Cave Falls

Cradle Mountain - Lake St Clair National ParkGPS Coords: -41.7463, 145.9006
Land Tenure: National Park

Updated on 02 Sep 2022

Cave Falls
© 2015 - 2024 Photography: Caedence Kuepper
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Grade 5 Hike
Suitable for very experienced hikers only.

10km's5 Hours from OLT returnRough unformed track No directional signage

No Modification of the natural environment.

Dogs are not allowed
Drones are not allowed
Suitable for caravans
Suitable for campervans and RV's
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About Cave Falls

Unnoficially named, Cave Falls is a tall waterfall with a drop of 35 metres to the west of the Overland Track. The falls are one of several falls marked by nothing more than a blue line on topo maps of the area, however they are certainly a waterfall of enough significance to warrant a proper name. Given the creek is unnamed, we decided on Cave Falls as a name due to the deep overhang creating a cave in the lower section of the falls. Additionally, the creek disappears into the ground just below the falls, suggesting some kind of karst activity giving further weighting to the name.

Cave Falls have the potential to be a rather impressive waterfall, but unfortunately the creek was barely flowing on our visit in April 2022. Other creeks in the area had reasonable flow suggesting that this trickling state is probably not unusual, but in wetter times the falls would be far more interesting. Notably, the section of rock that water cascaded down jutted out from the underlying cliff and was also a different, whiter colour, where usually a creek would wear away at the underlying rock. It may be that the waterfall is actually growing outwards from mineral contents in the water depositing on the cliff, which would be a very unusual geological feature. 

There are no tracks in the area, but the collection of 6 waterfalls in the Bluff River drainage make for a great full day detour from Lake Holmes on the Overland Track for the experienced hiker looking for a big day of waterfall bagging. Cave Falls are very close to the more impressive Veil Falls, which flows on a much more consistent watercourse and should not be missed if the effort is made to get this far. 

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Previous and Next Waterfall (Alphabetical order)

Catwalk Falls

Dover

Grade 5 HikeGrade 5 Hike

Suitable for very experienced hikers only.

Cephissus Falls

Cradle Mountain - Lake St Clair National Park

Grade 3 HikeGrade 3 Hike

Some bush walking experience recommended.

Waterfalls near Cave Falls

Veil Falls

Cradle Mountain - Lake St Clair National Park

Grade 5 HikeGrade 5 Hike

Suitable for very experienced hikers only.

Upper Tumbledown Falls

Cradle Mountain - Lake St Clair National Park

Grade 5 HikeGrade 5 Hike

Suitable for very experienced hikers only.

Tumbledown Falls

Cradle Mountain - Lake St Clair National Park

Grade 5 HikeGrade 5 Hike

Suitable for very experienced hikers only.