Gibraltar Falls

near Canberra in the ACT

The pool on the edge of Gibraltar Falls looks like an amazing spot to swim, but does it live up to expectations? Without a doubt, the views are spectacular, looking out over the Gibraltar Creek and Paddys River valleys from the top of a cliff, bounded by a line of mountains on both sides. However, for the swim itself, here's a few things for you to consider before you rush to get into the water at this spot. Above: The pool on the edge of Gibraltar Falls (Order this image)

The pool itself is quite small and shallow, at around five metres across and five metres long, and only waist high deep. It's not so much of a swim as a bathing experience. If you are visiting on a busy weekend in summer, you might have to share the pool with others, so be prepared to get social in this cramped space. If you can, try and visit on a weekday, when you are more likely to have the pool to yourself. The water is crystal clear, and the bed of the pool is clean sand and rock that is comfortable on your feet. This is however a mountain stream and the water temperature is icy, so much so that my knees hurt if I stayed in for more than a few minutes at a time during my swim in Autumn. I also swam in the Murrumbidgee River on the same day, and Gibraltar Creek was clearly several degrees colder, so bring a wetsuit unless the weather forecast is for very warm weather. Above: Gibraltar Creek running through the smoothed rock shelf above Gibraltar Falls, with the pool on the right hand side (Order this image)

During low flow conditions, the biggest risk here is getting to the pool. The managing authority strongly discourages people from venturing out onto the rock shelf above the falls because of the steep cliffs and risk of falling off. To reach the pool you need to leave the path to the falls before it starts to descend, and scramble through the light scrub on one of the well worn, but unofficial tracks. You will see several signs from the managing authority here, recommending that you don't leave the path. I found that I was able to navigate my way around to the pool from the opposite (eastern) bank after jumping across the creek, without too much trouble. The rock shelf has been worn down by the water and is smooth to the touch, so don't expect a firm grip to your shoes. I would not attempt to reach the pool if there was any dampness on the rocks, or if the creek was high. In the pool itself, on my visit when the water level was below the main lip of the pool, the outlet to the waterfall was smaller than a person could readily fit through, and there was no real turbulence in the pool away from this outlet. In other words, I didn't feel in any danger of being sucked over the edge of the cliff, as long as I steered well clear of the pool outlet. The thick rock provides a solid wall along the downstream side of the pool. I was able to tentatively lean over the edge of the pool and look down the cliff face, but couldn't readily see the waterfall because the rock bulges out and obscures the view below.

If you are planning on a picnic here, there are a couple of picnic tables, barbecues and a lawn area near the car park, but these do not have a view of the falls. To reach the viewing platform for the falls, continue along the well-defined dirt track, where you will find a fenced area directly below the top of the falls. You can see photos of the falls themselves here.

Here is a video of my swim on the cliff top, taken mid-morning in Autumn, when the creek was flowing, but not in flood.

Before you head out, make sure to read the swimming safety information and check with the managing authority for any current change of conditions. Specific to this site, the managing authority advises not to walk out onto the area above the falls due to the steep cliffs. This advice from the managing authority includes not walking to the pool on the edge of the falls, which clearly involves some significant risks, particularly during high creek flows or when the rocks are even a little bit damp. The marker indicates the approximate location of the car park at the falls. If you would like to leave a comment about this swimming spot, please fill in the comment box below. I'm particularly interested in your experiences after visiting, and any changes in conditions, etc. All fields are required if you would like your comments published on this website.

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