Carrington Falls: A Southern Highlands Spectacle

Carrington Falls is a captivating natural attraction within Budderoo National Park, near the charming village of Robertson in the NSW Southern Highlands. Here, the Kangaroo River takes a dramatic 90-meter plunge off the Budderoo Plateau's western escarpment, creating a breathtaking waterfall that marks the beginning of the Kangaroo Valley. Surveyor Robert Hoddle first mapped a route through the dense Yarrawa Brush in 1830, connecting Bong Bong to Kiama. The area saw increased settlement following the Robertson Land Act, which encouraged development in the region. In the 1880s, John and Mary Missingham moved to Carrington Falls, establishing a timber mill that became a family legacy. Four generations of Missinghams worked the sawmill until its closure in the 1980s. Today, visitors can experience the falls from three well-placed lookouts, one of which is wheelchair-accessible. The short, family-friendly Carrington Falls Walking Track offers fabulous waterfall views. The 570-meter loop track leads to the main lookout (400m return) and Valley View lookout (1.2km loop). The area provides picnic facilities and toilets at Thomas' Place and Nellies Glen. Beyond the falls, Budderoo National Park offers excellent walking tracks with views across sandstone heaths and woodlands towards the Illawarra coast. Explore nearby attractions like Nellies Glen, Blue Pool, and the Missingham and Warris Chair lookouts.