Waterfall Jaunt, Let's Go For a Ride!

Australia boasts some of the world's most unique and wild landscapes, and plenty of long roads--in other words, excellent country for motorcycle touring. You don't need much of an excuse to hop on a hog and roam the spectacular terrain Down Under, but the country's amazing waterfalls can provide the foundation for an unforgettable trip. From the rocky gorges of the Kimberleys to the rainforest defiles of Tasmania, Australia's waterfalls are tremendous expressions of Nature's power--and wonderful destinations for the two-wheeled adventurer.


Structure Your Route

In the arid reaches of central, western, and southern Australia, waterfalls may be few and far between--though spectacular where they're found. In the more well-watered east, where rivers drop steeply from the highlands of the Great Dividing Range, waterfalls are more highly concentrated. If you're looking for the most convenient introduction to Oz's thunderous cataracts, consider the 200-kilometer-long Waterfall Way along State Highway 78 in New South Wales. Over a dozen spectacular waterfalls line this route, including one of Australia's very tallest, Wollombombi Falls. If its constituent plunges are considered together, this staggered drop of the Wollomombi River at the margin of the New England Tablelands--a centerpiece of Oxley Wild Rivers National Park--covers a vertical distance of 424 meters.
But you have plenty of options for more remote options. Farflung Karijini National Park in Western Australia, for example, encompasses impressive seasonal waterfalls in the rough drainages of the Hamersley Ranges.

Day Trip or Camping?

Consider the amount of time you're willing to expend on your waterfall odyssey. You can accomplish the Waterfall Way in a day's touring, and see plenty of  spectacular cataracts in the process. From Sydney, you can easily take in the beauty of Somersby Falls in Brisbane Water National Park in an afternoon. You'll undoubtedly deepen your appreciation of the landscape with at least an overnighter, if not a more extended camping trip; such an investment may be required to explore more remote waterfalls. To take in all the waterfalls of the Cradle Mountain-Lake St Clair National Park--part of the Tasmanian Wilderness UNESCO World Heritage Area--you might opt to spend the night in the Waldheim Cabins, which constitute primitive but comfortable lodging in this rugged and scenic country.

Safety

Keep in mind that motorcycle travel in remote corners of Australia demands full awareness of contingencies. Don't attempt the most isolated waterfalls unless you're prepared to deal with flat tires, limited fuel-up options, and other realities of wilderness Australia.
In the tropics of northern Australia, be wary of wading or bathing in waterfall pools, as in Litchfield National Park. Estuarine, or saltwater, crocodiles are the undisputed rulers of these waterways, and it's foolhardy to swim where they're present; these monstrous reptiles, which may reach 20 feet in length, are nothing to mess around with, and readily target human beings entering their realm. In places where "salties" are present, stay out of the water and appreciate the power of their presence--and of plunging water--from a safe distance.

Consider the Season

Much of Australia is strongly seasonal, and prevailing conditions can significantly affect your touring. Where there are distinct wet and dry seasons, waterfalls are more voluminous and dramatic in the former, for obvious reasons. Dandongadale Falls, which careens over 800 feet off the lip of the Mount Cobber Plateau in the Great Dividing Range of Victoria's Alpine National Park, transforms from a thunderous flow in winter and spring to wraithlike wispiness in summer. The monsoons of the tropical reaches of the Northern Territory translate to the same wild variations in river volume.
In the same season, however, strong-flowing waterfalls might also be less accessible because of poor road conditions. That's the case for the famous 200-meter Jim Jim Falls in the Northern Territory's Kakadu National Park, the route to which in the wet season is only traversable with four-wheel drive. (Flights over the falls during this time of year are a popular way to experience them at their most muscular.) Rain can render impressive waterfalls like Blencoe basically inaccessible by motorcycle, so your best bet is to stay fully attuned to weather conditions and inquire locally ahead of your outing.

Savor Local Ecology

Don't restrict your appreciation to the dramatic leap of water itself. Take the time--off the roaring back of your rig--to appreciate regional ecology. If you're checking out Jim Jim Falls in Kakadu, devote awhile to keying into the park's varied habitats, from gum-dotted hills to mangrove-bristled coastline. After taking in Wallaman Falls in Girringun National Park, spend an evening looking for one of Australia's iconic critters: the platypus, which forages in the Herbert River system.
However you sample these spellbinding leaps of water, have at it! Seeking out Australia's marvelous waterfalls gives you a taste for this long-isolated island continent's incomparable scenery, whether you're motorcycling through the rainforests of the Great Dividing Range or the sedimentary gorges of the Kimberley.

Victoria contributed this guest post on behalf of Customer Care. Victoria is a freelance travel writer. She enjoys getting off the beaten track and trying new adventures.