Boonoo Boonoo National Park

Only 35km from Tenterfield, Boonoo Boonoo National Park has a stunning waterfall, secluded swimming holes, hiking tracks, camping areas, accommodation and picnic spots.

After Banjo Patterson proposed to his sweetheart, Alice Walker, at Boonoo Boonoo Falls lookout, there was movement at Tenterfield cattle station. Word had passed around that the station owner’s daughter had got away. Presumably she loved the guy, but it’s possible that his charming choice of setting in which to pop the question might have helped sway her answer. Alice didn’t have a chance and she and Banjo married in 1903.

Today, Boonoo Boonoo (pronounced bunna-bunoo) is still the ultimate romantic setting, especially after heavy rain. From the lookout is an uninterrupted view of Boonoo Boonoo River cascading over the granite cliff edge to become a spectacular waterfall that plunges 210m into the gorge below. Nearby, you’ll find walking tracks and shady places to picnic. Secluded rock pools along the river, lined by wildflower-filled bushland, are the perfect way to cool off on a hot day. Animals including the endangered brush-tailed rock-wallaby, vulnerable spotted-tailed quoll, platypuses, kangaroos and wallabies can be spotted at dawn and dusk, early in the morning and late in the afternoon. There are heaps of birds to see too, including waterbirds and the glossy black-cockatoo.