Trentham Falls, Victoria: Getting there, lookout walk & swimming

Trentham Falls on the Coliban River is a 20 minute drive from Daylesford, Victoria. From the Trentham Falls Day Visitor Area, it’s a short walk to the lookout.

What is Trentham Falls?

Trentham Falls is a waterfall on the Coliban River near Daylesford, Victoria.

This Victorian waterfall is hardly Niagara, but it makes for a pretty detour if you’re in the Daylesford area.

How tall is Trentham Falls?

Inside the Coliban River Scenic Reserve, Trentham Falls is one of the longest single drop waterfalls in Victoria. The Coliban River plunges 32 metres into a bushland-surrounded pool. It tumbles over volcano-formed basalt rock on the way. The basalt columns are similar to those found in the Organ Pipes National Park closer to Melbourne.

Trentham Falls near Daylesford in Victoria — Trentham Falls, tumbling over ancient basalt columns. Photo courtesy of Visit Victoria.

Drive from Melbourne to Trentham Falls

Trentham Falls is about 93km north-west of Melbourne, with the drive mostly along the Calder Freeway, skirting Sunbury and Mount Macedon. The drive from Melbourne to Trentham Falls should take around one hour and ten minutes, making it an easy day trip from Melbourne. Tackle the Lerderderg State Park on the way back if you want to make a full day of it.

Coming from Daylesford, Trentham Falls is a 20 minute drive, mainly along the C317.

How long is the Trentham Falls walk?

Once there, park up at the Trentham Falls Day Visitor Area. From the car park to the Trentham Falls lookout, it’s a very easy 300 metre round walk.

There’s a designated picnic area in the Trentham Falls Day Visitor Area, should you wish to make more of the visit than a quick photo stop.

Can I swim at Trentham Falls?

It is not possible to swim at Trentham Falls. There have been too many injuries in the pool in the past, and now the path down to the base of the falls has been closed, making the pool inaccessible.

Trentham Falls: Stop on drive from Melbourne to Mildura?

No-one’s going to pretend Trentham Falls is a must-see attraction in Australia. But it makes a good journey-breaker if driving from Melbourne to Echuca, Bendigo or Mildura. The best nearby alternative is Hanging Rock in Woodend.

The best time of year to visit Trentham Falls is winter. The higher rainfall means that the water flow is higher, and the falls look more spectacular. There are also likely to be fewer visitors in the Coliban River Scenic Reserve.

Other waterfalls in Victoria worth visiting include Sheoak Falls and Erskine Falls near Lorne, Mackenzie Falls in the Grampians and Hopetoun Falls off the Great Ocean Road. In Gippsland, there’s Narracan Falls near Moe, Agnes Falls in the Strzelecki Ranges and Toorongo Falls near Noojee.