Where the Adelaide Hills Begin in Running Water and Steep Gully Walls

Overview

Waterfall Gully sits on the western edge of Cleland National Park in the Adelaide Hills, only a short distance from central Adelaide. It is one of the best known entry points into the park, where a narrow, steep-sided gully, permanent creekline and waterfall give this part of the ranges a very different feel from the drier slopes lower down on the plains.

The setting is defined by flowing water, shaded gullies and tall native forest. Around Waterfall Gully, creeks and tributaries cut through the hills, and the surrounding country links into a broader patch of remnant bushland that is important within the Mount Lofty Ranges.

Highlights

The standout feature here is the waterfall itself at First Falls, reached from the base of the gully, with water dropping through a rocky, enclosed section of the creekline. The shape of the land is part of the appeal too. Steep slopes rise quickly from the gully floor, giving the area a sheltered, cooler feel compared with the open country closer to Adelaide.

Beyond the falls, the scenery is all about the contrast between running water and the surrounding stringybark forest. This part of the hills has a strong sense of relief, with deeply cut gullies, creek-fed vegetation and higher ridges nearby that open to broad views over the Adelaide Plains.

Best Time to Visit

Waterfall Gully is usually at its best in the cooler months, when rain freshens the creek and the falls are more likely to be flowing well. Winter and spring also bring greener gullies and a softer look through the forest, which suits the place.

In the warmer parts of the year, the shade and creekline still give the gully a pleasant character, but the landscape is generally drier and the waterfall can be less impressive after long dry spells.

Plants and Animals

The vegetation around Waterfall Gully forms part of a larger mix of eucalypt stringybark forest, woodland, creeks and tributaries within Cleland National Park. These wetter gullies support a richer pocket of plant life than many nearby slopes, and the broader park also protects some of the last intact bogs and springs in the Mount Lofty Ranges.

This landscape provides habitat for a wide range of native wildlife. In the wider park, more than 90 native bird species have been recorded, and the spring-fed creeks and waterfalls support species such as mountain galaxias and brown toadlet. The park also contains habitat for threatened species including the southern brown bandicoot, while large old trees provide nesting sites for yellow-tailed black cockatoos.

Culture and Heritage

Waterfall Gully lies within a part of Cleland National Park described as a shared boundary of Kaurna and Peramangk Country. Both nations have long connections with the Mount Lofty Ranges, including Dreaming stories associated with features of the ranges, and that connection to Country continues today.