Compton Falls

LonnavaleGPS Coords: -42.9405, 146.7404
Land Tenure: Permanent Timber Production Zone Land

Updated on 14 Aug 2021

Compton Falls
© 2015 - 2024 Photography: Caedence Kuepper
image

Grade 5 Hike
Suitable for very experienced hikers only.

2km's1.5 Hours returnRough unformed track No directional signage

No Modification of the natural environment.

Dogs on leash allowed
Unknown if drones are permissable
Unknown if accessible with a caravan
Unknown if accessible with a campervan or RV
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About Compton Falls

Flowing through the network of Forestry behind Lonnavale is the aptly-named Falls Rivulet, which features a number of unnamed waterfalls and cascades. The largest and most impressive of these is the recently-nomenclatured Compton Falls, which drop 12 metres over a very attractively-shaped twin waterfall. The rivulet drains a significant area with high yearly rainfall, and thus the falls flow year round with an impressively powerful volume of water during the wetter months. Despite this, they have no track accessing them and are largely unknown. As a result, this hike should only be attempted by experienced off-track hikers, with the thick bush, steep terrain and cliffs near the falls making it a difficult trip. 

To reach Compton Falls, take Lonnavale Road from Judbury, turning right to stay on this road just after the bridge across Russell River. Continue along this road until a y intersection is reached with Compton Road. Follow Compton Road, heading straight through the intersection with Russell Road and Link Road, until you come to an intersection at the edge of a relatively recently-cleared coupe. Park here, and look for a fairly obvious fire break that branches off from the road. Follow this fire break as it leads around the edge of the coupe for about 700 metres, where it reaches its closest point to the falls, then turn off into the rainforest. A GPS is required as there are no notable landmarks to suggest where to leave the track, nor a clear direction to the falls once off the fire trail. 

Once into the bush, it is best to just take the path of least resistance forward, aiming to approach the falls from above. The downstream area below the falls is rough and cliffy, so approaching from above then descending through the forest to the side of the main plunge of the falls presents as the easiest route. To get the best view, Falls Rivulet must be crossed, with the only clear crossing point being a descent down steeply sloping logs that begins from high above the eastern bank of the rivulet. Extreme care is required on the crossing. Once across, the falls provide a number of great photographic vantage points, and a rocky outcrop right in the middle of the twin plunges allows you to peer into the wildly cascading creek below and across to the falls.

 

 

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