“There is a hidden message in every waterfall. It says, if you are flexible, falling will not hurt you!”
― Mehmet Murat ildan

If you have nothing against an early start to the day, a climb up Mount Warning to watch the first rays of sun hit mainland Australia is definitely worth it! You can see the twinkling Byron Bay Lighthouse to the east and rainforests and valleys to the west. However, be warned, it is a fairly popular weekend activity among locals and visitors, so if you want some more peace and quiet on the summit I suggest a weekday trip. Aterwards, enjoy a leisurely drive through the gorgeous countryside and breakfast at one of the cafes in Mullumbimby.

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Minyon Falls is by far my favourite waterfall! The 4km (one-way) hike starts along the scribbly-gum clad ridge line before dropping down into the rainforest below. A bit of rock-hopping later and you are at the base of this massive 100m high waterfall. It is the perfect spot for a swim, but take your picnic a bit further down the creek to get away from the mist and wind created by the masses of falling water.

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The nitty gritty:

  • The base of Mount Warning is about 1hr 20mins drive from the Gold Coast and 1hr45mins drive from Brisbane to the end of Mount Warning Road. There is a campsite near the start of the hike (bookings required).
  • The Mount Warning Summit hike is approx 8.8km return. It gets very steep towards the top and there is a bolted chain for assistance. If you have reasonable hiking/rock scrambling experience you can get to the top in about 1hr 30mins, otherwise allow at least 2 hours.
  • Minyon Falls is about 1hr30mins drive from the Gold Coast, a bit over 2hours from Brisbane and about 45mins west of Byron Bay. NSW National Parks Website
  • The start of the track is from Minyon Falls Road in Nightcap National Park. There are two ways to get to the base of the falls, from the Minyon Falls lookout (~4km each way) or the Minyon Grass picnic area (~2km each way). The walk from the lookout is much nicer, but it is longer and steeper.
  • Rummery Park Campground lies about 2km from the lookout (bookings required).