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Best waterfall destinations in Oceania

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Fiordland National Park
New Zealand’s Wildest Water World
8.7
Covering 4,868 square miles, this is the largest of New Zealand's 13 national parks. Milford Sound is its most visited fiord. Doubtful Sound day tours cross Lake Manapouri by boat and then reach the fiord by bus over Wilmot Pass. UNESCO recognised the park in 1986 and folded it into Te Wahipounamu in 1990.
Highlights:
  • 🪶 Scenic fly over dramatic fjords and hidden alpine lakes
  • 🥾 Hike the world-famous Milford Track through lush rainforest
  • 🛥️ Cruise through majestic Milford Sound and spot playful dolphins
Kakadu National Park
Ancient Rock Art and Wild Wetlands
8.3
Jim Jim Falls drops 459 to 656 feet into a plunge pool on the Arnhem Land escarpment. It lies about 17 miles south of Jabiru. A dry season gravel road leads there. The last 7 miles need four wheel drive. The falls often stop flowing then. Wet season views are best from the air.
Highlights:
  • 🏞️ Take a challenging hike to Jim Jim Falls gorge
  • 🦅 Cruise the Yellow Water Billabong for crocs and birdlife
  • 🌄 Watch the sunset over Aboriginal rock art at Ubirr
Victoria
Diverse Landscapes and Cultural Richness
8.3
Erskine Falls drops about 116 feet near Lorne and the Great Ocean Road. Steavenson Falls near Marysville has five cascades with a total descent of 400 feet. A turbine powered by its own water floodlights them at night. Hopetoun Falls in the Otway Ranges is reached by a maintained staircase to a viewing platform.
Highlights:
  • 🛍️ Explore the vibrant Queen Victoria Market with local produce and crafts
  • 🚗 Drive along the spectacular Great Ocean Road to see the 12 Apostles
  • 🌺 Visit the Royal Botanic Gardens for lush landscapes and exotic plants
Milford Sound
Breathtaking fiord of towering peaks
Lady Bowen Falls and Stirling Falls are the two permanent waterfalls here. Temporary falls appear after heavy rain. The fiord is described as the wettest inhabited place in New Zealand, with about 252 inches of rain a year. Mitre Peak rises 5,550 feet above it. Boat tours last one to two hours.
Highlights:
  • 🥾 Hike part of the renowned Milford Track for epic views
  • 🛶 Kayak alongside seals and dolphins in tranquil fjord waters
  • ⛴️ Cruise Milford Sound to see towering cliffs and waterfalls
Sutherland Falls
Majestic cascade plunges through lush rainforest
Fed by Lake Quill, the falls drop about 1,900 feet in three cascades. They are among New Zealand's tallest waterfalls. Donald Sutherland first recorded them for Europeans in 1880. He claimed they topped 3,280 feet, which later surveys showed was greatly exaggerated. The base is a 90 minute return walk on the Milford Track.
Highlights:
  • 🌅 Capture sunrise over the misty waterfall from viewpoint
  • 🚁 Take a scenic helicopter ride over Fiordland
  • 🏞️ Hike to the base of Sutherland Falls waterfall
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