Tianjara Falls is a beautiful waterfall located in Morton National Park, not far from Jervis Bay. This part of the NSW south coast is full of awesome natural attractions, with Tianjara Falls one of the easiest and most accessible to visit. Indeed, any trip down to Jervis Bay and beyond should call in at this brilliant waterfall, and below we’ll tell you everything you need to know to visit.
Read Jervis Bay Walks: 13 Easy Hikes Not To Miss
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About Tianjara Falls, NSW
Tianjara Falls is an impressive single-plunge waterfall in Morton National Park. Falling within the City of Shoalhaven local area, the 65m cascade drops from a shelf of yellow and orange sandstone rock – a familiar sight within these mountainous regions. The waterfall breaks up the Tianjara Creek, which winds and snakes through this incredible landscape.
Views of Tianjara Falls are found after a short walk to a viewing platform. Perched neatly on the cliff edge, you’ll not only have wonderful views of the beautiful waterfall but also the surrounding Ettrema Wilderness.
Tianjara Falls definitely benefits from some heavy rainfall. Indeed, after wet weather the waterfall is known to thunder over the mountainside. But, having said that, you’ll usually find a steady stream of water flowing from the top and gracefully showering down the exposed cliff wall, whenever you visit.
Where Is Tianjara Falls?
Tianjara Falls is found along Braidwood Road, south of Nowra and west of Jervis Bay. Feel free to click on the interactive map below to help plan your journey.
How to Get to Tianjara Falls
You’ll need your own vehicle to get to Tianjara Falls. You won’t find much, if anything, in the way of public transport heading past the waterfall. From both Nowra and Jervis Bay, you’re looking at around a 30 minute drive. Take the Braidwood Road in a southerly direction, and look for signs for Tianjara Falls. The turn-off for the car park will be on your right-hand side.
The address is Braidwood Rd, Tianjara NSW 2622, Australia.
If you want to head to Tianjara Falls directly from Sydney, you’re looking at around a 2.5 hour drive. Head south along the M1 through Wollongong, Bomaderry and Nowra, before joining Braidwood Road to the waterfall.
If you want to break up the journey and make a longer trip itinerary out of heading down to Tianjara Falls, then we recommend stopping at Killalea State Park, Kiama and Jervis Bay.
Car Hire
If you don’t have your own car, you should hire one using Discover Cars. Personally, we use Discover Cars and highly recommend them for finding your ideal car hire at an affordable price. Booking online is super easy and the free cancellation policy is great.
To find out more about renting a car with Discover Cars, read our Discover Cars review and Discover Cars Insurance review.
Tianjara Falls Parking
Once you reach Tianjara Falls, you’ll find a spacious parking area that’s unlikely to ever be full. If you’re driving a caravan or camper, you’ll find a couple of larger spaces to make use of.
The Tianjara Falls Car Park is basic, so you won’t find toilets, picnic facilities, or even bins here. Take everything with you when you leave.
Tianjara Falls Walk
Now, let’s go chase this waterfall!
The walk to the Tianjara Falls Lookout is short, flat and very easy. It’s paved the entire way so it’s wheelchair and pram accessible. At around 200m in length, the whole loop will take less than five minutes. The lookout is fenced off to offer protection from the cliff edge, yet still affords wonderful views of the entire landscape.
The view of Tianjara Falls from the lookout will be to your left. The vista shows the sweeping orange sandstone cliffs curve through the landscape. Flowing off an opening lip along the top ledge is Tianjara Falls. Of course, how thunderous Tianjara Falls is will depend on recent weather conditions.
There’s a small opening from the lookout trail where you can walk a little closer to Tianjara Falls along the cliff top. This isn’t official and is certainly not recommended by NPWS. But, you’ll see evidence that this is walked quite often. Having said that, we think the lookout provides the best views of Tianjara Falls anyway.
Continue to follow the path back around the loop to return to the car park. Certainly, given how easy it is to view Tianjara Falls, it’s a worthwhile stop if in the vicinity.
Other Tianjara Falls Walks
If you want to spend a little longer exploring Tianjara Falls, then there are a couple of longer walk options you might consider. However, the walks are much harder and steeper, so should only be walked by experienced bushwalkers.
Tianjara Crag Walking Track
Tianjara Falls Crag is a popular place to go rock climbing in the area. But, you can certainly walk there and admire the impressive rock walls for yourself. Close to the Tianjara Falls Lookout track, and the information board, is a rough track heading to the right. Take this trail and follow it carefully as it descends the cliff. You’ll eventually come to the huge rock walls, covered in metal bolts, suggesting you’ve arrived at the many climbing pitches. Explore the impressive rock face and then return the way you came.
Tianjara Creek Walking Track
If accessing the base of the waterfall is your thing, then there’s an overgrown trail that will take you there. From the main lookout, there is a dirt path that leads off to the left. Follow this and continue along the trail. Take care as you do. There’s an offshoot trail that will give you access closer to the waterfall.
Dan and I headed here for a closer look down the plunge of the waterfall, and also to see the Tianjara Falls pool at the base. We retraced our steps back to the car park from here, satisfied with the views, and deciding there was no need to descend the cliff.
But, by all accounts, the initial dirt track will lead you to the creek bed at the base of Tianjara Falls. Only experienced bushwalkers should attempt this, and also only if water is minimal. Strong currents in Tianjara Creek after heavy rainfall can make accessing the base too dangerous. The trail is steep and with no signs to lead you. If you want the adventure, then sure, consider it. But, if you simply came for views of Tianjara Falls, then it’s better to stay up at the lookout and not worth the risks as the views don’t get any better.
Tianjara Falls Swimming
There is no swimming at Tianjara Falls. The pool is not accessible and even if you’ve made it down to the creek bed then there won’t be much water there for swimming either. If there’s enough water in the creek for swimming, then the current will likely be too strong to swim safely anyway.
Tianjara Falls Camping
There are no camping facilities at Tianjara Falls. As mentioned, the basic car park is simply there for a quick turnaround of visitors to the Tianjara Falls Lookout, and not for overnight stays.
The closest campground to Tianajara Falls is Sassafrass National Park Campground. The campsite here is basic, with a drop toilet and covered picnic tables. In addition, the access road from Braidwood Road is unsealed, so be mindful if in a 2WD.
For more accommodation options close by, read our other guides about camping in and around Jervis Bay.
- A Quick Guide To Booderee National Park Camping
- How To Visit Honeymoon Bay In Jervis Bay, NSW
- Camping Jervis Bay: 7 Stunning Coastal Campsites
- Top 8 Jervis Bay Cabins For A Unique and Memorable Stay
- Jervis Bay Glamping: 5 Sites For The Perfect South Coast Trip
Camping Gear
FAQs
Below, we’ll answer some of the most frequently asked questions about visiting Tianjara Falls.
When is the Best Time to Visit Tianjara Falls?
You can visit Tianjara Falls any time of year. Dan and I visited in winter after not much rainfall and still thoroughly enjoyed what water was flowing from Tianjara Falls. But, if you want to see the waterfall in full force, then it’s certainly best to visit after a period of heavy rainfall. Generally, winter and spring see the most rainfall around Tinajara.
How Tall Is Tianjara Falls?
It’s 65 metres.
Are Pets Allowed?
No. Pets aren’t allowed in NSW National Parks.
How Long is the Trail?
The lookout loop is 200 metres long and takes around five minutes to complete.
What to Pack
The Tianjara Falls Lookout Walk is short and simple, so you won’t need to take much with you. But, it’s always good to be prepared. Below is a selection of gear we generally always adventure with.
Osprey Skarab 30
The Osprey Skarab 30 is our go-to hiking backpack for day hikes. This well-designed unisex backpack is comfortable and spacious, so you’ll have plenty of space to pack everything without feeling the strain on your upper back.
Osprey Ultralight Raincover
A waterproof backpack cover is an absolute must when you’re adventuring outdoors. The Osprey Ultralight Raincover Medium is a high-quality waterproof cover that’ll keep your backpack bone dry.
GRAYL Reusable Water Bottle
The GRAYL GeoPress is the best water filter bottle that allows you to purify 710mL (12 ounces) of water. This bottle will make water safe to drink wherever you’re hiking.
BUFF Original Ecostretch
The BUFF Original Ecostretch is a great option when it comes to multifunctional headwear. We use the Ecostretch as a neck gaiter to keep the sun off our necks and it helps us keep warm in cooler climates.
Sony Cybershot RX100 VII
Capture epic photos and videos with the Sony Cybershot RX100 VII. This is hands-down the best compact camera. We love using this simple point-and-shoot camera when we’re hiking as it’s lightweight and durable.
To find out more about all of the gear that we use and recommend, read our guides about our favourite hiking gear, travel gear and camera gear. Otherwise, read our comprehensive travel packing checklist.
Other Things to Do in Morton National Park
Morton National Park has some of the best waterfalls in New South Wales. If you love Tianjara Falls, then consider visiting these other nearby waterfalls in Morton National Park.
- Belmore Falls
- Fitzroy Falls
- Fairy Bower Falls
- Erith Coal Mine Falls
- Granite Falls
For more information about visiting these waterfalls, read The 23 BEST Southern Highlands Waterfalls Near Kangaroo Valley.
Check our guides on the Blue Mountains, Booderee National Park, Beowa National Park and Mimosa Rocks for more incredible South Coast NSW natural attractions.
We acknowledge and respect the First Nations people as the Traditional Custodians of the land/water that we visited and recognise that sovereignty was never ceded.
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