Scenic Drives & Day Trips

Good to know before you go

Total driving distance: Approx. 210 km round trip from Port Macquarie

Total driving time: Approx. 4.5 to 5 hrs driving (including return)

Recommended departure: 8:00am (earlier is better)

Return to Port Mac: 4:30 to 5:30pm

Rawson Falls walk: 5 km return, Grade 4 (challenging), allow 2 hrs return (pictured)

Ellenborough Falls walks: Up to 2.1 km return (all walks), allow 1 to 1.5 hrs

Road conditions: Mostly sealed. Approx. 14 to 20 km unsealed near Ellenborough Falls. 2WD accessible but drive slowly

Best seasons: Autumn, spring and summer. Winter is beautiful but cold on the plateau

What to bring: Sturdy closed shoes or hiking boots, swimmers, insect repellent, at least 2L water per person, snacks, layers

Phone coverage: Limited to none from Comboyne onwards. Download offline maps before you leave

Check before you go. Boorganna Nature Reserve and Ellenborough Falls can close after heavy rain. Call NSW National Parks Port Macquarie office: (02) 6588 5555, or check nationalparks.nsw.gov.au for current alerts.

Accessibility

The main viewing platform at Ellenborough Falls is accessible from the car park and suitable for most visitors. The walk to the base involves 641 steps and is not suitable for wheelchairs or people with significant mobility limitations. Rawson Falls walk is Grade 4 throughout, steep and uneven. The Byabarra Cafe has wheelchair accessible facilities.

Travelling with Kids

It’s a long and winding road, so keep that in mind! Kids with reasonable fitness will love both falls. The plunge pool at Rawson Falls is great for confident swimmers. At Ellenborough, the easier walks work well for most ages. The base walk is doable for fit older kids but is tiring on the climb back up. Be realistic about your group before committing to the bottom.

Sources: NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service, Port Macquarie Info (portmacquarieinfo.com.au), Barrington Coast, Walk My World. Trail conditions and cafe hours should be verified before visiting.

Daytrip Itinerary

8:00am: Depart Port Macquarie and drive to Wauchope: Approx. 25 km, 20 mins via Oxley Highway

Hit the road early. Head west on the Oxley Highway out of Port Mac and within 20 minutes you'll roll into Wauchope (pronounced War-hope). A good spot for a fuel and coffee stop before the hinterland roads begin.

Coffee stop: Wauchope's main strip has a few good options for a takeaway. Baked Culture is worth a stop if you want something for the road. Their cruffins are next level.

9:00am: Drive to Comboyne and on to Boorganna

Wauchope to Comboyne: Approx. 32 km, 40 mins (winding escarpment road)

Comboyne to Boorganna picnic area: Approx. 8 km, 15 mins via Main Street then Innes View Road

Leave Wauchope and climb the escarpment. As you reach the Comboyne Plateau, the views are extraordinary. Rolling hills, rainforest and green farmland in every direction. Pass through Comboyne village (you'll stop here for lunch on the return) and continue on Main Street, which becomes Wingham Road. Turn right onto Innes View Road and follow the signs to the Boorganna picnic area.

Good to know: Boorganna Nature Reserve is the second-oldest nature reserve in NSW, gazetted in 1904. The name is thought to refer to the mahogany or lilly pilly trees that thrive here. No entry fees apply.

10:00am: Rawson Falls Walk, Boorganna Nature Reserve

Walk distance: 5 km return

Grade: Grade 4, Challenging. Steep descent and ascent, can be muddy

Time: Allow 2 hours return

Falls height: 40 metres

Parking: Free at Boorganna picnic area. Toilets and picnic tables on site

Entry: Free, no booking required

More info: NSW National Parks

This is the walk. Rawson Falls drops 40 metres into a deep, tranquil plunge pool, and the track winds through six different types of rainforest on the way there. You'll pass a lookout about halfway that overlooks Mumfords Creek, then continue steeply down into the gully to the falls and swimming hole. The descent is hard work. The climb back up is harder. The reward at the bottom is a cool, shaded pool under a curtain of water with the kind of quiet you don't find many places.

Leeches and stinging trees. Leeches are present, especially after rain. Wear long trousers, apply insect repellent and check your clothing frequently. There are stinging trees near the track. Do not touch the leaves.

Wildlife watch: Boorganna is home to 85 bird species including superb lyrebirds, crimson rosellas, rose robins, and rare species like the yellow-bellied glider and spotted-tailed quoll. Bring binoculars.

Swimming: The plunge pool at the base is the reward. Pack your swimmers. Water is cold and clear.

Seasonal highlights: Spring brings flowering cinnamon orchids. Autumn has spectacular fungi. Summer is a cool, shady escape from the coast heat.

12:00pm Lunch & a wander in Comboyne

Try the Udder Cow, a proper little country cafe with genuine character. The house specialty pot pie is a crowd favourite. Good coffee, quirky decor, friendly service. Perfect for a warming sit-down before the next leg.

Backup plan: Ellenborough Falls (your next stop) has a kiosk but the hours are unreliable. Carry food just in case, especially on weekdays or in off-season.

1:00pm: Drive from Comboyne to Ellenborough Falls

Distance from Comboyne: Approx. 30 km, 40 to 50 mins

Road conditions: Sealed to Elands, then approx. 14 to 20 km unsealed gravel. Suitable for 2WD but take it slowly. Not recommended for caravans or large trailers.

From Comboyne, continue west via Wingham Road toward Elands. The winding mountain road is stunning. Follow signs to Ellenborough Falls once past Elands. The unsealed section is generally in reasonable condition in dry weather, but take it slowly and carefully.

No mobile coverage from Comboyne onwards. Download Google Maps or Maps.me for offline use before you leave Port Mac.

2:00pm: Ellenborough Falls, Elands

Falls height: 200 metres, the tallest single-drop waterfall in NSW and among the tallest in the southern hemisphere

Entry: Free, no booking required

Facilities: Free parking, toilets, picnic tables, kiosk (hours vary, carry your own food and water)

This is the showstopper. Ellenborough Falls drops 200 metres into the gorge below and the scale of it is genuinely humbling. There are four ways to experience the falls depending on how much time and energy you have.

Walk 1: Main Viewing Platform

Distance: 80 m return from car park   Grade: Easy, suitable for all abilities   Time: 2 to 3 mins

Follow the path past the sheltered picnic tables to the wooden viewing platform. Your first look at the falls from near the top. Great for people with limited mobility.

Walk 2: Head of Falls Lookout

Distance: 600 m return   Grade: Easy   Time: 10 mins

A short stroll to the very top of the falls where the Ellenborough River tips over the edge. Stand at the drop-off and look down. Worth doing.

Walk 3: The Knoll Lookout

Distance: 900 m return   Grade: Easy to moderate   Time: 15 to 20 mins

A timbered walkway takes you to the opposite side of the gorge for a full head-to-toe view of the falls. This is the money shot. You'll see the entire 200 m drop directly opposite. Don't skip this one.

Walk 4: Base of Falls (the big one)

Distance: Approx. 1 km return   Grade: Moderate to hard, 641 timber steps   Time: Allow 1 hr return

The path is well-maintained with timber steps and handrails throughout, plus benches to rest on. About 15 to 20 minutes down, 30 to 40 minutes back up. At the bottom, a rock pool sits in the mist of the plunge pool with 200 metres of waterfall above you. It's cold, damp and absolutely spectacular.

Steps are narrow and can be slippery. Sturdy footwear is essential. Not suitable for wheelchairs or people with significant mobility or knee issues.

Secret bonus: At the top of the falls, a short unmarked track to the left of the head-of-falls entrance leads to a hidden lagoon with a rope swing. Ask someone in the car park if you can't find it.

3:30pm

Return to Port Macquarie

Two good options for the drive home:

Option A (recommended): Return via Comboyne. Retrace your route back through Comboyne and Byabarra, then Oxley Highway to Port Mac. Approx. 100 km, 1.5 to 2 hrs. If The Byabarra Cafe is open, this is a great excuse for a cold drink on the deck before the final stretch, or head to the Beechwood Hotel for true country pub charm.

Option B: Loop via Wingham and Taree. Continue west from Ellenborough to Wingham (lovely heritage town, great cafe culture and the ancient Wingham Brush rainforest), then down to Taree and back up the Pacific Highway. Approx. 160 km, around 2 hrs.

5:00 to 5:30pm

Back in Port Macquarie

Time for a sunset swim, fish and chips by the river, or a well-earned dinner out. You've had a big day!