Waterfalls and Walks at Boonoo Boonoo National Park

Boonoo Boonoo National Park sits in northern New South Wales, around 35 km east of the town of Tenterfield, NSW, and roughly 650 km north of Sydney. Set among granite country near the Queensland border, this park draws people in with its dramatic waterfall, quiet swimming holes, well-marked walks, and a relaxed pace that suits everything from short bushwalks to longer hikes. It is a place where you can slow down, stretch your legs, and enjoy time outdoors without feeling rushed.

One of the park’s most well-known stories dates back to the early 1900s, when poet Banjo Paterson proposed to Alice Walker at the Boonoo Boonoo Falls lookout. The setting clearly did its job, and the two married in 1903. Standing at the lookout today, it is easy to see why the location left such an impression. After good rain, the Boonoo Boonoo River spills over a broad granite edge and drops about 210 metres into the gorge below, creating a powerful and memorable sight. Even in drier periods, the falls remain impressive, and the surrounding landscape gives plenty of reasons to linger.

Beyond the lookout, the park offers a variety of walking tracks that suit different interests and abilities. Short walks lead to picnic areas and viewpoints, while longer bushwalks and hikes follow the river and explore the surrounding bushland. Secluded rock pools along the Boonoo Boonoo River provide welcome relief on warm days, and shaded picnic spots make it easy to turn a walk into a relaxed day out. Whether you are ticking off all trails in the area or just heading out for a casual stroll, there is plenty here to keep you engaged.

Boonoo Boonoo is named from the Jukambal language, meaning “big rock,” a fitting description of the granite country that shapes the park. This varied landscape supports a wide range of wildlife. Early mornings and late afternoons are the best times to spot kangaroos and wallabies, along with the endangered brush-tailed rock-wallaby and the vulnerable spotted-tailed quoll. Platypuses are sometimes seen in the river, and birdlife is abundant, from waterbirds to the distinctive glossy black-cockatoo.

The park also carries reminders of a busy past. Morgans Gully and Ropers Gully were sites of alluvial gold discoveries in the late nineteenth century, drawing prospectors from Australia and overseas. While nature has long since reclaimed these areas, a walk through the gullies invites quiet reflection on the lives once lived here and the brief boom that helped shape nearby Tenterfield.

Whether you visit after heavy rain to see the falls at their most dramatic, or during drier months to enjoy swimming, picnics, and unhurried walks, Boonoo Boonoo National Park offers a rewarding mix of scenery, history, and outdoor experiences. Want to find the best trails in Boonoo Boonoo National Park for an adventurous hike, casual walk, or a family trip? Trail Hiking Australia has the best trails for walking, hiking, running, and more.