Minyon Falls

Minyon Falls
The Minyon Falls
Location	Nightcap National Park, New South Wales, Australia
Coordinates	28°36′46″S 153°23′24″E / 28.6127°S 153.3900°E / -28.6127; 153.3900Coordinates: 28°36′46″S 153°23′24″E / 28.6127°S 153.3900°E / -28.6127; 153.3900
Elevation	200 metres (660 ft)
Total height	100 metres (330 ft)

Minyon Falls is a waterfall in the Nightcap National Park, New South Wales, Australia. Standing at over 100 metres (330 ft) high, this waterfall is a popular visitor attraction and is located within easy reach of the nearby town of Byron Bay.

The falls themselves are the result of the water of Repentance Creek flowing over the huge rhyolite cliffs which were once part of the Tweed Volcano. The water flow eroded the underlying basalt away to create the 100-metre waterfall.^[1] Nightcap National Park was added to the Gondwana Rainforests of Australia World Heritage Site in 1986.

Flora & fauna

The top of the falls is surrounded by wet sclerophyll forest with some very tall Blackbutt, Tallowwood and Flooded gum trees. Visitors to the falls regularly observe wildlife such as Lace Monitor (goanna), Kookaburra, Satin Bowerbird, Noisy Pitta, Eastern Yellow Robin, Peregrine Falcon, Bobuck Possum, Northern and Long-nosed Bandicoot, Tawny Frogmouth, Stoney Creek Frog, Red-eyed Green Tree Frog, Red-necked Pademelon and Carpet Python. There are also occasional Koala and Potoroo sightings.^[2]

The Minyon valley is a sub-tropical rainforest, vegetation includes: Bangalow Palm, Brushbox, Strangler Fig, Stream Lily, Walking Stick Palm, Rusty Rose Walnut, Blue Quandong, Broad Leaved Palm Lily, Tree Fern, Red Lilly Pilly, White Bark,^[3] Birds Nest Fern, Stag Horn Fern, Brushbox Orchid and Native Wisteria vine. Regular wildlife sightings include; Noisy Pitta, Eastern Yellow Robin, Eastern Whipbird, Wonga Pigeon, White-headed Pigeon, Yellow Tailed Black Cockatoo, Little Shrike-thrush and Tree-creeper -there are occasional Potoroo and Green Tree Snake sightings.^[4] In wet weather conditions, visitors may be encounter leeches.

Visitor facilities & trails

The National Parks and Wildlife Service (New South Wales) manages the area as part of the Nightcap National Park, and provides facilities for visitors, including a 50m boardwalk to the lookout which is wheelchair accessible, several picnic tables and barbecue facilities at the top of the falls. The National Parks and Wildlife Service do not permit camping in the Minyon Falls area, but a camping ground is provided 2 kilometres (1.2 mi) west of the falls at Rummery Park.^[5]

Visitors are able to explore the bottom of the falls and the sub-tropical rainforest along designated walking trails, all of which involve steep hills, with some scrambling over wet rocks at the base of the falls. One trail follows a route 4.5 kilometres (2.8 mi) from the top of the falls, across the ridge, near Quandong Falls, down into the valley to the bottom of the Minyon falls, it continues 2.5 kilometres (1.6 mi) to Minyon Grass, then joins the road for 1.2 kilometres (0.75 mi) back to the falls car park to form a loop. A shorter, 2.5 kilometres (1.6 mi) track runs from Minyon Grass to the bottom of the falls.^[6] Another walking trail in the area is the Boggy Creek Walk from the Rummery Park Campground to the top of the Falls (2 km/45mins each way).

Access

Minyon Falls' proximity to towns such as Byron Bay, Ballina and Lismore make it a popular attraction, and the falls can be reached by car in approximately 45 minutes (1 hour from Ballina or Lismore). The falls can also be visited from the Gold Coast, which is a 2-hour journey via the Pacific Highway. The road to the falls is an unsealed road and can be difficult at times to drive.

Various local tour companies offer trips to the Minyon Falls, including several of the Nimbin Tour buses; the day walks are available to the bottom of the falls and night-time walks at the top of the falls.

References

1. ^ Ferrett, Russell (2005). Australia's Volcanoes. Australia: New Holland Publishers. pp. 93. ISBN 1 877069 09 4. 
2. ^ Vision, Walks. "Night walk sightings". http://www.visionwalks.com/nightwalks.html. 
3. ^ Floyd, A.G., Australian Rainforests in New South Wales Volume 2 - 1990 ISBN 0 949324 32 9 page 23
4. ^ Vision, Walks. "Day walk sightings". http://www.visionwalks.com/daywalks.html. 
5. ^ DECC, National Parks and Wildlife Service. "Minyon Falls". http://www.environment.nsw.gov.au/NationalParks/parkHome.aspx?id=N0062&s=MinyonFalls#secStart. 
6. ^ Michael, Smith (2005). Bushwalking in the Rainbow Region. Northern Rivers NSW: self. pp. 36–37. 

External links

• Nightcap National Park website