If you like to spend time chasing waterfalls, visit our region in winter or spring to see our local waterfalls at their peak. Beedelup Falls in Greater Beedelup NP is the largest waterfall and is spring-fed so flows most of the year with a trickle flow over summer. A lookout over the top level of the waterfall is fully accessible via a sealed walk trail from the carpark, the lower falls feature a suspension bridge to provide a loop walk around the falls. Lane Poole Falls and Fernhook Falls are rain-fed and are at their best over the wet season. Lane Poole Falls is a beautiful 5km return walk through Karri forest from the Boorara Tree south east of Northcliffe. Fernhook Falls is a 45 minute drive from Northcliffe towards Walpole and is an easy short walk from the carpark, including an accessible trail.
Other interesting waterways featuring cascading rapids include the Cascades in Gloucester National Park, Moons Crossing north of Northcliffe and the Gardner River which flows through the Northcliffe Forest Park to the east of the Northcliffe townsite. Many of our brooks and streams are picturesque and tranquil spots to enjoy.
The Gardner River flows to the ocean east of Windy Harbour. This river and others in the region (Warren, Meerup, Dombakup, Donnelly) bar up over the summer and autumn months as flow drops and sand is deposited back on to beaches, forming beachside lagoons. These rivers form important habitat for a variety of aquatic creatures and birdlife. The Shannon River which flows east of Northcliffe to Broke Inlet is pristine as the entire catchment is completely enclosed in conservation estate. Broke Inlet is a large inland waterway measuring more than 5000 hectares when full and is surrounded by Shannon and D’Entrecasteaux NP and a small Shire of Manjimup reserve. D’Entrecasteaux NP encases a series of permanent freshwater lakes including Lake Florence, Lake Maringup, Lake Yeagarup, Lake Jasper, Lake Charlie, Lake Smith and Lake Wilson and ephemeral lakes. Other permanent lakes in the region include Big Brook Dam, Lake Beedelup and Karri Lake at Quinninup.