6 stunning waterfalls near Daylesford

Roxanne AndrewsBy Roxanne Andrews
hero media
Don’t just imagine the perfect outdoor adventure exploring waterfalls near Daylesford. Make it happen!

Daylesford and its vastly beautiful surrounds play host to some of the most spectacular waterfalls in country Victoria. The positively charged energy that permeates from Mother Nature’s mega water fountains is truly astounding. It’s safe to say that anyone who witnesses these waterfalls up close will feel it.

Note: Please check the Parks Victoria  website for safety updates and closures before you embark on visiting any of the below waterfalls.

1. Trentham Falls

Distance from Daylesford: 18-minute drive
Where: Coliban River Scenic Reserve
Parking: Yes
Difficulty: Easy
Swimming: No

Trentham Falls is one of Victoria’s longest single-drop waterfalls! Towering 32 metres high, the water heaves over impressive basalt rock structures. Upon arrival (it’s just a short, easy walk from the car park to the viewing platform) you can straight-up expect a breathtaking experience.

Watching the rapid force of natural hydropower in action is phenomenal. Note: there’s no access to the top or bottom of the falls as the cliffs are unstable – it’s best to stay safe on the platform and designated walking track.

the Trentham Falls in Coliban River Scenic Reserve
Trentham Falls drops from a 32-metre-high basalt cliff.

Trentham Falls form part of an Aboriginal cultural landscape in the traditional Country of the Dja Dja Wurrung Peoples. Overall, it’s one of the most magical waterfalls near Daylesford! Put it on your must-see central Victorian natural attractions list ASAP.

2. Stanley Park Waterfall

Distance from Daylesford: 46-minute drive
Where: Mount Macedon
Parking: Yes
Difficulty: Easy to Moderate
Swimming: No

This is such a cool (literally and metaphorically) little waterfall in the Mount Macedon region. So, it’s best to visit in the middle of the day and catch the sun’s rays splitting over the falls. The vertical drop is approximately 5-10 metres long, depending on the power of the water pushing through from the Turtiable Creek source. We love the sheltered BBQs here for visitor use, plus the kid’s playground and dogs are welcome on a lead too. The most reliable time to see the falls in all their glory is during winter/spring but if there’s been recent rainfall you can get lucky in summer/autumn too.

3. Sailors Falls

Distance from Daylesford: 7-minute drive
Where: Sailors Falls
Parking: Yes
Difficulty: Easy to moderate
Swimming: Yes

Waterfalls and mineral springs in one place, yes, please. It’s a super accessible, almost roadside spot too. All you must do is take a lovely stroll along the forest-lined walkway and be greeted by the amazing scenery at Sailors Falls.

an aerial view of Sailors Falls, Hepburn Springs, Daylesford
Sailors Falls drops into a lush, fern-lined gully.

There’s a 1.37-kilometre loop track that takes about 30 minutes to walk and offers up mesmerizing views if getting up close and personal with nature is your thing or simply relax at the lookout (which is wheelchair and pram friendly) adjacent to the picnic area. Feeling thirsty? There are two mineral spring taps about, one at the start in the car park area and another along the walking track.

two women admiring the Sailors Falls, Hepburn Springs, Daylesford
Gaze at the stunning Sailors Falls in Hepburn Springs, Daylesford.

History buffs take note, gold was first discovered in this area way back in 1851 and with that, an influx of fossickers and their families arrived. Sailors Falls became (and remains) a popular spot for picnics.

a stunning view of Sailors Falls, Hepburn Springs, Daylesford
Sailors Falls is located just south of Daylesford.

4. Loddon Falls

Distance from Daylesford: 14-minute drive
Where: Glenlyon
Parking: Yes. Accessible by all vehicles in dry weather and by 4WD only in the wet.
Difficulty: Moderate
Swimming: Experienced swimmers only

Located along the Loddon River in Glenlyon, these lesser-known waterfalls are well worth the short trip from Daylesford. The water here spills over imposing hexagonal basalt rock columns that jut up from the gorge (which does indeed make for a lovely swimming spot in the right conditions) about 30-40 metres below. Native flora and fauna are bountiful in these parts! It’s a quick walk from the car park to the gorge lookout. From there, there are two paths to take – the high track to the top spot or, the low-slung, rock-hugging walk to the bottom. Either vantage point makes for excellent photo opportunities.

a spectacular gorge at Loddon Falls, Glenlyon, Daylesford
Loddon Falls is a spectacular gorge tucked within rolling hills and dirt tracks. (Image: R Reeve)

5. Colbrook Reservoir

Distance from Daylesford: 32-minute drive
Where: Wombat State Forest, Colbrook
Parking: Yes, best accessed by 4WD
Difficulty: Moderate
Swimming: Yes

Colbrook Reservoir is an off-the-beat destination suited to adventure seekers keen to see a seasonal waterfall spilling over the massive reservoir dam wall. It’s a gem of a setting for bushwalking, swimming, fishing and snap-happy photographers. Free bush camping sites are available here but there are no facilities; bring in everything you need and take it when you leave (including any rubbish please).

6. The Blowhole

Distance from Daylesford: 9-minute drive
Where: Hepburn Regional Park
Parking: Yes 
Difficulty: Easy
Swimming: Yes, seasonal – dependent on gentle water flow. No diving. Experienced swimmers only.

Hepburn Springs outdoes itself here with the Blowhole’s immaculate display of sheer beauty. Fact: people are surprised to discover that this is a manmade waterfall/ swimming hole, created by gold miners in the late 19th century for fossicking purposes.

The Blowhole and Sailors Creek (the water source that feeds into it) is part of the 210-kilometre Goldfields Track, which runs from Mt Buniyong near Ballarat and passes through Creswick, Daylesford and Castlemaine to Bendigo. Sure, the Blowhole becomes quite a turbulent show after high rainfalls, and then, on the opposite end of the spectrum, it’s just as often an idyllically, pretty place to visit. Either way, we recommend packing a picnic and plotting your spot, for there’s plenty of space to spread out and relax.

Visiting Daylesford and its surrounds soon? Check out our Daylesford & Macedon Ranges guide for the top things to do, best restaurants and cosy accommodations in Daylesford.

Roxanne Andrews
Roxanne Andrews is a freelance travel writer and editor based in Yamba, Australia. Topics of expertise include; sports tourism, luxury travel, arts & culture, cuisine & dining, wellness, the adventure sector and all things marine. A professional scribe who occasionally goes gonzo to capture the moment.
See all articles
Mount Franklin Summit Walk daylesford hikes
Daylesford & Macedon Ranges

8 incredible hikes just outside of Melbourne

Just over an hour from Melbourne, spectacular walking and hiking trails encompass ancient landscapes, forested ridgelines and volcanic peaks.

Read more
The Macedon Ranges is Victoria’s best-kept food and wine secret
Daylesford & Macedon Ranges

The Macedon Ranges is Victoria’s best-kept food and wine secret

Located just an hour north-west of Melbourne, the largely undiscovered Macedon Ranges quietly pours some of Australia’s finest cool-climate wines and serves up some of Victoria’s best food.

Read more
New private bathing rooms at Hepburn Bathhouse in Hepburn Springs Victoria
Daylesford & Macedon Ranges

Hepburn Bathhouse reopens with new mineral baths and experiences

Slow the flow of modern-day life in Australia’s magical spa country with a stay at the new Hepburn Bathhouse.

Read more
Daylesford accommodation
Daylesford & Macedon Ranges

The best Daylesford accommodation for a perfect weekend getaway

Plan your next getaway around one of these peaceful stays.

Read more
hero media

This geological wonder is hiding in the heart of Victoria

    Michael TurtleBy Michael Turtle
    Continue
    Mythical, historical and most of all, spectacularly beautiful, Buchan Caves demands you take your time – and a tour. 

    In the pools of water, so still they could be mirrors, the reflections of the stalactites make these limestone towers seem even taller. Almost 400 million years ago, an underground river carved through the rock to create the Buchan Caves . Now, artworks created by dripping water adorn these subterranean galleries: stalactites hanging from the ceiling, pillars connecting some to the ground, even curtain-like wave formations clinging to the stone.

    Caves House
    Visit the caves for the day or stay onsite in the campground or at the self-contained Caves House. (Image: Ben Savage)

    “This is called the Fairy Cave because it’s full of fairy dust,” a guide tells visitors as they enter a cavern glittering with “calcite that’s solidified into thousands of tiny little diamond shapes”.  Buchan Caves is Victoria’s largest cave system, but Fairy Cave is a highlight and, along with nearby Royal Cave, is accessible only by tour. Naturally cold, naturally dark, these caverns deep below the surface light up as the local experts tell their stories. 

    couple walking in cave
    You’ll need to book a guided tour to see the caves. (Image: Tourism Australia)

    Among the hundreds of caves, some can be easily accessed from the surface. For instance, a casual stroll along the FJ Wilson Interpreted Walk, as kangaroos watch on from beneath acacia trees, leads into the 400-metre-long Federal Cave and its natural steps of white limestone. A slightly longer track, the Granite Pools Walk heads through soaring forest down into moss-covered gullies where the calls of lyrebirds trill through the leaves. 

    A quick history lesson on Buchan Caves 

    Buchan Caves
    Buchan Caves are a must-visit attraction in Gippsland. (Image: Tourism Australia)

    Among the geology and the nature are millennia of history. This part of East Gippsland connects the high country to the coast and was long a place of refuge for the local Gunaikurnai people on seasonal migrations to the mountains. Archaeological studies show humans lived here up to 18,000 years ago, with artefacts such as small stone tools found around the site. But not too far into the caverns – oh no! The Gunaikurnai didn’t dare venture deep into the dark at Buchan Caves, telling stories they were inhabited by gnome-like nyols (small grey-skinned creatures that could steal memories). 

    Buchan Caves Hotel
    The Buchan Caves Hotel was rebuilt after burning down in 2014. (Image: Jess Shapiro)

    By the early 1900s, more people had started to hear about these incredible caves and so the Moon family set up home at the site and started to run tours below ground for intrepid visitors. More than a century later, their historic residence is available as accommodation, with the three-bedroom house sleeping up to eight people and now equipped with modern amenities the Moons could only have dreamt of. 

    But whether you stay overnight or just spend the day here, it’s worth taking your time to explore more than just the main caves, to get a deeper understanding of one of Victoria’s fascinating geological attractions.