Protesters Falls is one of the most beautiful waterfalls near Byron Bay. They got their name from the protests to save the rainforest from logging in the 1970’s and their success means the forest is still completely pristine. We hadn’t heard too much about it before visiting and were taken aback by just how incredible it was.
The setting in the old growth rainforest is magnificent, and the falls are huge and powerful. If you go after a period of heavy rain the spray will reach you long before you get to the base of the falls.
The easy walk to get there is also wonderful, and suitable for all the family. But it’s not just a walk for the day time; return to the forest at night and prepare to be amazed. Your path will be lit by thousands of glow worms, and even a few bioluminescent mushrooms. To say it left us in awe is an understatement.
Here’s what to expect at Protesters Falls, one of the most incredible places to visit near Byron.
The Protesters Falls Walk
The stats
Distance: 700m each way
Elevation: 30m
Difficulty: Easy
The walk to get to Protesters Falls is nothing short of spectacular, combine it with a jaw dropping waterfall and it’s one of the best short walks in NSW.
It’s atmospheric from the very first step as you head into the ancient Gondwana rainforest on a picturesque boardwalk. The bangalow palms and native tamarind trees tower over you, offering protection from the sun or rain as you make your way along the trail.
After a couple of hundred metres along the boardwalk you’ll head onto a natural path, with rocks and tree roots. It’s not difficult by any means but it can get muddy after heavy rain and you just need to watch your footing a little more.
It continues to be absolutely mesmerising and you’ll start to notice different trees, including lots of stranger figs, whose roots appear to try and take over the path.
You’ll cross a little wooden bridge and you’ll start to see a series of small cascades as you come ever closer to the main waterfall.
The path gets a little more uneven and you’ll head uphill on a rocky staircase which has a hand rail at the steepest section.
It only takes a few minutes and then there are just a few rocks to climb up on, to get the best view of the falls.
The sight of Protester Falls thundering down the cliffside and into a deep pool is one you won’t forget in a hurry, it’s incredible. Expect to get a bit wet if there’s a decent flow.
The first time we visited we got a bit damp, and the second time it was like you were standing under a full on shower (the falls closed the day after though, due to flooding, to give you some idea of what an unusual amount of rain it was!).
Something to note - you can’t swim at these falls
Although the pool looks incredible you can’t swim at these falls. They are home to a rare and endangered population of Fleay’s barred frog which need to be protected. I was really sad to see people read the big signpost and then hop in anyway.
This area is full of waterfall after waterfall you can swim in, including the ginormous Minyon Falls, so it’s easy to find another great swimming hole.
Protesters Falls by night
If you’re keen to see a whole different side to Protesters Falls you need to return after dark. We’d spent the previous few months scouting out various glow worm sites around the Blue Mountains and the more sites we found, the more we started to recognise good habitat.
We both had our suspicions about Protesters Falls and returned after dark to a cacophony of frog sounds and started making our way through the forest.
We got our first sighting just beyond the little wooden bridge, but it wasn’t glow worms. It was bioluminescent fungi, something I’ve never seen before and always wanted to!
They glow a luminous green colour and are quite small. Although you can find them in clusters, most of the ones along this trail grew alone and whilst there weren’t that many of them it was still an incredible sight.
As your eyes adjust you’ll start to see a smattering of glow worms twinkling close to the mushrooms. Walk a little further along and you’ll suddenly see what looks like a vast galaxy of glow worms on the cliffs along the left-hand side of the trail.
The way they lit the path was unlike we’ve seen before, even the Grand Canyon Track didn’t have as many. It was so bright and a truly mesmerising sight.
Continuing along the trail you’ll find another large colony and smaller ones on both sides of the path - the ones on the right are obscured though so you won’t see them clearly. The glow worms continue all the way to the top of Protesters Falls, but the spray was so strong that we could only look for a minute before beating a retreat back to the first big colony we found.
You’ll want to turn off your torch and let your eyes adjust. Although this is the brightest colony we’ve seen in Australia, and you’ll see many hundreds from the beginning, you will still see more as your eyes adjust.
Allowing 5-10 minutes will let your eyes pick up all the smaller glow worms and you’ll start to see them in the nooks and crannies all the way along the cliffs. It was such a special experience and we got it all to ourselves - which is perhaps unsurprising given there is no information online that glow worms even exist here!
If you’re up for an adventure you really shouldn’t miss the rainforest at night. It’s otherworldly and a truly unforgettable experience.
Good glow worm etiquette
Please don’t shine light on the glow worms, they don’t like it and will turn their lights out. Point your torch at the ground until you find a spot you are comfortable to stop and then turn it out.
You’ll see so much less if you keep a light on. Bringing a torch with red light is even better, although still don’t shine it on the glow worms directly.
Also if you’re keen on getting a photo, bring a tripod which will allow you to capture the glow worms without shining a light on them. If you need any tips, please feel free to ask! You don’t need light to photograph them if you have a tripod and the right settings.
Essential information about visiting Protesters Falls
Getting to the falls
Protesters Falls are located in Nightcap National Park in the Byron Hinterland and 63km and roughly a 1 hour 15 minute drive from Byron Bay. They are 35km and roughly 45 minutes drive from Lismore. Many hinterland villages are closer, where we stayed in The Channon was just a 15 minute drive away.
Best time to see the falls
The best time to view the falls is after heavy rain. Although you don’t want a hugely prolonged period of heavy rain or the road and track might flood which closes the falls. We visited after a solid month of heavy rain and on our last day in the area the falls closed due to flooding - it was extreme rain though so I doubt this happens too often.
You have two little fords to cross to reach the car park - the flood markers will help with water height. When it gets quite high you’ll need a 4WD, but otherwise a 2WD is no problem (which will be most of the time).
How to avoid the crowds
Protesters Falls is incredibly popular, we did visit in January so many people were still on Christmas holidays, but the crowds were so big there that it was hard to take photos and just enjoy the falls. We returned a second time and it was similar. The only time we got it to ourselves was at night.
To find some serenity I’d recommend going very early in the morning, or close to sunset. You will hopefully get it to yourself or share it with just a few others.
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Are you planning a trip to Protestors Falls? Would you return at night to see the glow worms? Let us know in the comments below!
