Wannon Falls, Victoria: Location, height, camping & when to visit

Between Hamilton and Coleraine in Victoria, Wannon Falls plunges 30 metres over a basalt lava wall. There’s also a campground, walking trail and rotunda with information on local nature, geology and history.

Wannon Falls, Victoria, finds itself awkwardly between the popular tourist regions of the Great Ocean Road and the Grampians. But, in full flow, it is one of the most spectacular waterfalls in Victoria.

Part of the Wannon Falls Scenic Reserve, this Victorian waterfall sees the Wannon River plunge into a punchbowl-shaped pool. The drop is 30 metres, and the water flows over a wall of hard basalt lava.

Where is Wannon Falls, Victoria?

Wannon Falls is technically in the Southern Grampians region, although it is a fair way from Dunkeld, the region’s most attractive tourist hub. The nearest sizable town to Wannon Falls is Hamilton, which is a 15 minute drive to the south-east.

Wannon Falls is just off the Glenelg Highway, along Camerons Road. You can pretty much park next to the viewpoint although a more satisfying 3.54km walk through the Wannon Falls Scenic Reserve is also an option.

Wannon Falls viewing platform

The Wannon Falls viewing platform is cantilevered over the plunge pool. There’s also a nearby rotunda, which houses interpretive information about the falls, plus the fauna and flora that live nearby. The rotunda also covers Indigenous history in the area.

This Southern Grampians waterfall was created by a basalt lava flow that, long, long ago, surged up the Wannon River. Now it’s water that surges, and the best time to visit Wannon Falls is after rainfall.

A visit can easily be combined with seeing nearby Nigretta Falls.

Wannon Falls campground

There is also a campground within the Wannon Falls Reserve. This offers free camping, and the facilities aren’t quite as minimalist as the phrase “free camping” might conjure up. The sites at the Wannon Falls campground are unpowered, but there are toilets, picnic tables and barbecues.

Other Victorian waterfalls worth seeing 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 near Welshpool and Toorongo Falls near Noojee.