AtlasNew England Tableland

Oaky Falls

verified Ungraded Unknown flood risk Armidale, NSW

See https://youtu.be/RBp0Se-pB7I?si=-O39va0SCiz7jfQE&t=566

Sits 500 metres below a hydro scheme dam built in 1956 and wrecked by floods in 2013; Armidale Regional Council has owned the dam and surrounding land since 2022. The route splits into a dry start on the river left branch and a wet start on the river right branch that rejoin at P4, with six main abseils either way and the biggest a 70 metre non vertical cascade through a wide sloping slot where whistle calls are hard to hear, so agree on hand signals beforehand.

Logistics

ManagerArmidale Regional Council (former hydro scheme land, private, no public easement); NSW NPWS Oxley Wild Rivers National Park downstream
PermitSurrounded by private land from the former hydro scheme with no easement or right of way for the public. In theory the river can be accessed from Kempsey Road upstream (public land) and exited about 900 m downstream where it enters Oxley Wild Rivers National Park (public land), but the direct route crosses private property.
Technical6-7 rappels, longest 229.659 ft
SeasonOct-Apr
Vehicle accessPassenger
Coordinates-30.577149, 152.067247

Sources