Basket Swamp Falls without a 4WD: Worth it or skip it?

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When we visited the Northern Tablelands for a long weekend of camping at Bald Rock, a local recommended checking out Basket Swamp Falls. He said it flowed all year round, was always beautiful, and we might even have it to ourselves – even on a long weekend. The only catch? We read that a 4WD or a vehicle with good clearance was recommended.

We decided to give it a go with our RAV4 AWD and see how far we’d get. Spoiler: We didn’t make it all the way by car, but we were very glad we tried.

Getting to Basket Swamp Falls without a 4WD

Basket Swamp Falls is located in Basket Swamp National Park, about 30km north of Tenterfield in northern NSW. The road to the falls is unsealed and a bit rocky in places, but easy to find thanks to clear signs and distance markers.

We drove slowly (around 30 km/h) both for wildlife and because the shade made it hard to spot holes and rocks. For most of the way, the RAV4 handled the track easily – until about 1.2 km from the falls, where we reached a section that needed higher clearance. Luckily, there are regular wider sections on the road where you can safely pull over or turn around, so we parked and continued on foot.

Keep in mind that road conditions can vary depending on recent rain. Our experience was in early October, when the track was dry. Make sure to check the weather for a few days before you visit and, if possible, talk to locals about it.

Walking the last section

From where we parked, it took about 15 minutes (1.2 km) to reach the upper falls. The track is not especially enjoyable – it’s just a service road going downhill, without views – but the reward at the end makes it worthwhile. Be careful, though: the gravel is very slippery on the way down. We found the uphill walk back much easier because we weren’t worried about slipping.

The lower falls are only 300 metres away (pedestrian only, around 10 minutes on the same kind of tracks as before).

It took us around 25 minutes to walk back up to the car from the lower falls.

Good to know: There’s a picnic table at the upper falls, but no toilets and no other facilities.

Is it worth it without a 4WD?

That depends on what you’re driving and what kind of adventure you’re after.

• 2WD with low clearance (like a sedan): I wouldn’t take the risk. You’d likely have to turn around earlier, and the rocky sections could be stressful. I don’t think you’d go far at all on this road.
• SUV AWD with decent clearance (like a RAV4): If the road is dry and you’re comfortable driving slowly, it’s worth trying. Just be ready to turn around or walk the last stretch if needed.
• It would also be stressful if you don’t have a spare wheel as you will be quite isolated if something unlucky happens.

We went early in the day so we had time to turn back or walk if necessary – and that worked out perfectly.

What makes Basket Swamp Falls special

We see a lot of waterfalls on day trips from Brisbane – in Lamington and Springbrook National Parks – so we wondered if Basket Swamp Falls would impress us. It did.

The setting is very different: it’s not rainforest, so the views are more open and you can see the granite rock formations and the way the river carves through the landscape. You can clearly see the water tumbling over the rocks and flowing through the gorge below. The lower falls were our highlight – peaceful, scenic, and completely ours for a while.

We only met one local arriving as we were leaving, and otherwise had the place to ourselves – a huge contrast to the groups we saw at Bald Rock Summit and Boonoo Boonoo Falls that weekend.

Alternative if you can’t make it

If you don’t have a suitable vehicle, Boonoo Boonoo National Park is a great alternative nearby. It has a lovely river dotted with granite boulders, refreshing rockpools, and the Boonoo Boonoo Falls. However, the falls are best viewed from a lookout, so you don’t get as close as you do at Basket Swamp Falls and the angle isn’t that good either. Personally, I’d still pick Basket Swamp Falls over Boonoo Boonoo Falls for the experience and views – but Morgan’s Gully in Boonoo Boonoo National Park was a real highlight for us and definitely worth a stop.

Where are Basket Swamp Falls?

Basket Swamp Falls are located in one of the national parks near Tenterfield (about 30 km north) in the Northern Tablelands of New South Wales. The park sits on the Granite Belt, not far from Bald Rock and Boonoo Boonoo National Parks, making it easy to combine all three on a short trip. You can camp nearby or find plenty of accommodation options near Tenterfield.

The falls are signposted from the main road, and the route is straightforward to follow once you leave the bitumen.

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