Guidebook
Lonely Planet Australia
Lonely Planet · 2024
The 22nd edition covers the Top End, Far North Queensland, Tasmania, Victoria and NSW in one volume.
Australia · New South Wales
Ellenborough Falls
Ellenborough Falls, a horsetail waterfall on the headwaters of the Ellenborough River, is located in the Mid North Coast region of New South Wales, Australia. It was shown, labelled with Chronicorp, in the film 2067 written and directed by former local Seth Larney.
Essentials guide
Facts from Wikidata and Wikipedia, compiled September 2026; season and access are our estimate, not a visit report. How we build these pages.
Ellenborough Falls drops 160 metres (525 ft) on the Ellenborough River. It is a horsetail-type fall, and the nearest base for a visit is New South Wales, Australia. Access to the main viewpoint is rated moderate.
Summary adapted from the Wikipedia article (CC BY-SA 4.0).
As a horsetail waterfall, water stays in contact with the rock as it falls.
What you can do here
A walk-in-and-look waterfall
No commercial adventures run at Ellenborough Falls itself — the experience is the approach and the view. Guided day trips from New South Wales are the easiest way to combine it with the area around it.
Also good forHikingPhotography
When to go
Spring, September to December, pairs snowmelt or winter rain with lengthening days; autumn (April to May) is the quieter second season.
Getting there
- Base town New South Wales, Australia
- Country Australia
- Region New South Wales, Australia, Oceania
- Access Moderate — a real walk — expect stairs, uneven ground or an hour on the trail
How it compares
This waterfall
Ellenborough Falls
Australia
Height160 mWidth—
Most similar
Pistyll y Llyn
United Kingdom
Height160 mWidth—
Also a horsetail waterfall and of similar height
Largest curtain
Victoria Falls
Zimbabwe · Zambia
Height108 mWidth1,708 m
Largest single sheet of falling water
Tallest on earth
Angel Falls
Venezuela
Height979 mWidth—
Widest on earth
Khone Phapheng Falls
Laos
Height21 mWidth10,783 m
Measured across the whole multi-channel system
108 m
160 m
160 m
330 m
979 m
Victoria FallsEllenborough FallsPistyll y LlynEiffel TowerAngel Falls
Khone Phapheng Falls
10,783 m
Victoria Falls
1,708 m
Angel Falls is 6.1× taller than Ellenborough Falls. It drops 1.5× further than Victoria Falls (108 m). We don't have a reliable crest width for Ellenborough Falls yet, so it is left off the width chart. Tallest · widest lists.
Watch and read
Books worth packing
Lonely Planet Best Day Walks AustraliaLonely Planet
Walking guide
Lonely Planet Best Day Walks Australia
Lonely Planet · 2024
Short and half-day walks around Australia, useful for fitting waterfall hikes into a wider trip.
Places We Swim: Exploring Australia's Best…Caroline Clements and…
About this place
Places We Swim: Exploring Australia's Best Beaches, Pools, Waterfalls, Lakes, Hot Springs and Gorges
Caroline Clements and Dillon Seitchik-Reardon · 2018
A guide to Australian swimming spots including waterfall plunge pools; check the state of each pool locally before swimming.
On the map
-31.61667, 152.28333
Quick answers
Where is Ellenborough Falls?
Ellenborough Falls is in Australia (New South Wales). The nearest base is New South Wales, Australia. Its coordinates are -31.6167, 152.2833.
How tall is Ellenborough Falls?
Ellenborough Falls drops 160 metres (525 feet). It is a horsetail-type waterfall on the Ellenborough River.
When is the best time to visit Ellenborough Falls?
Peak flow is September to December. Spring, September to December, pairs snowmelt or winter rain with lengthening days; autumn (April to May) is the quieter second season.
What can you do at Ellenborough Falls?
Beyond the viewpoints: hiking and photography. Access to the main viewpoint is rated moderate — a real walk — expect stairs, uneven ground or an hour on the trail.
How do you get to Ellenborough Falls?
The usual base is New South Wales, Australia. A real walk — expect stairs, uneven ground or an hour on the trail from there.
Nearby
Closest to Ellenborough Falls
Apsley Falls
Australia · 123 m · 80 km away
The Apsley Falls are two waterfalls on the Apsley River in the Northern Tablelands region of New South Wales…
Wollomombi Falls
Australia · 230 m · 120 km away
The Wollomombi Falls is a horsetail waterfall on the Wollomombi River in the New England region of New South…
Ebor Falls
Australia · 115 m · 140 km away
Ebor Falls is a tiered waterfall on the Guy Fawkes River, located near Ebor and about 37 kilometres…
Boundary Falls (New South Wales)
Australia · 230 km away
The Boundary Falls is a waterfall that is located within the Gibraltar Range National Park, adjacent to the…