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 · Queensland
Malanda Falls
The Malanda Falls is a cascade waterfall on the North Johnstone River, located in the Tablelands Region in the Far North of Queensland, Australia.
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.
Malanda Falls drops 4 metres (13 ft) across a face roughly 30 metres wide on the North Johnstone River. It is a cascade-type fall, and the nearest base for a visit is Malanda, Australia. Access to the main viewpoint is rated moderate.
Summary adapted from the Wikipedia article (CC BY-SA 4.0).
As a cascade waterfall, water tumbles down a series of rock steps rather than falling free.
What you can do here
A walk-in-and-look waterfall
No commercial adventures run at Malanda Falls itself — the experience is the approach and the view. Guided day trips from Malanda are the easiest way to combine it with the area around it.
Also good forHikingPhotography
When to go
Summer rains from December to March; peak flow lands in February to April, and late dry season (September to November) can be very low.
Getting there
- Base town Malanda, Australia
- Country Australia
- Region Queensland, Australia, Oceania
- Access Moderate — a real walk — expect stairs, uneven ground or an hour on the trail
How it compares
This waterfall
Malanda Falls
Australia
Height4 mWidth30 m
Most similar
Hooker Falls
United States
Height4 mWidth—
Also a cascade 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
4 m
4 m
108 m
330 m
979 m
Malanda FallsHooker FallsVictoria FallsEiffel TowerAngel Falls
Khone Phapheng Falls
10,783 m
Victoria Falls
1,708 m
Malanda Falls
30 m
Angel Falls is 245× taller than Malanda Falls. Victoria Falls is 27× taller and 57× wider. Khone Phapheng Falls is 359× wider. 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
-17.355, 145.58639
Quick answers
Where is Malanda Falls?
Malanda Falls is in Australia (Queensland). The nearest base is Malanda, Australia. Its coordinates are -17.3550, 145.5864.
How tall is Malanda Falls?
Malanda Falls drops 4 metres (13 feet), across a face about 30 metres wide. It is a cascade-type waterfall on the North Johnstone River.
When is the best time to visit Malanda Falls?
Peak flow is February to May. Summer rains from December to March; peak flow lands in February to April, and late dry season (September to November) can be very low.
What can you do at Malanda 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 Malanda Falls?
The usual base is Malanda, Australia. A real walk — expect stairs, uneven ground or an hour on the trail from there.
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