National park · Australia
Apsley Falls
Stop for 1–2 hours on the Oxley Highway: walk the 450 m Oxley Walk to the upper lookout and the steel staircase to the gorge floor, or add the Gorge Rim Circuit; entry is free, so the only cost is fuel and time.
Map to the park
Add your hotel to get directions from it. · stays in this browser; shared with the pocket card.
Area
3 km²1 sq mi
approximate
Established
1986
Best months
Apr–May, Sep–Oct
UNESCO
World Heritage
Rules in force · 7
- Oceania ↗Oceania's island states guard their farms and reefs at the border: tick 'yes' on the arrival card for any food, plant, animal product, soil or used outdoor gear, and let the officer decide.
- Oceania ↗Across the tropical South Pacific, cyclones are possible from November to April: choose insurance that covers weather delays and keep one spare night before a long-haul departure.
- Australia and New Zealand ↗Both countries drive on the left, with long distances between fuel stops in the outback and on New Zealand's back roads; fatigue causes more visitor crashes than speed.
- Australia ↗Almost every visitor needs a visa or an electronic authorisation (ETA or eVisitor, depending on passport) before boarding: apply only through the official Department of Home Affairs site or the official AustralianETA app, and check the rules for your passport.
- Australia ↗Declare all food, plant material, seeds, wood and animal products on your arrival declaration; undeclared items can bring on-the-spot fines or visa cancellation. When unsure, declare it.
- Australia ↗Drive on the left. An overseas licence in English (or with an official translation or International Driving Permit) is accepted for visitors; check the state rules and your rental contract.
- Australia ↗Swim between the red and yellow flags on patrolled beaches; rip currents cause most beach drownings.
At a glance
- Country
- Australia
- Area
- 3 km²1 sq mi
- The Apsley Falls precinct is a small, self-contained section of Oxley Wild Rivers National Park with no road or walking link to the rest of the park (check).
- Established
- 1986
- Best months
- Apr–May, Sep–Oct
- Permits
- For some areas
Apsley Falls is a self-contained precinct of Oxley Wild Rivers National Park on the Oxley Highway in the southern New England region of New South Wales, about 19 km east of Walcha and 144 km west of Wauchope. The Apsley River drops more than 100 m over slate ledges into a steep gorge, and the whole visitable area is small — the walking core is under 3 km across — so it works as a 1–2 hour break on a long drive or a half-day if you add the Gorge Rim Circuit and the steel staircase to the gorge floor. Day entry is free and all roads in are sealed and suit 2WD cars, but check current park alerts and closures before you drive. The precinct is part of the Gondwana Rainforests of Australia World Heritage listing (Hastings-Macleay group), and it has no road or walking connection to the rest of Oxley Wild Rivers National Park, so treat it as a park of its own. It is far quieter than the Waterfall Way parks such as Dorrigo or Ebor; on a weekday outside school holidays you may be the only visitor. The single place to sleep inside the precinct is the 14-site Apsley Falls Campground.
Decide
Why go, which months, and what lives here when
At a glance
Status
- UNESCO World HeritagePart of the Gondwana Rainforests of Australia, listed as the Hastings-Macleay group of reserves; the listing year differs from the park's establishment (check).
Size and age
3 km²1 sq mi · national park since 1986
The Apsley Falls precinct is a small, self-contained section of Oxley Wild Rivers National Park with no road or walking link to the rest of the park (check).
Why go
- A 100 m-plus waterfall into a slate gorge, a few steps from the Oxley Highway car park.
- Free entry and a sealed road in, so it works as a 90-minute break on a long drive.
- Two short, signposted walks — one to lookouts, one down a steel staircase to the gorge floor.
- Quiet on weekdays outside school holidays; you may have the lookouts to yourself.
When to go
- JanCaution
- FebCaution
- MarGo
- AprBest
- MayBest
- JunGo
- JulGo
- AugGo
- SepBest
- OctBest
- NovGo
- DecCaution
- JanHot; storms and bushfire risk
- FebWarm and humid; rain possible
- MarMilder; good flow after summer rain
- AprClear, cool mornings
- MayDry and crisp; light crowds
- JunCold at 1,000 m; bring a jacket
- JulColdest month; frosty mornings
- AugCold, often clear; low flow
- SepWarming up; wildflowers
- OctMild and dry; best all-round
- NovWarm; afternoon storms build
- DecHot; holiday traffic on the highway
Wildlife and nature calendar
| What | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kangaroos and wallabies around the gorge rimAll year · Most active early morning and late afternoon. | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes |
| EchidnasMar–May, Sep–Nov | no | no | yes | yes | yes | no | no | no | yes | yes | yes | no |
| Crimson rosellas and other parrotsAll year | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes |
| Snakes on the walking tracksOct–Mar · Watch your step in warm weather; give any snake a wide berth. | yes | yes | yes | no | no | no | no | no | no | yes | yes | yes |
Arrive & move
Getting in, how the park is divided, and where things are
How to get there
From Walcha
Drive east on the Oxley Highway for 19 km, then turn onto Apsley Falls Road; the turnoff is signposted 1–2 km ahead. The road is sealed and suits 2WD, but check current park alerts and closures before setting out.Drive east on the Oxley Highway for 12 mi, then turn onto Apsley Falls Road; the turnoff is signposted 0.6–1.2 mi ahead. The road is sealed and suits 2WD, but check current park alerts and closures before setting out.
20 min
From Wauchope
Drive west on the Oxley Highway for 144 km to the Apsley Falls Road turnoff; sealed throughout, but check park alerts and closures first.Drive west on the Oxley Highway for 89 mi to the Apsley Falls Road turnoff; sealed throughout, but check park alerts and closures first.
2 h
From Port Macquarie
Oxley Highway west through Wauchope, then the same 144 km to the turnoff; check park alerts and closures before you leave.Oxley Highway west through Wauchope, then the same 89 mi to the turnoff; check park alerts and closures before you leave.
2.5 h
From Tamworth
Thunderbolts Way north-east to Walcha, then the Oxley Highway east; check park alerts and closures before you leave.
2.5 h
Zones and sectors
| Zone | What is there | Access |
|---|---|---|
| Lookout and picnic area | Car park, picnic bench and barbecue, upper lookout over the falls and the gorge. | Open; sealed road and short paved paths, subject to park alerts and closures. |
| Oxley Walk | The main walking route along the gorge rim to the falls lookouts and the top of the steel staircase. | Open on foot; easy grade, subject to park alerts and closures. |
| Gorge floor | The base of the falls, reached by the steel staircase built by the Walcha Lions Club and opened in 1961. | Open on foot; steep steps — conditions or closures can affect access, so check on arrival. |
| Apsley Falls Campground | 14 marked campsites with picnic tables and barbecues, a few hundred metres from the falls. | Booked campers only. |
Sketch map
- 1Apsley Falls car park · Gate≈-31.052, 151.765Approximate.Map ↗
- 2Apsley Falls picnic area · Headquarters≈-31.052, 151.765Approximate; shares the general falls position.Map ↗
- 3Upper lookout · Viewpoint≈-31.050, 151.770Approximate; general falls position.Map ↗
- 4Apsley Falls Campground · Sleep≈-31.054, 151.762Approximate.Map ↗
- 5Walcha · Town≈-30.985, 151.593Approximate.Map ↗
See & do
Caves, trails and wildlife, with how hard each is and whether it needs booking
Top experiences
Practical
Fees, permits, rules, where to sleep and what can go wrong
Entry fees and permits
| Item | Range | Per | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Park entry | Free | vehicle | No entry fee at Apsley Falls; NSW national parks charge for some other parks and for camping (check current rates). |
| Apsley Falls Campground | Free | night | 2026 estimate; camping is not free — check current rates and book through the NSW National Parks website. |
Ranges, not quotes: fees change without notice. Check with the park or your operator · checked Sep 2026.
Park entry no permit
Camping permit or guide
Drone flight permit or guide
Park rules
- Water
- Tap water at the site is not treated for drinking; bring your own or boil for at least 10 minutes.
- Rubbish
- No bins are provided; carry everything out.
- Speed limit
- All roads inside the park are limited to 40 km/h.
- Drones
- Not allowed without a permit from NSW National Parks (check).
- Fires
- Only in provided fireplaces and only outside total fire bans; check fire danger ratings before lighting anything.
Where to stay
In the park
Apsley Falls Campground
14 marked sites with picnic tables and barbecues, a few hundred metres from the falls; book online.
Near the park
Walcha
Motels, pubs and caravan parks 19 km west, the closest beds to the falls.Motels, pubs and caravan parks 12 mi west, the closest beds to the falls.
Near the park
Wauchope and Port Macquarie
Full range of accommodation 2–2.5 h east on the Oxley Highway.
Safety
Bushfire high
Steep, wet steps on the staircase medium
Snakes on the tracks medium
Heat and exposure medium
Accessibility
- The car park, picnic area and upper lookout are reached by sealed road and short, fairly level paths.
- The Gorge Rim Circuit and the steel staircase are steep in places and not suitable for wheelchairs or limited mobility.
Visiting lightly
- Take all rubbish home; there are no bins at the site.
- Stay on marked tracks to protect the gorge-edge vegetation and thin soils.
- Keep the campground quiet and leave no food scraps, which attract wildlife to the sites.
Questions people ask
How much does it cost to enter Apsley Falls?
Nothing. There is no entry fee for day visits to Apsley Falls, and the road in is sealed and suits 2WD cars — but check current park alerts and closures before you drive. You pay only if you camp: the Apsley Falls Campground charges a nightly fee, booked through the NSW National Parks website (check current rates).
What are the best hikes in Apsley Falls?
The Oxley Walk is the short option: about 450 m each way along the gorge rim to the lookouts, 30–45 minutes return. The Gorge Rim Circuit is the longer walk, with several lookout points; its distance and duration are approximate (check). The steel staircase down to the base of the falls is steep but short, 30–60 minutes return, and conditions or closures can affect access.
When is the best time to visit Apsley Falls?
April, May, September and October give the best mix of mild weather and clear skies. Summer brings heat, storms and bushfire risk, and the falls flow strongest after summer rain. Winter is cold at this elevation — bring a jacket — but the lookouts are often clear and quiet.
Do I need a 4WD to get to Apsley Falls?
No. All roads into the Apsley Falls precinct are sealed and suit 2WD cars, but check current park alerts and closures before you drive. Nearby Tia Falls, in another part of Oxley Wild Rivers National Park, is the one usually reached by unsealed road.
Can I camp at Apsley Falls?
Yes, but only at the Apsley Falls Campground, the single place to sleep inside the precinct. It has 14 marked sites with picnic tables and barbecues, and camping is not free. Book online before you arrive, especially at weekends and in school holidays.
Is Apsley Falls worth stopping for?
If you are driving the Oxley Highway between Walcha and Wauchope, yes: it is a free, signposted stop with a 100 m-plus waterfall, two short walks and a picnic area, and it is usually quiet on weekdays outside holidays.
Deep dive
Every source; fees and rules change, so check before you go