer view of the other (I think nameless(?), but definitely a temporary) waterfall, it’s only visible from the northern viewpoints. Turn back to return to Wattamolla the same way.
the viewpoint past Curra Brook
Entry fee to visit Royal National Park
There’s a 12 AUD entry fee per vehicle per day. If you live in Sydney, or visit several NSW national parks, simply buy an annual pass. Three or four day tickets cost the same as an annual pass (without Kosciuszko National Park), so it’s a no-brainer if you often visit national parks.
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