RUSHING WATER can be heard as you exit the car at MacKenzie Falls, on the Northern Grampians Road, a 45-minute drive west of Stawell.
A draw for international tourists as well as Australian visitors, the waterfalls are a spectacular must-see.
It is a short stroll from the carpark to two of the waterfall’s lookouts, offering a glimpse of the MacKenzie River’s trip over the stones and rapids leading to the waterfall.
A longer walk, about 40 minutes on an easy gradient, takes you to the Bluff Lookout, which provides sweeping views of MacKenzie Falls and the MacKenzie River from high above the gorge.
This is the place to see the cascades of MacKenzie River as it flows downward, including a view of the falls themselves.
Parks Victoria advises, if you can’t get to the base of the falls, this is the best alternative.
There are reasons people may not wish to take the full trip down to the base of MacKenzie Falls.
While it is not a great distance (only about two kilometres return), it is steep, including multiple steps, and of course, it’s a lot easier going down than coming up.
It is accessible to most, however, including children who are up to the scamper up and down (an active three-year-old can manage all right).
The payoff is the incredible view that you can only get from below.
Coming out at the bottom, you are hit by the cool drift of the water from the falls as the MacKenzie River spills out into a pool framed by dark-coloured rocks below, which make the water look very dark and clear.
Take some time to watch the falls (the sort of spectacular view you will not often find) and the glory of the gorge below, framed by high walls of rock on all sides.
Take your time on the return trip up (in hot weather especially it can seem a long way up).
At the top, there are toilet amenities as well as picnic tables where you can enjoy a well-earned rest, a picnic, and enjoy the sound of the falls all around you.
From the waterfall, it is a short drive to Halls Gap, so maybe round off your trip with a home-made ice-cream. Treat yourself.
- GETTING THERE: Northern Grampians Road, Zumsteins. Accessible from Horsham via Wartook or from Stawell via Halls Gap.