Snobs Creek Falls

Rubicon State Forest / Eildon / Mt Morris / Thornton, Victoria, Australia

About Snobs Creek Falls


Hiking Distance: 250m round trip
Suggested Time: 15 minutes

Date first visited: 2006-11-11
Date last visited: 2017-11-21

Waterfall Latitude: -37.30295
Waterfall Longitude: 145.88842

Waterfall Safety and Common Sense

Snobs Creek Falls (also known as just Snobs Falls) was a surprisingly reliably flowing waterfall.

It seemed to have defied the drought-stricken conditions that plagued most of our first visit to Victoria in November 2006.

Snobs_Creek_Falls_017_11102006 - Snobs Creek Falls
Snobs Creek Falls

In fact, not only did Snobs Creek possess healthy flow, but the forest around its creek also seemed to have a healthy green instead of the sickly brown that was ubiquitous throughout the southeast of Australia.

While the falls was officially said to have a drop of 100m, our views were limited to just the attractive main tier (pictured above) which was probably more like 15m or so.

Thus, pictures really didn’t do this waterfall justice.

And this was further hampered by a new lookout closer to the top of the falls, which limited the picture taking even more as of my last visit in November 2017.

Experiencing Snobs Creek Falls

Snobs_Creek_Falls_17_023_11202017 - The viewing platform for Snobs Creek Falls
The viewing platform for Snobs Creek Falls

From the parking bay alongside the unsealed access road (see directions below), there were two paths to choose from.

The path on the right led a mere 25m downhill to some small cascades further upstream of the Snobs Creek Falls.

The path on the left descended and followed Snobs Creek for about 100m before reaching some newly-built metal walkway and viewing platform near the top of the main drop of the falls.

Almost immediately downstream were more drops but there was no safe way to view them.

The Old Track for Snobs Creek Falls

Snobs_Creek_Falls_17_038_11202017 - Instead of this viewing platform, the old trail used to let us descend alongside Snobs Creek Falls and even get in front of these tiers
Instead of this viewing platform, the old trail used to let us descend alongside Snobs Creek Falls and even get in front of these tiers

On our first visit back in November 2006, this metal walkway wasn’t there.

In fact, we were actually able to get a more satisfying view of the upper drop of Snobs Creek Falls, which is pictured at the top of this page.

The old track used to keep going alongside the creek, but I suspect that for one reason or another, there were erosion problems.

Thus, the scenic rating was reduced as a result of the reduced experience.

Snobs_Creek_Falls_035_11102006 - Looking downstream towards a valley from the lookout by Snobs Creek Falls as seen on our November 2006 visit
Looking downstream towards a valley from the lookout by Snobs Creek Falls as seen on our November 2006 visit

Anyways, we were still able to get a partial scenic view of the valley further downstream of the falls from waterfall’s top.

Overall, experiencing all of the lookouts and short walks here only took about 15 minutes making for a short detour as part of a longer drive in the Eildon area.

It felt like I wound up spending more time waiting out the fine dust particles to settle after they were kicked up and suspended in the air for several minutes by a passing logging truck on the unsealed access road.

Why the name?

Finally, we learned that the name of this waterfall actually had to do with a West Indian bootmaker who operated a boot shop nearby.

Snobs_Creek_Falls_17_001_11202017 - Trailhead signage for the Snobs Creek Falls during my November 2017 visit
Trailhead signage for the Snobs Creek Falls during my November 2017 visit

Apparently, the term snob was an old English word for someone who made or repaired boots.

It had nothing to do with our first inclination of associating the name of the falls with some rich snob.

Authorities

Snobs Creek Falls resides in the Rubicon State Forest near Eildon, Victoria. It is administered by the Murrindindi Shire Council. For information or inquiries about the area as well as current conditions, visit their website.

Snobs_Creek_Falls_17_005_11202017 - Going down the short track to the lookout for the cascades on Snobs Creek upstream of the Snobs Creek Falls on my November 2017 visit
Snobs_Creek_Falls_17_011_11202017 - Looking towards some of the cascades upstream of Snobs Creek Falls during my November 2017 visit
Snobs_Creek_Falls_17_012_11202017 - After having my fill of the cascades on Snobs Creek upstream of the Snobs Creek Falls, I had to wait out the dust to settle after a logging truck had passed by on the unsealed road above during my November 2017 visit
Snobs_Creek_Falls_17_013_11202017 - On the short 100m track leading down to the Snobs Creek Falls during my November 2017 visit
Snobs_Creek_Falls_17_015_11202017 - Continuing along the short but well-developed walk to the Snobs Creek Falls during my November 2017 visit
Snobs_Creek_Falls_17_020_11202017 - Looking over the top of Snobs Creek Falls towards the Snobs Creek Valley during my November 2017 visit
Snobs_Creek_Falls_17_021_11202017 - Looking down towards the end of the short walk to Snobs Creek Falls, which terminated at this lookout during my November 2017 visit
Snobs_Creek_Falls_17_022_11202017 - Context of the lookout at the end of the Snobs Creek Falls Track and the Snobs Creek rushing by it during my November 2017 visit
Snobs_Creek_Falls_17_033_11202017 - Contextual view of the lookout for Snobs Creek Falls and a partial view of the falls itself as seen during my November 2017 visit
Snobs_Creek_Falls_17_036_11202017 - Another look at the context of the lookout platform above Snobs Creek as seen in November 2017
Snobs_Creek_Falls_17_037_11202017 - Looking back at the descent to the lookout platform at the end of the short 100m track fronting the upper drop of Snobs Creek Falls in November 2017
Snobs_Creek_Falls_17_041_11202017 - Heading back up the steps to the Snobs Creek Falls trailhead during my November 2017 visit
Snobs_Creek_Falls_007_jx_11102006 - Sign at the trailhead leading down to the Snobs Creek Falls as seen during our November 2006 visit
Snobs_Creek_Falls_001_jx_11102006 - Another sign near the trailhead leading down to the Snobs Creek Falls as seen during our November 2006 visit
Snobs_Creek_Falls_033_11102006 - Looking over the top of Snobs Creek Falls towards the valley below from the morning of that first visit in November 2006
Snobs_Creek_Falls_030_11102006 - Profile look at the Snobs Creek Falls as we descended alongside its drop as seen from that first visit in November 2006
Snobs_Creek_Falls_027_11102006 - A more angled look at the Snobs Creek Falls as we continued to go more to its front back in the days when they used to let us see the waterfall better in November 2006
Snobs_Creek_Falls_021_11102006 - This was as much of a frontal view of Snobs Creek Falls as we could get during our November 2006 visit. There were actually more tiers further downstream
Snobs_Creek_Falls_004_11102006 - Another angled look towards the upper drop of Snobs Creek Falls during our November 2006 visit
Snobs_Creek_Falls_004_jx_11102006 - Plaque commemorating a girl who lost her life at Snobs Creek Falls as seen in November 2006. Since this was at the now-forbidden part of the track, I didn't notice this plaque on a subsequent visit in November 2017


Since there were many ways of reaching Eildon and the Lake Eildon National Park vicinity from say Melbourne or Euroa, I’ll just focus on what I think would be the most straightforward and shortest route from Melbourne.

From the Melbourne CBD, I’d find my way north onto the start of the Maroondah Highway (Hwy 34) nearby the University of Melbourne and the Melbourne Museum around the corner of Elgin St and Rathdowne St.

Then head east on the Maroondah Highway (Hwy 34).

If pressed for time or can’t be bothered being mired in traffic, then it might be worth finding the way to Alexandra Parade further north or to Hoddle Street further to the east.

Both streets have access to the M3 EastLink Tollway.

Eventually, the EastLink Tollway (M3) exits with the Maroondah Highway (still Hwy 34) at the suburb of Ringwood.

The Maroondah Highway became the B300 Highway beyond the suburb of Lilydale.

At around 5km or so northeast of Lilydale, I’d take the B360 fork on the right to continue on the Maroondah Highway.

After about 41km, the B360 intersected with the C507 at Narbethong.

Snobs_Creek_Falls_008_jx_11102006 - The unsealed road leading to the parking bay for Snobs Creek Falls
The unsealed road leading to the parking bay for Snobs Creek Falls

Turning left to continue on the Maroondah Highway (B360), I’d then drive about 26km to its junction with the C515 Road in Taggerty.

After about 13km on the Taggerty-Thornton Rd (C515), I’d then turn right onto the Goulburn Valley Highway (B340) in Thornton, and follow this highway east for almost 8km to the Snobs Creek Road on the right.

Then, I’d follow Snobs Creek Rd for roughly 5.5km (the road became unsealed after 3km) to the signposted parking bay on the left.

Overall, this drive would take on the order of 2.5 hours depending on the amount of traffic in Melbourne as well as the number of traffic light stops in its northeastern suburbs.

Snobs_Creek_Falls_17_002_11202017 - Context of the pullout and steps leading down to the Snobs Creek Falls lookout during my November 2017 visit
Context of the pullout and steps leading down to the Snobs Creek Falls lookout during my November 2017 visit

When leaving the area, given how narrow Snobs Creek Road was, you’re supposed to make a U-turn 600m further on Snobs Creek Rd instead of attempting a dangerous three-point turn at the trailhead.

Coming from the north, I was able to reach Snobs Creek Falls by way of Euroa, Merton, Yarck, Alexandra, and eventually Thornton to Snobs Creek Road.

If coming from Marysville, I was able to take the Buxton-Marysville Rd (C508) to join the Maroondah Highway (B360) due north, then follow the route to Taggerty and then to Thornton as described earlier.

For further geographical context, Eildon was 48km (over 30 minutes drive) north of Marysville, 89km (over an hour drive) south of Euroa, 139km (over 2 hours drive) northeast of Melbourne, 175km (about 2 hours drive) south-southwest of Wangaratta, and 587km (6 hours drive) southwest of Canberra.

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Checking out the falls from the metal walkway and lookout


Right to left sweep from the cascades lookout

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Tagged with: rubicon, eildon, murrindindi, victoria, australia, snobs creek, waterfall, snob creek



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Johnny Cheng is the founder of the World of Waterfalls and author of the award-winning A Guide to New Zealand Waterfalls. Over the last 2 decades, he has visited thousands of waterfalls in over 40 countries around the world and nearly 40 states in the USA.
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