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Tosha Falls
Alstonville, New South Wales

This swim is a rocky pool fed by a low, wide waterfall at the back of Alstonville, next to the town's wastewater treatment plant. It has some interesting water quality conditions for swimmers, but perhaps not what you would expect given its location.

Swimming at Tosha Falls

Above: The pool at Tosha Falls in Alstonville (Order this image)

This circular pool is around 20 metres in diameter, with a vertical wall of rock, a few metres high, over which Maguires Creek spreads out and trickles down. Keeping your balance while getting into the water can be a little tricky, because of the loose and sometimes angular stones on the bottom that make it awkward to walk upright near the shore.

One of the advantages of this waterfall pool is that, excluding periods after heavy rain, the currents around the base of the falls are typically more sedate than at other waterfall pools I have swum in, because the flow over the falls is spread out, so the force of the water is not concentrated in any single location. You can also venture up to the top of the falls using a little track that runs around the side of the pool, but there are no swimming holes up there, only a shallow, rocky creek.

Swimming at Tosha Falls

Above: The pool from the lip of Tosha Falls (Order this image)

To reach the falls from the end of Johnstons Road, walk alongside the cyclone wire fence that separates you from the wastewater treatment plant lagoon (that is the square pond with green weed floating on the surface).

Turn the corner at the end of the fence, heading left to continue to walk along the fenceline, following the short little track as it veers down towards the falls.

Given its location next to the wastewater treatment plant, you could be worried about swimming here. The good news is that much of the water from the wastewater treatment plant is used to irrigate local farms, and any residual discharges from the wastewater treatment plant into Maguires Creek occur at an outfall approximately 300 metres downstream of the waterfall (MikeSvikisPlanning, 2017). So, there is no water from those lagoons in the waterfall pool. However, the 2017 management plan for the falls (MikeSvikisPlanning, 2017) presented historical water quality monitoring data from 2012-2017 and concluded that bacterial indicators were monitored at concentrations above recommended levels for swimming. Looking at the data, the samples with higher than recommended readings occurred at least half of the time when samples were taken. This suggests that there are sources of faecal contamination in the catchment, which are likely to be mobilised into the creek after rain. If you do want to swim here, make sure it has been at least 48 hours after rainfall, so that any contaminants in the landscape can be flushed through before you get into the water. The 2017 management plan also showed a photo of people swimming here in the 1950s, when the area around the falls had been cleared of vegetation, and quoted anecdotal evidence of local settlers swimming here since the 1800s.

Swimming at Tosha Falls

Above: The little patch of grass in the shade at Tosha Falls (Order this image)

There is a little open area suitable for a picnic in front of the pool, but bring a mat or chairs to sit on, as there are a few tree roots and the grass cover was thin when I visited, with a bit of mud in patches. I could not detect any odours here from the nearby treatment plant, like I could back at the car park, but I would also avoid coming here when a northerly wind is blowing to avoid any pong.

Other Information Before You Go:

Location: Western end of Johnstons Road, Alstonville, 3 km (approx. 5 min drive) north of Alstonville and 730 km (approx. 8 hr drive) north of the Sydney CBD.
Latitude:-28.829824 Longitude:153.445805
Getting there: From the Pacific Highway (M1) exit west just before Ballina onto the Bruxner Hwy (B60). After 5 km, head north onto the Ballina Road and then immediately north again onto Teven Road. Follow Teven Road for 2 km then head west onto Johnstons Road. Follow Johnstons Road to the end, where there are some rock bollards and a handful of parking spaces. From this parking area, walk west and then south along the path beside the treatment plant fenceline for approximately 400 metres until you reach the falls.

Facilities: None
Entrance fee: None
Water temperature: Mild
Water clarity: Cloudy
Under foot: Rocks
Maximum water depth: 1-2 metres
Minimum swimming proficiency required: Experienced swimmers recommended due to the unsteady footing. Inexperienced swimmers can wade in the shallows.
Prohibitions: No unauthorised vehicles, no camping or staying overnight, no rubbish dumping, no fires, no motorcycles (outside of the car park), no litter, no golf, no shooting, no alcohol from 10pm to 7am, no trespassing on private property, no entry into the treatment plant. Dogs on leads are permitted.
Sun shade: Shade available at the car park area and on the shoreline around the pool at the falls.
Opening times: Always open
Accommodation: See accommodation options close to Tosha Falls.
Wheelchair access: None
Managing authority: Ballina Shire Council
Nearby attractions: Killen Falls, 13 km to the north-east.

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 swim, the managing authority advises of submerged rocks, variable water quality - swimming not recommended, strong flowing water, cliffs, deep water, uneven ground, slippery ground and steep ground. The managing authority also advises walkers to keep to the walking track, avoid native rehabilitation areas and to not trespass on private property.

Locality Map:

The marker indicates the approximate location of the car parking area 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.
View Larger Map

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