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)

This swim is dangerous. People have died falling over the edge of the waterfall. 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.

During low flow conditions, the biggest risk here is getting to the pool. To reach the pool I needed 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. There are see several signs from the managing authority here, recommending not to 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. Any dampness on the rocks would make getting to the pool riskier, and impossible if the creek was high.

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. The water is crystal clear, and the bed of the pool is clean sand and rock that was comfortable on my 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)

In the pool, 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. I did not feel any suction towards the edge of the cliff, as long as I steered well clear of the pool outlet. The thick rock provides a wall along the downstream side of the pool. The waterfall itself is obscured because the rock wall bulges out at the back of the pool.

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. Given the cold water, the cramped space, and the safety risks, I found other swims in the area more enjoyable than this one.

Note: Since February 2023, access to Gibraltar Falls has been closed by the managing authority whilst they review site safety after two deaths at the falls in February 2023. Review and implementation of any new measures is likely to take a while given the recent loss of life here. This advice is current as of last checking in October 2024. 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 the map is not zoomed in locally, as can sometimes occur when loading, simply click or tap on "View Larger Map" below.
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