Minyon Falls facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Minyon Falls |
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The Minyon Falls
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 Location in New South Wales
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| Location | Northern Rivers, New South Wales, Australia |
| Coordinates | 28°36′55″S 153°23′05″E / 28.61528°S 153.38472°E |
| Type | Plunge waterfall |
| Elevation | 200 metres (660 ft) AHD |
| Total height | 100 metres (330 ft) |
| Watercourse | Repentance Creek |
The Minyon Falls is an amazing waterfall in the Northern Rivers area of New South Wales, Australia. It's a type of waterfall called a 'plunge waterfall'. This means the water falls straight down from a cliff. The water drops over 100 meters (about 330 feet)!
It falls from huge cliffs made of a rock called rhyolite. These cliffs were once part of a giant ancient volcano, the Tweed Volcano. Over a very long time, the water has carved out these rocks, creating the beautiful waterfall we see today.
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Discover Minyon Falls: Location & Fun Activities
Minyon Falls is a very popular place to visit. It's easy to get to from the nearby town of Byron Bay. The waterfall is located inside the Nightcap National Park. This park is part of the Gondwana Rainforests of Australia, which became a World Heritage Site in 1986. This means it's a very special natural place, recognized globally for its importance.
The National Parks and Wildlife Service looks after the area. They have made it easy for visitors to explore. There's a 50-meter (164-foot) boardwalk that leads to a lookout point. This lookout is even wheelchair accessible! You can also find picnic tables and barbecue areas at the top of the falls.
Exploring the Falls: Walking Trails & Camping
You can't camp right at Minyon Falls. However, there's a camping ground just 2 kilometers (1.2 miles) west at Rummery Park. From there, you can explore the bottom of the falls. You can also walk through the amazing sub-tropical rainforest on special trails.
Some trails are quite steep. You might even need to climb over wet rocks near the bottom of the falls. One long trail is 4.5 kilometers (2.8 miles) from the top of the falls. It goes down into the valley and then loops back to the car park. A shorter, 2.5-kilometer (1.6-mile) track goes from Minyon Grass to the bottom of the falls. Another walk, the Boggy Creek Walk, takes about 45 minutes each way from Rummery Park Campground to the top of the falls.
Wildlife & Plants: Flora and Fauna at Minyon Falls
The area around the top of Minyon Falls has a 'wet sclerophyll forest'. This type of forest has tall trees like blackbutt, tallowwood, and flooded gum. Many different animals live here, and visitors often see them.
Animals You Might Spot
You could see lace monitors (which are a type of goanna) and many birds. Look out for kookaburras, satin bowerbirds, and noisy pittas. Smaller birds like the eastern yellow robin and pale yellow robin are also common. You might even spot a peregrine falcon flying high!
At night, you might see bobuck possums or bandicoots. Keep an eye out for tawny frogmouths, which are birds that look like tree bark. Frogs like the stony creek frog and red-eyed green tree frog live here too. Sometimes, lucky visitors even spot rare Albert's lyrebirds, koalas, or pademelons. Be aware that leeches can be present in wet weather!
Plants of the Minyon Valley Rainforest
The Minyon valley itself is a lush sub-tropical rainforest. It's home to many unique plants. You'll see beautiful Bangalow palms and huge brushbox trees. Look for strangler figs, which grow around other trees.
Other interesting plants include the stream lily and the walking stick palm. You might also find rusty rose walnut trees, blue quandongs, and broad leaved palm lilys. The forest floor is covered with tree ferns, bird's-nest ferns, and stag horn ferns.
Getting to Minyon Falls: Access & Travel Tips
Minyon Falls is a popular spot because it's close to towns like Byron Bay, Ballina, and Lismore. It takes about 45 minutes to drive from Byron Bay. From Ballina or Lismore, it's about an hour. You can even visit from the Gold Coast, which is about a 2-hour drive on the Pacific Highway.
The road to the falls is an unsealed road, meaning it's a gravel road. It can sometimes be a bit rough to drive on. If you don't want to drive yourself, many local tour companies offer trips to Minyon Falls.
Water Flow at Minyon Falls
The water that feeds Minyon Falls comes from Repentance Creek. This creek used to be called Boggy Creek. Most of the time, there is water flowing over the waterfall. However, the amount of water can change a lot. During very dry periods, the waterfall can dry up completely. When this happens, the pool at the bottom of the falls might not have enough water for swimming.
