Located 18km from Armidale NSW, Dangars Falls is a must-see if you love the great outdoors (and even if you don’t… to be perfectly honest). With a cascading waterfall plunging 125m into the ancient gorge making up part of the Oxley Wild Rivers, you are just a hop, skip and a jump away from the heart centre of a breathtaking World Heritage site.

 

There’s something for everyone at Dangars Falls, with walking tracks ranging from 600m return to 16km return – so bring your little ones for a short walk or pack your bag for a day hike and join FOUND Regional’s Sales and Marketing Manager Meg, who loves nothing more than getting out on the trails on weekends. Keep reading for your guide to four of the most popular tracks Dangars Falls has to offer.

Dangars Falls Lookout

Distance – 600m return.

Time – Half an hour.

Intensity – Easy with some stairs.

Need to know? – The pathway is paved and fenced the whole way along, bring your camera to capture incredible views!

Facilities – Car park, picnic area with BBQ and tables, toilets.

Rating

Views 5/5

Difficulty 1/5

Length 1/5

Mihi Lookout

Distance – 4.4km return from the picnic area.

Time – One and a half to two hours.

Intensity – Moderate, the path gets rough once you reach the main sign post for Mihi and there are short steep hills.

Need to know? – No phone signal and the path runs along the edge of the gorge (there are no barriers), watch for wildlife – including snakes.

Rating

Views 5/5

Difficulty 3/5

Length 2/5

McDirty’s Lookout

Distance – 6km return.

Time – Two to three hours.

Intensity – Moderate – similar to Mihi, the path gets rough once you reach the sign post and there are short steep hills and long grass.

Need to know? – No phone signal, snakey.

Rating

Views 4/5

Difficulty 3/5

Length 3/5

Salisbury Waters Hiking Track

Distance – 16km return.

Time – Six to eight hours.

Intensity – Hard. Very steep hills and the track is rough and mostly unmaintained (think tree branches and long grass).

Need to know? – Recommended for experienced hikers. There is no phone signal, but the track is sign posted the whole way, ending at the bottom of the falls – so pack your cozzies for a well deserved paddle!

Rating

Views 5/5

Difficulty 5/5

Length 5/5

Fun stuff

• Pack a picnic lunch and eat it at Mihi Lookout. The walk ends with panoramic views of the Gondwana Rainforest surrounding the Oxley Wild Rivers, making it a great spot to pause and drink in the beauty of our region before making your way back to the car park.

• The tracks offer a lot of opportunities to see wildlife – echidnas, kangaroos, wallabies and birds are common, so are snakes (but don’t let that put you off). Take your binoculars and enjoy the views, but be mindful of who (or what) you’re sharing the path with.

• There’s a campground nearby, so if you’re travelling through and want the whole shebang, pull up a stump at Dangars Gorge Campground and take a few days to explore the area.

• Remember to Slip, Slop, Slap and take water and snacks, especially on the longer hikes.

• Unfortunately, like many National Parks in Australia, your pooch isn’t welcome to join you on your hike (not so much fun, but still important).