View source for Waterfall Way

{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2015}}
{{Use Australian English|date=March 2015}}
{{Infobox Australian road
| type         = rural road
| road_name    = Waterfall Way
| state        = nsw
| image        = Newell Falls.JPG
| caption      = Newell Falls, Waterfall Way, Dorrigo National Park
| length       = 169.8
| length_ref   =<ref name="gmaps">{{google maps|url=https://www.google.com.au/maps/dir/-30.4614444,153.0034338/-30.5272987,151.6244203/@-30.5039549,152.0172174,9z/data=!4m9!4m8!1m5!3m4!1m2!1d151.6704581!2d-30.5181434!3s0x6b9f9fc3618376c1:0x130609b4729b08c0!1m0!3e0 |title=Waterfall Way |access-date=24 Mar 2018}}</ref>
| gazetted     = August 1928 {{small|(as Main Roads 119 and 120)}}<ref name="nswgovgaz28">{{cite news |title=Main Roads Act, 1924–1927 |url=https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/219952359 |work=Government Gazette of the State of New South Wales |issue=110 |via=National Library of Australia |date=17 August 1928 |pages=3814–20 |access-date=1 August 2022 |archive-date=3 August 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220803050207/https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/219952359 |url-status=live }}</ref><br />March 1938 {{small|(as Trunk Road 76)}}<ref name="nswgovgaz38-tr76">{{cite news |title=Main Roads Act, 1924–1937 |url=https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/225071057 |work=Government Gazette of the State of New South Wales |issue=46 |publisher=National Library of Australia |date=25 March 1938 |pages=1222 |access-date=29 November 2022 |archive-date=29 November 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221129010206/https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/225071057 |url-status=live }}</ref>
| direction_a  = East
| direction_b  = West
| mapframe      = no
| coordinates_a = {{coord|-30.462237|153.000288|type:landmark_region:AU-NSW|display=inline}}
| coordinates_b = {{coord|-30.520560|151.679192|type:landmark_region:AU-NSW|display=inline}}
| pushpin_label_position_a = bottom
| pushpin_label_position_b = left
| end_a        = '''[[Giinagay Way]]'''<br/>{{small|[[Raleigh, New South Wales]]}} 
| end_b        = {{AUshield|NSW|A15}} '''[[New England Highway]]'''<br />{{small|[[Armidale, New South Wales]]}}
| exits        = {{plainlist|
*{{AUshield|NSW|A1}} [[Pacific Highway (Australia)|Pacific Highway]]
*Armidale Road
*Guyra Road}}
| route        = {{AUshield|NSW|B78}} B78 {{small|(2013–present)}}
| former       = {{AUshield|S|78}} State Route 78 {{small|(1974–2013)}}
| tourist      = {{AUshield|T|17}} Tourist Route 17<br />{{small|(Ebor–Armidale)}}
| through      = {{NSWcity|Bellingen|Dorrigo|Ebor}}
}}
'''Waterfall Way''' is a {{convert|170|km|adj=on}}<ref name="gmaps" /> country road in the [[Northern Tablelands]] region of [[New South Wales]], Australia, linking [[Raleigh, New South Wales|Raleigh]] on the state's [[New South Wales North Coast|North Coast]] to [[Armidale]]. The route passes through some of New South Wales' most scenic countryside and has become well known as its best and Australia's third most beautiful tourist drive.<ref>Bellinger Magic, Tourism Bellinger</ref><ref>[http://www.australiaforeveryone.com.au/nsw/waterfall-way.html Waterfall Way, NSW]</ref> Seven national parks, of which three are listed as [[UNESCO World Heritage List|World Heritage Area]]s by UNESCO and form part of the [[Gondwana Rainforests of Australia]] (formerly the Central Eastern Rainforest Reserves), are located on or close to the route. [[Dorrigo National Park]] encompasses the waterfalls that give the route its name. 

In addition to being a tourist route, the Waterfall Way is also an important link between coastal and inland New South Wales (specifically the population centres of Armidale and [[Coffs Harbour]]), and is therefore heavily trafficked. 

==Route==
Starting just beyond the interchange with Pacific Highway at [[Raleigh, New South Wales|Raleigh]], midway between [[Urunga]] and [[Coffs Harbour, New South Wales|Coffs Harbour]], it follows the south bank of the [[Bellinger River]], passing through [[Bellingen, New South Wales|Bellingen]]. After crossing the Bellinger River the road swings north and climbs the [[escarpment]] of the [[Great Dividing Range]], skirting the southern edge of the [[Dorrigo National Park|Dorrigo world heritage rainforest]] and crossing the Newell and Sherrard waterfalls for which the route is named. Single lane traffic restrictions do not permit stopping at these falls, but the Newell Falls may be viewed at a rest area below the fall. At the top of the escarpment (elevation {{convert|750|m|ft|abbr=on}}) a short detour south leads to Griffith's Lookout with views over the [[Bellinger River National Park]] and valley.

A short way further on is the turnoff to the visitor centre at the World Heritage Area, [[Dorrigo National Park]], known for its skywalk and walking tracks. The pretty and readily accessible Dangar Falls are located {{convert|2.4|km|mi|abbr=on}} north of the centre of Dorrigo on the Bielsdown River. Proceeding through the town of [[Dorrigo, New South Wales|Dorrigo]], the road continues through the pastoral upland of the [[Dorrigo Plateau]] before crossing the headwaters of the [[Nymboida River]]. The [[Bicentennial National Trail]] shares the route prior to reaching [[Ebor, New South Wales|Ebor]]. About nine kilometres after turning left onto the Armidale Grafton road Ebor is passed. This village is close to the [[Guy Fawkes River National Park]] and [[Ebor Falls]].<ref>Bellingen Visitor Guide, 2008, Courier Sun</ref>

Between Ebor and [[Wollomombi, New South Wales|Wollomombi]] the route passes through the {{convert|8839|ha|acre|abbr=on}} [[Cathedral Rock National Park]]. The National Heritage listed Yooroonah [[Tank]] Barrier is approximately {{convert|12|km|mi|abbr=on}} southwest of Ebor and near the route.<ref>{{cite AHD|105802|access-date=1 January 2008}}</ref> After leaving Ebor the road passes an intersection, from where the Dutton Trout Hatchery, and [[Point Lookout (New South Wales)|Point Lookout]] are accessed about {{convert|10|km|mi|abbr=on}} east of Waterfall Way in the [[New England National Park]]. Further on, the [[Wollomombi Falls]] are about {{convert|1|km|mi|1|abbr=on}} south of the Waterfall Way. The {{convert|145000|ha|acre|abbr=on|adj=on}} [[World Heritage]] listed [[Oxley Wild Rivers National Park]] is readily accessible from the Wollomombi Falls.<ref>National Parks of the Waterfall Way, NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service, 2002.</ref> From here the road passes {{convert|5|km|mi|abbr=on}} north of the historical mining village of [[Hillgrove, New South Wales|Hillgrove]] and the viewing platforms at Bakers Creek Falls and the Metz Gorge. There are also other more remote, interesting sites to visit on this Way to [[Armidale, New South Wales|Armidale]]. The Gara Gorge is {{convert|18|km|mi|abbr=on}} south-east of Armidale along the Castledoyle Road leading off the Waterfall Way just east of Armidale.

The road is sealed but relatively narrow and has a steep {{convert|14|km|mi|0|abbr=on}} winding section. In recent years storms and associated [[flash flooding]] have washed away sections of the roadway where it rises to the ranges, leading to traffic being limited to one lane at the waterfalls on the Dorrigo Range.

==History==
The passing of the ''Main Roads Act of 1924''<ref>[http://classic.austlii.edu.au/au/legis/nsw/num_act/mra1924n24133/ State of New South Wales, ''An Act to provide for the better construction, maintenance, and financing of main roads; to provide for developmental roads; to constitute a Main Roads Board''] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220811000905/http://classic.austlii.edu.au/au/legis/nsw/num_act/mra1924n24133/ |date=11 August 2022 }} 10 November 1924</ref> through the [[Parliament of New South Wales]] provided for the declaration of Main Roads, roads partially funded by the State government through the Main Roads Board (later the [[Department of Main Roads (New South Wales)|Department of Main Roads]], and eventually [[Transport for NSW]]). Main Road No. 119 was declared from the intersection with North Coast Highway, today [[Giinagay Way]], at Raleigh via Bellingen to Dorrigo (and continuing northwards to Tyringham),<ref name="nswgovgaz28" /> Main Road No. 120 was declared from Dorrigo to Jock's Water south of Hernani (and continuing eastwards to Coramba),<ref name="nswgovgaz28" /> and Main Road No. 121 was declared from Jock's Water via Wollomombi to Armidale (and continuing northwards via Tyringham and Nymboida to the intersection with North Coast Highway, today [[Big River Way]], at South Grafton)<ref name="nswgovgaz28" /> on the same day, 8 August 1928.

The [[Department of Main Roads (New South Wales)|Department of Main Roads]], which had succeeded the MRB in 1932, declared Trunk Road 74 along this road, from Jock's Water via Wollomombi to Armidale (and continuing northwards via Tyringham and Nymboida to the intersection with Pacific Highway, today [[Big River Way]], at South Grafton), subsuming Main Road 121,<ref name="nswgovgaz38-tr74">{{cite news |title=Main Roads Act, 1924–1937 |url=https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/225071161 |work=Government Gazette of the State of New South Wales |issue=46 |publisher=National Library of Australia |date=25 March 1938 |pages=1222 |access-date=29 November 2022 |archive-date=29 November 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221129011601/https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/225071161 |url-status=live }}</ref> and Trunk Road 76, from the intersection with [[Pacific Highway (Australia)|Pacific Highway]] at Raleigh via Bellingen and Dorrigo to the intersection with Trunk Road 74 near Jock's Water; the eastern end of Main Road 119 and western end of Main Road 120 were truncated to meet Trunk Road 76 at Dorrigo,<ref name="nswgovgaz38-tr76" /> on the same day, 16 March 1938.

The passing of the ''Roads Act of 1993''<ref>[https://legislation.nsw.gov.au/view/html/inforce/current/act-1993-033 State of New South Wales, ''An Act to make provision with respect to the roads of New South Wales; to repeal the State Roads Act 1986, the Crown and Other Roads Act 1990 and certain other enactments; and for other purposes.''] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220811000905/http://classic.austlii.edu.au/au/legis/nsw/num_act/mra1924n24133/ |date=11 August 2022 }} 10 November 1924</ref> through the [[Parliament of New South Wales]] updated road classifications and the way they could be declared within New South Wales. Under this act, Main Road 76 (formerly Trunk Road 76) was extended west on 2 February 1996 to end at the intersection with New England Highway in Armidale: the western end of Main Road 74 (formerly Trunk Road 74) was truncated to meet Main Road 76 at Jock's Water.<ref name="nswgovgaz96">{{cite news |title=Roads Act |url=https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/231956518 |work=Government Gazette of the State of New South Wales |issue=15 |publisher=National Library of Australia |date=2 February 1996 |pages=480 |access-date=29 November 2022 |archive-date=29 November 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221129013101/https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/231956518 |url-status=live }}</ref> The road today, as Main Road 76, still retains this declaration.<ref name="nswroadsched">{{cite web |url=https://roads-waterways.transport.nsw.gov.au/business-industry/partners-suppliers/lgr/documents/classified-roads-schedule.pdf |title=Schedule of Classified Roads and Unclassified Regional Roads |author=[[Transport for NSW]] |date=August 2022 |publisher=Government of New South Wales |access-date=1 August 2022 }}</ref>

Waterfall Way was later signed State Route 78 in 1974. With the conversion to the newer alphanumeric system in 2013, this was replaced with route B76.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.rms.nsw.gov.au/documents/projects/key-build-programs/alpha-numeric/nsw-factsheet.pdf |title=Road number and name changes in NSW |work=[[Roads & Maritime Services]] |publisher=Government of New South Wales |date=2012 |access-date=7 November 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160325194425/http://www.rms.nsw.gov.au/documents/projects/key-build-programs/alpha-numeric/nsw-factsheet.pdf |archive-date=25 March 2016 |url-status=dead}}</ref>

==Major intersections==
This table does not show any bridges (see [[Waterfall Way#Major stream crossings|Major stream crossings]] below)
{{AUSinttop|length_ref=<ref name="gmaps" />}}
{{NSWint
|LGA=[[Bellingen Shire Council|Bellingen]]
|LGAspan=3
|location=Raleigh
|lspan=2
|type=trans
|km=0.0
|road=[[Giinagay Way]]{{NSWcity|p=on|Valla}}
|notes=Eastern terminus of Waterfall Way and route B78
}}
{{NSWint
|km=0.2
|road={{AUshield|NSW|A1}} [[Pacific Highway (Australia)|Pacific Highway]] (A1){{NSWcity|p=on|Coffs Harbour|Newcastle|Sydney}}
|notes=[[Parclo interchange]]
}}
{{NSWint
|location=Dorrigo
|km=41.1
|road=Tyringham Road{{NSWcity|p=on|Bostobrick}}
|notes=
}}
{{NSWint
|LGA-Co=Clarence Valley
|location_special=[[Hernani, New South Wales|Hernani]]
|km=77.7
|road=Armidale Road{{NSWcity|p=on|Tyringham|South Grafton}}
|notes=
}}
{{NSWint
|LGA=[[Armidale Regional Council|Armidale]]
|LGAspan=4
|location=Ebor
|km=90.8
|road=Guyra Road{{NSWcity|p=on|Guyra}}
|notes=
}}
{{NSWint
|location=Armidale
|lspan=3
|km=165.0
|road=Barney Street (west){{NSWcity|p=on|Armidale}}<br />Dangar Street (north){{NSWcity|p=on|Armidale}}
|notes=Roundabout
}}
{{NSWint
|km=166.1
|road=O'Connor Road (southwest){{NSWcity|p=on|Armidale}}<br />Memorial Avenue (southeast){{NSWcity|p=on|Armidale}}
|notes=Roundabout
}} 
{{NSWint
|type=trans
|km=169.8
|road={{AUshield|NSW|A15|+|airport}} [[New England Highway]] (A15){{NSWcity|p=on|Tamworth|Glen Innes|Tenterfield}}, [[Armidale Airport]]
|notes=Western terminus of Waterfall Way and route B78<br />Entrance to [[Armidale Airport]] 250m away
}}
{{Jctbtm|keys=trans}}

==Major stream crossings==
The accompanying diagram shows the crossings of all major streams by the Waterfall Way.
{{routemap
|float = none
|title = Waterfall Way major stream crossings<br />From West to East
|title-bg = #999999
|legend = 0
|collapse = yes
|map = 
LSTR grey
RP2t~~Armidale
RP2oW~~[[Commissioners Waters]]~~
RP2oW~~[[Gara River (Australia)|Gara River]]~~
RP2oW~~[[Wollomombi River]]~~
RP2t~~Wollomombi
RP4oW~~[[Chandler River (New South Wales)|Chandler River]]~~
RP2oW~~[[Oaky River]]~~
RP4oW~~[[Guy Fawkes River]]~~
RP2t~~Ebor
RP2oW~~[[Boundary Creek (Glen Fernaigh River, Clarence Valley)|Boundary Creek]]~~
RP2oW~~[[Nymboida River]]~~
RP2oW~~[[Little Murray River (Nymboida)|Little Murray River]]~~
RP2oW~~[[Bielsdown River]]~~
RP2t~~Dorrigo
RP4oW~~[[Bellinger River]] (Thora Bridge)~~
RP2t~~Bellingen
RP2!~MFADEf
}}

== See also ==
{{portal|New South Wales|Australian roads}}
* [[Highways in Australia]]
* [[List of highways in New South Wales]]
* [[List of highways numbered 78]]

== References ==
{{reflist}}
*"Waterfall Way" by Tourism Armidale; published by Cook, Green & Moore Advertising, Coffs Harbour.
*{{usurped|1=[https://archive.today/20121208144829/http://www.bellingermagic.com/ Bellinger Magic – the official visitor guide to the Bellinger region]}}

==External links==
*[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N7RIsi-tMbY Timelapse video footage of the full Waterfall Way]

{{Commons category|Waterfall Way}}
{{wikivoyage|Waterfall_Way}}

{{Road infrastructure in New South Wales}}

[[Category:Tourist attractions in New South Wales]]
[[Category:Waterfalls of the Waterfall Way| ]]
[[Category:Roads in New South Wales]]
[[Category:Scenic routes in Australia]]