Mumbulla Creek Falls

near Bega, New South Wales

Mumbulla Creek Falls is a natural rock water slide with a lip at the bottom to launch yourself into a deep pool. No one knows exactly how deep the pool is - you can't see or touch the bottom. Above: The rock wall above the pool at Mumbulla Creek Falls (Order this image)

To reach the top of the slide, you need to scramble up the rocks on the right hand side of the falls. If it is your first time here, it is best to watch someone else show you the way. Once at the top, you can either jump off the rock ledge into the pool a few metres below, or wander futher across to the top of the slide. Take the right hand chute, edge yourself forward and hang on. Both options are totally invigorating. Clearly there are several chances to severely injure yourself here and it is a long way back to Bega Hospital if you do. Therefore, do not swim here alone and assess your own risks. If you choose not to slide or jump, the pool itself is a great swimming spot in its own right and offers a relatively safer, picturesque and thoroughly refreshing swim, as long as no one is going to land on your head from above.

The falls are a sacred site for the Yuin people. The information boards along the boardwalk tell you some of their story. According to Biamanga National Park Chair Paul Stewart, from an ABC radio interview in March 2015, the pool is a place of quiet reflection for young Aboriginal men. Whilst I have never seen any young Yuin men on site during my multiple visits, if the Yuin people are using the falls, be respectful of their presence. Further, the NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service advises that "The Aboriginal custodians request that visitors, through respect, do not swim in the Mumbulla Falls area - a site that is sacred to the Yuin People." I swam here prior to this advice being issued. Above: Launching off the rock slide at Mumbulla Creek Falls (Order this image)

On any given summer day, you can find dozens of people heading down the rock slide or off the rocks above the pool in displays of courage and daring. This kind of limited risk taking in a natural environment is a rare and unique experience, with only a handful of these natural rock slides in existence around Australia. This is one of the best that I have experienced due to the hang time after leaving the rock face, before hitting the water.

Here is a video that captures the joy of sliding and jumping into the water at the falls.



The bbq's here are in a pretty good spot, close to the car park but still in the middle of the bush. Pack a hamper and enjoy a few snags after visiting the falls. The shortest access road to the falls from Princes Hwy (via Glen Oakes Road and Clarkes Road) is now closed. According to the Bega District News (19/11/2015) the reason for the closure is because part of the road runs through private property. When that property recently changed hands, the new owners decided that they no longer wanted through traffic passing through their land. What that means is that instead of the 11 km trip from the highway that used to take around 25 minutes to reach the falls, you now have to drive from Bega, up over Dr George Mountain for 24 km, which will take you just under an hour. Apparently this alternative access route is narrow in parts and mostly dirt road, so drive carefully. Before you head out, make sure to read the swimming safety information and check with the managing authority for any current change of conditions. The marker indicates the approximate location of the waterfall. 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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