NSW’s Waterfall Way, in the Northern Tablelands, captures the diversity of our landscape, from lush tropical rainforest to subalpine heath and wetlands. And, of course, plenty of waterfalls. Using NRMA’s Travel Planner, Rachel Eldred discovers a water wonderland. Wollomombi Falls One of the highest falls in the State, Wollomombi Falls refers to where the Wollomombi River drops about 200 metres down a jagged cliff face. The view is said to be particularly spectacular after heavy rain – but rain or not, the area is superb, particularly when the mist rolls in.

You can take the gorge rim walk to two lookouts that provide exceptional views. The more gentle gorge rim walk takes you to Wollomombi Lookout, which is about 150 metres, and then onto Check’s Lookout, about 1km return. You can continue onto Chandler Lookout (3km) for a view of Chandler Falls, which lie to the east of Wollomombi Falls.

If you like history, the nearby town of Hillgrove, population 95, offers an account of times gone past. The Rural Life and Industry Museum is situated in the old Hillgrove School (1897), where you can view a photographic collection of the historic gold mining town, a thriving community in the 1880s and 1890s. It’s open Fri–Mon and public holidays, 10am–5pm.

And if you’d like to stay in the area a little longer, check out the rich cultural and historical city of Armidale. Highlights of the city include the New England Regional Art Museum, the Aboriginal Cultural Centre and Keeping Place, the University of New England, St Mary’s and St Peter’s cathedrals, and the free guided heritage tour. You can also choose to do a self-guided heritage walk and drive – pick up a brochure from the Visitor Information Centre on Marsh Street.

Ebor Falls

Ebor Falls is where the Guy Fawkes River takes a spectacular plunge over basalt rock. The now extinct Ebor Volcano created the basalt rich area around Ebor Falls more than 18 million years ago.   You can view the falls from two viewing platforms. A short easy walk connects the platforms, or you can drive between them. The falls are double tiered and, although they aren’t particularly high, after rain in the catchment area, they are impressive. On the way to Ebor Falls is Cathedral Rock National Park where, if you like the idea of a rock hop and scramble to the summit of Cathedral Rock, you can enjoy brilliant 360 degree views.

The World Heritage-listed New England National Park, across the road from Cathedral Rock National Park, offers wonderful bushwalking in a wilderness area of varying habitats.

Ecosystems range from snow gum woodland and Antarctic beech rainforest to subtropical rainforest, including wet and dry eucalypt forest, subalpine heath and wetlands.

Point Lookout is 1562 metres above sea level and offers views of the escarpment across the New England National Park and Bellinger Valley, with wheelchair access to the viewing platform. On clear days, you can enjoy ocean views.

The Eagle’s Nest track leads from Point Lookout past Weeping Rock to Banksia Point. Weeping Rock is a moss-covered cliff face that drips with water, which freezes to icicles in winter.

The township of Ebor is tiny, population 100. If you’d like to spend a few days exploring the national parks in the area, book to stay at the Ebor Falls Motel/Hotel, only 200 metres from the falls, and drop in for tea or coffee at the FussPots Tea House.

Alternatively, you can continue along Waterfall Way to Dorrigo, a quiet country town surrounded by rich and lush agricultural land. It sits on the eastern escarpment of the Great Dividing Range at an altitude of 762 metres, and has a vibrant community.

Rural crafts and fine arts exhibitions are often held, and the Dorrigo markets are the first Saturday of the month, where you can check out the local talent – arts and crafts talent, that is.

Dangar Falls

Dangar Falls are located north from the town centre of Dorrigo. View the small pretty twin falls from the viewing platform near the picnic area, or follow the path to the bottom through the forest, a 30-minute return walk. On the other side of town lies World Heritage-listed Dorrigo National Park. The park covers around 12,000 hectares of the Great Escarpment of the Dorrigo Plateau, some of which was once covered by basaltic lava flows from the Ebor Volcano. Due to very high annual rainfall, the basalt weathered to form the impressive escarpment and rich soils around Dorrigo. In the northern part of the park and in the valleys, the basalt has eroded away to reveal rocks from a much earlier period.

Pop into the Dorrigo Rainforest Centre for information on the history, ecology and various walking tracks and facilities available in the area. From mid-May to the end of June, you can catch the World Heritage Travelling Photographic Exhibition at the centre. The exhibition celebrates 25 years of World Heritage in Australia, where you get to see exceptional images of our World Heritage areas.

Make sure you also visit Skywalk, a boardwalk above the rainforest canopy that leads out over the edge of the escarpment for views across the rainforest and down to the coast. An easy walk is the Lyrebird Link Track, a 400 metre stroll to the Wonga Walk, which is a more strenuous 5.8km circuit through subtropical rainforest via The Glade (a picnic area), Crystal Shower Falls and Tristania Falls.

A scenic 10km drive from Dorrigo Rainforest Centre takes you to Never Never Picnic Area, doorway to warm temperate rainforest and a wet sclerophyll forest. Take the 5.5km Rosewood Creek track through coachwood rainforest and past Coachwood Falls. Allow an extra hour for the turn off to Cedar Falls, a steep track down to the base of the falls.

Not far from Dorrigo National Park is the township of Bellingen, set in the heart of the Bellinger Valley.

A lovely historic town, Bellingen has become a popular spot for people who want to escape the city. Its vibrant main street has a cosmopolitan feel with wonderful cafes, and nearby Coffs Harbour offers the conveniences of a major centre, including an airport.

Attractions include the Old Butter Factory, now an arts and crafts centre, showcasing the talent of the town’s crafts people and artists; the local monthly markets (third Saturday of the month); Bellinger Valley Historical Museum, with a photo collection of the early local pioneers; and The Yellow Shed, a craftworks and garden centre.

And to wrap-up a perfect afternoon, head to the exquisite Bellingen River, just a stone’s throw from town.