The Complete Guide To Visiting Wannon Falls In Victoria, Australia

Wannon Falls is an exceptional, not to mention, often powerful waterfall just outside of Hamilton in the state of Victoria. It’s an easy waterfall to admire en route to the epic Grampians National Park, involving a short walk to a fantastic viewing platform. Carved through ancient lava flow, Wannon Falls sits within a picture-perfect landscape of rugged rocks and serene countryside. It’s well worth a peek at, and in this guide, we’ll tell you everything you need to know to visit this wonderful waterfall.

Check out 12 Must-See Grampians Waterfalls: The Complete Guide

Table of Contents

About Wannon Falls

Wannon Falls is a spectacular waterfall along the Wannon River in Southern Grampians Shire in the state of Victoria. The mesmerising waterfall plunges 30 metres off a jagged rock edge into a cauldron-shaped basin below. The dark rocks surrounding Wannon Falls are formed of basalt and are the result of an ancient lava flow. Indeed, the entire area surrounding Wannon Falls is quite remarkable.

Wannon Falls sits within the wider Wannon Falls Scenic Reserve. It’s a peaceful place to come and enjoy the waterfall, as well as soak in the natural flora of the area and explore the basalt valley streams and rapids flowing downstream of the waterfall.

Additionally, exploring Wannon Falls and nearby Nigretta Falls is a great way to kick off a trip to the Grampians National Park.

Where Is Wannon Falls?

Wannon Falls and the Wannon Falls Scenic Reserve are located between the towns of Coleraine and Hamilton in western Victoria, Australia. To help get your bearings, please click on the image below to access an interactive map of the area on Google Maps.

Visiting Wannon Falls

So, now you know a little about Wannon Falls and where it is, let’s look at what to expect during a visit, including how to get there and the short walk to the waterfall.

How to Get to Wannon Falls

Wannon Falls is located just off the Glenelg Highway around 20km northwest of Hamilton, and 17km southeast of Coleraine. From the central Grampians and Halls Gap, Wannon Falls is around a 1.5 hour drive away.

If travelling directly from Melbourne, you’re looking at almost a 4 hour drive. There’s no direct transport from Melbourne to Wannon Falls. But, you can take public transport to Hamilton. If public transport is your only option for getting to Wannon Falls and the southern Grampians, then we recommend using Google Maps, V/Line Train and V/Line Coach.

But, if possible, it’s much easier to reach Wannon Falls, wherever you’re travelling from, with your own set of wheels. If you need a car, we recommend using DiscoverCars.com. It’s a fantastic search engine for finding the cheapest car hire. Search for cheap car hire in Melbourne today.

Getting to Melbourne

If you’re visiting from abroad, you’ll first need to fly to Melbourne to visit the Grampians. We recommend using Skyscanner to search for the cheapest flights. When flying abroad, we always get the ball rolling with a Skyscanner search. Check out cheap flights to Melbourne today!

Wannon Falls Walk

Type: Out & Back
Distance: 90m
Time: Minimal
Accumulated elevation gain: 30m
Difficulty: Easy
Trailhead: Wannon Falls Car Park

Visiting on a fairly miserable wet day, Dan and I had high hopes for Wannon Falls, and we weren’t disappointed.

From the Wannon Falls Car Park, it’s a short and easy stroll to the purpose-built viewing platform. If you’ve timed your visit with a recent bout of heavy rainfall, then greeting you will be a thunderous waterfall of whitewash and spray. We enjoyed three cascades flowing eagerly off the jagged edge of the basin hole. It’s fantastic.

The surrounding rock face is covered in vibrant green grasses, encouraged by the constant dampness of spray in the air. It contrasts perfectly with the black boulders that litter the edge of the water. The snippets of orange rock shine through brilliantly. Indeed, it was a nod to the fact that we were still very much in Australia, irrespective of the weather.

The easy walk to the viewing platform forms a short loop, which returns to the car park.

The walk can also be started from the Thomas Clark Viewing Area located here on the corner of Morgiana Road. The walk then meanders for around 1km through the Wannon Falls Scenic Reserve, before reaching the waterfall.

Facilities at Wannon Falls

As well as a spacious car park at Wannon Falls, you’ll also find picnic areas and shared BBQ facilities. There are also toilets. In addition, a covered area provides information about the waterfall. Here, you can learn about the interesting geology and indigenous history of the area.

Access to the viewing platform is both wheelchair and pushchair accessible.

Wannon Falls Camping

It’s possible to camp at Wannon Falls. The Wannon Falls Campground is basic but makes for a great pit stop if you’re on a longer road trip, perhaps heading into the Grampians National Park. Sites are unpowered with no shower facilities. But, there are communal toilets to use. The campground is also free to stay at and shouldn’t be used for long-term use.

Swimming at Wannon Falls

Of course, swimming is not advisable in the main plunge pool of Wannon Falls. That’s because the waterfall can be very powerful and can create hidden currents. If you do want to wild swim, then you should head around 200 metres upstream of the falls. Here, you’ll find a small and peaceful swimming hole. But, as always, wild swimming is at your own risk.

Best Time to Visit Wannon Falls

Undoubtedly, the best time to see Wannon Falls is after a heavy bout of rain. Indeed, this cascade looks quite outstanding if you catch it thundering over the basalt lip in all its glory. That means a visit in winter or early spring.

In terms of crowds, you’ll rarely find Wannon Falls overrun with visitors, so you’ll likely have a nice tranquil visit whenever you decide to see the waterfall. Dan and I visited first thing on a wet winter’s day and saw no one else there.

More Grampians Waterfalls

Of course, being just a stone’s throw from the Grampians, there’s plenty more in the way of waterfalls to see in the area. Below, are a handful you might like to consider.

Mackenzie Falls: visit the biggest waterfall in the Grampians National Park.
Beehive Falls: this excellent waterfall is made even better by hiking to Briggs Bluff too.
Clematis Falls: an easy-to-reach waterfall from Halls Gap.
Splitters Falls: visit this underrated waterfall on a walk to the Pinnacle.
Turret Falls: a quiet waterfall found along Silverband Road.
Burrong Falls: a hidden waterfall that at some times of year may require a 4WD to get to.
Bridal Veil Falls: as seasonal as they come, keep your eyes peeled for this cascade on the Pinnacle Walk.
Silverband Falls: a thin, silver plunge that disappears into the ground below.
Nigretta Falls: next to Wannon Falls is this rugged and picturesque waterfall.

Mackenzie Falls, Grampians — Mackenzie Falls; Beehive Falls

Beehive Fall, Grampians — Mackenzie Falls; Beehive Falls

Where to Stay Near Wannon Falls

As Hamilton is one of the closest towns to Wannon Falls, it therefore makes sense to stay there. Otherwise, we recommend heading straight into the Grampians and staying in Halls Gaps. Below, we’ve put together the best budget, mid-range and luxury accommodation options to help plan your trip, for both destinations.

Accommodation in Hamilton

Budget – Comfort Inn Botanical: guests love the access to the neighbouring botanical gardens as well as the onsite restaurant and bar at Comfort Inn Botanical.
Mid-range – Hamilton Lonsdale Motel: the clean and quiet Hamilton Lonsdale Motel is in a fantastic location.
Luxury – MacPherson House: rent an entire house for a home away from home feel in Hamilton at MacPherson House.

Accommodation in Halls Gap

Budget – Grampians Eco YHA: the main hostel in town is the Grampians Eco YHA. Enjoy the super clean facilities and spacious common rooms.
Mid-range – Halls Gap Lakeside Tourist Park: relax in the pool and admire the brilliant mountain views at Halls Gap Lakeside Tourist Park.
Luxury – Grampians Chalets: lake views, friendly kangaroos and a fantastic location are ready to be enjoyed at the Grampians Chalets. Also, try the Marwood Villas for more quality Grampians accommodation.

More Grampians Accommodation

Camping in Halls Gap: 8 Epic Campgrounds In Central Grampians
Camping In The Grampians: The Complete Guide
Grampians Caravan Parks: 5 Best Caravan Parks in Halls Gap
Halls Gap Accommodation: Best Hotel, Camping & Caravan Parks
Grampians Accommodation: Where To Stay & What To Book

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.

Bonus Tips

Nigretta Falls: be sure to head to Nigretta Falls too, which is only a 10 minute drive away.
Head to Dunkeld: the nearby town of Dunkeld is a great starting point for some of the Grampian’s best hikes, including Mount Sturgeon, Mount Abrupt and The Piccaninny.
More of Victoria: some of our favourite places in Victoria include exploring along the Great Ocean Road, Mornington Peninsula and of course, Wilsons Prom.

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