The short answer
- With a car, Minyon Falls in Nightcap National Park has an accessible lookout over a drop of roughly 100 metres. See Minyon Falls →
- For a guided waterfall swim in half a day, take the Soul Connect eco tour. See the swim tours →
- Killen Falls is on a small Tesla tour that also visits a wildlife sanctuary. See Killen Falls →
- Check flow before you go: dry spells mean less water. See timing →
Minyon Falls, Nightcap National Park
NSW National Parks describes Minyon Falls as cascading roughly 100 metres into a palm-shaded gorge, and calls it a good day trip from Byron Bay. The lookout is graded easy, with an accessible path suitable for wheelchairs, plus a picnic area with shady trees and tables, toilets and parking.
There is a pool at the base of the falls for cooling off. NPWS is clear that there is no public access within 100 metres of the top of the falls. Parts of the area are affected by closures at times, and the park can close for poor weather, fire danger or management work, so check the alerts on the NPWS page before you drive.
None of the GetYourGuide tours we checked names Minyon Falls, so plan it as a drive of your own. For a park visit on wheels, it is also the most accessible waterfall view on this page; see accessible options around Byron.
Tours that swim at a waterfall
Half a day: Soul Connect waterfall and wildlife tour
Soul Connect Nature Tours’ two-and-a-half-hour tour follows rainforest trails and creeks to a large waterfall and swimming hole, with binoculars for watching wildlife and time to sit quietly in the forest. The guide acknowledges the Nyangbul and Arakwal people of the Bundjalung Nation. Fruit is included; towels are not. It runs in all weather over uneven ground, and excludes children under 9 and people with mobility impairments.
Half-day waterfall and wildlife tour
Bring swimwear, a towel and insect repellent; check the meeting point and the minimum age of 9.
See itinerary and dates on GetYourGuide (opens in a new tab)A fuller day: kayak first, then the waterfall
The same operator’s four-and-a-half-hour day starts with a high-tide kayak on the Brunswick River, then drives into the mountains for a rainforest hike and a swim in a mountain stream and waterfall. Bring lunch; it is not included. Minimum age 13.
Book the kayak, hike and waterfall day on GetYourGuide (opens in a new tab), or compare both in our Brunswick River kayaking guide.
Killen Falls, by Tesla
WANDER Byron’s four-and-a-half-hour tour, for up to four guests, visits Killen Falls, which its listing calls one of the most photogenic waterfalls in the Northern Rivers. The listing says the falls sit in a patch of the Big Scrub, the rainforest that once covered the region and now survives at about one per cent of its former size.
The same morning takes in a coffee roastery or bakery, the Byron Bay Wildlife Sanctuary, St Helena Lookout and The Farm, with a light breakfast included. The listing does not mention swimming at the falls.
Killen Falls and wildlife sanctuary tour by Tesla
Check the day (roastery midweek, bakery at weekends) and that lunch is not included.
See itinerary and dates on GetYourGuide (opens in a new tab)Compare the waterfall options
| Option | Waterfall | Swim? | Length | Access |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Drive yourself | Minyon Falls | Pool at the base | Your choice | Accessible lookout path |
| Soul Connect half-day | Large waterfall and swimming hole | Yes | 2.5 hours | Uneven ground; 9 and up |
| Kayak, hike and waterfall | Mountain stream and waterfall | Yes | 4.5 hours | 13 and up |
| WANDER Tesla tour | Killen Falls | Not mentioned | 4.5 hours | Up to 4 guests |
When the falls are worth it
NSW National Parks warns that Minyon Falls may not be flowing strongly in a dry spell, so check recent weather before you drive. The Soul Connect tour runs in all weather, which can mean wet trails. Bring insect repellent; the half-day listing suggests it.
For a no-swim hinterland day with lunch, see hinterland tours compared. For an evening in the rainforest, the glow-worm tunnel is another way in.
Questions people ask
Can you swim at waterfalls near Byron Bay?
Yes, on the Soul Connect tours, and in the pool at the base of Minyon Falls according to NPWS. Do not go near the top of Minyon Falls; there is no public access within 100 metres.
How far is Minyon Falls from Byron?
NPWS calls it a good day trip from Byron but gives no distance. Plan the drive and check the NPWS alerts first.
Is there a waterfall walk for families?
The Minyon Falls lookout path is graded easy and accessible. The half-day swim tour is for ages 9 and up. Byron with kids has more.
Before you book: the waterfall checklist
- Has it been dry? NPWS says flow drops in dry spells.
- Have you checked NPWS alerts for closures?
- Are you swimming? Pack swimwear and a towel (not included on the tours).
- Does everyone meet the tour’s minimum age and mobility notes?
- Have you brought insect repellent and water?
Your shortlist
Open a listing in a new tab and check its itinerary, suitability and inclusions against the checklist above.
- Waterfall swim in half a day: Soul Connect waterfall and wildlife tour on GetYourGuide (opens in a new tab)
- Kayak, hike and waterfall: Soul Connect kayak and hike day on GetYourGuide (opens in a new tab)
- Killen Falls, four guests: WANDER Tesla tour on GetYourGuide (opens in a new tab)