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Waterfall Way is a road in New South Wales, Australia. It runs east-west from Pacific Highway in Raleigh to New England Highway at Armidale. The route passes through some of New South Wales' most scenic countryside and has become well known as its best and Australia's third most beautiful tourist drive.[2][3] Seven national parks, of which three are listed as World Heritage Areas by UNESCO and form part of the Gondwana Rainforests of Australia (formerly the Central Eastern Rainforest Reserves), are located on or close to the route. Dorrigo National Park encompasses the waterfalls that give the route its name.

Waterfall Way New South Wales
Newell Falls, Waterfall Way, Dorrigo National Park
East end West end
Coordinates	30°27′44″S 153°00′01″E (East end) 30°31′14″S 151°40′45″E (West end)
General information
Type	Highway
Length	169.8 km (106 mi)[1]
Route number(s)	B78 (2013–present)
Former route number	State Route 78 (1974–2013)
Tourist routes	Tourist Route 17 (Ebor–Armidale)
Major junctions
East end	Giinagay Way Raleigh, New South Wales
	Pacific Highway Armidale Road Guyra Road
West end	New England Highway Armidale, New South Wales
Location(s)
Major settlements	Bellingen, Dorrigo, Ebor
Highway system
Highways in Australia National Highway • Freeways in Australia Highways in New South Wales

In addition to being a tourist route, the Waterfall Way is also an important highway link between coastal and inland New South Wales (specifically the population centres of Armidale and Coffs Harbour), and is therefore heavily trafficked.

Route

Starting just beyond the interchange with Pacific Highway at Raleigh, midway between Urunga and Coffs Harbour, it follows the south bank of the Bellinger River, passing through Bellingen. After crossing the Bellinger River the road swings north and climbs the escarpment of the Great Dividing Range, skirting the southern edge of the Dorrigo world heritage rainforest and crossing the Newell and Sherrard waterfalls for which the route is named. Single lane traffic restrictions do not permit stopping at these falls, but the Newell Falls may be viewed at a rest area below the fall. At the top of the escarpment (elevation 750 m (2,460 ft)) a short detour south leads to Griffith's Lookout with views over the Bellinger River National Park and valley.

A short way further on is the turnoff to the visitor centre at the World Heritage Area, Dorrigo National Park, known for its skywalk and walking tracks. The pretty and readily accessible Dangar Falls are located 2.4 km (1.5 mi) north of the centre of Dorrigo on the Bielsdown River. Proceeding through the town of Dorrigo, the road continues through the pastoral upland of the Dorrigo Plateau before crossing the headwaters of the Nymboida River. The Bicentennial National Trail shares the route prior to reaching Ebor. About nine kilometres after turning left onto the Armidale Grafton road Ebor is passed. This village is close to the Guy Fawkes River National Park and Ebor Falls.[4]

Between Ebor and Wollomombi the route passes through the 8,839 ha (21,840 acres) Cathedral Rock National Park. The National Heritage listed Yooroonah Tank Barrier is approximately 12 km (7.5 mi) southwest of Ebor and near the route.[5] After leaving Ebor the road passes an intersection, from where the Dutton Trout Hatchery, and Point Lookout are accessed about 10 km (6.2 mi) east of Waterfall Way in the New England National Park. Further on, the Wollomombi Falls are about 1 km (0.6 mi) south of the Waterfall Way. The 145,000 ha (360,000-acre) World Heritage listed Oxley Wild Rivers National Park is readily accessible from the Wollomombi Falls.[6] From here the road passes 5 km (3.1 mi) north of the historical mining village of Hillgrove and the viewing platforms at Bakers Creek Falls and the Metz Gorge. There are also other more remote, interesting sites to visit on this Way to Armidale. The Gara Gorge is 18 km (11 mi) south-east of Armidale along the Castledoyle Road leading off the Waterfall Way just east of Armidale.

The road is sealed but relatively narrow and has a steep 14 km (9 mi) winding section. In recent years storms and associated flash flooding have washed away sections of the roadway where it rises to the ranges, leading to traffic being limited to one lane at the waterfalls on the Dorrigo Range.

History

The passing of the Main Roads Act of 1924[7] through the Parliament of New South Wales provided for the declaration of Main Roads, roads partially funded by the State government through the Main Roads Board (later the Department of Main Roads, and eventually Transport for NSW). Main Road No. 119 was declared from the intersection with North Coast Highway, today Giinagay Way, at Raleigh via Bellingen to Dorrigo (and continuing northwards to Tyringham),[8] Main Road No. 120 was declared from Dorrigo to Jock's Water south of Hernani (and continuing eastwards to Coramba),[8] and Main Road No. 121 was declared from Jock's Water via Wollomombi to Armidale (and continuing northwards via Tyringham and Nymboida to the intersection with North Coast Highway, today Big River Way, at South Grafton)[8] on the same day, 8 August 1928.

Waterfall Way was later signed State Route 78 in 1974. With the conversion to the newer alphanumeric system in 2013, this was replaced with route B76.

Major intersections

Waterfall Way passes over the Pacific Highway at a grade-separated four-ramp parclo intersection.

This table does not show any bridges (see Major stream crossings below)

LGA	Location	km[1]	mi	Destinations	Notes
Bellingen	Raleigh	0	0.0	Giinagay Way – Valla	Eastern terminus of road and route B78
		0.2	0.12	Pacific Highway (A1) – Coffs Harbour, Newcastle, Sydney
Bellingen	Dorrigo	41.1	25.5	Tyringham Road – Bostobrick
Clarence Valley	Hernani	77.7	48.3	Armidale Road – Tyringham, South Grafton
Armidale	Ebor	90.8	56.4	Guyra Road – Guyra
	Armidale	165	103	Barney Street (west) – Armidale Dangar Street (north) – Armidale	Roundabout
		166.1	103.2	O'Connor Road (southwest) – Armidale Memorial Avenue (southeast) – Armidale	Roundabout
		169.8	105.5	New England Highway (A15) – Bendemeer, Tamworth, Glen Innes, Tenterfield, Armidale Airport	Western terminus of Waterfall Way and route B78 Entrance to Armidale Airport 250m away
1.000 mi = 1.609 km; 1.000 km = 0.621 mi       Route transition

Major stream crossings

The accompanying diagram shows the crossings of all major streams by the Waterfall Way.

v t e Waterfall Way major stream crossings From West to East
Armidale Commissioners Waters Gara River Wollomombi River Wollomombi Chandler River Oaky River Guy Fawkes River Ebor Boundary Creek Nymboida River Little Murray River Bielsdown River Dorrigo Bellinger River (Thora Bridge) Bellingen

See also

• Highways in Australia
• List of highways in New South Wales
• List of highways numbered 78

References

• "Waterfall Way" by Tourism Armidale; published by Cook, Green & Moore Advertising, Coffs Harbour.
• Bellinger Magic - the official visitor guide to the Bellinger region

External links

• Waterfall Way
• Visit Waterfall Way

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