Marysville iconic Steavenson Falls by Floodlight
Date and time: 4.00 pm - 7.00 pm, Saturday 26th July 2025, followed by optional 7.00 pm dinner at the Black Spur Inn, Narbethong Optional Sunday morning 4WD activity to be decided over dinner.
Please contact your trip leader if you are unsure of any of the following requirements for this trip.
Trip concept: This an opportunity to experience and photograph the iconic Steavenson Falls in their daily floodlit state between dusk and 11pm. Prepare to be mesmerised and for the photographer within you to be enthralled. The Steavenson Falls are one of Victoria’s highest, with five cascades for a total descent of 122 metres, the last plummeting in a clear drop for more than 21 metres.
The idea is to be at Narbethong for a 4.00 pm briefing and depart at 4.30 pm sharp for Keppel Keppel Lookout, enroute to Steavenson Falls carpark. It is an easy 350 m walk to the bridge in front of the Falls, with viewing platforms either side. [There is another platform at the top of the Falls via an 800m steep walk, but this is not floodlit and therefore not considered safe]. Return to the carpark can take in the illuminated turbine generator utilising water from the Steavenson River that powers the Falls floodlighting and provides Marysville’s water supply. There are 50 concrete steps at the end of this short side track back to the carpark entrance.
After the viewing there is the optional social dinner at 7.00 pm at the Black Spur Inn at Narbethong. Thereafter participants can elect to have prebooked accommodation for the night or return home. For folks interested in exploring some 4WD tracks on Sunday morning there are options that can be considered over dinner.
History: John Steavenson, the Assistant Commissioner of Roads and Bridges, first visited the area now known as Marysville in 1862. The Falls became a popular attraction once a track to the Falls was cut in 1866. They were floodlit on November 3, 1972. The area was impacted by bushfires in 1939 and in recent memory by the 2009 bushfires with catastrophic consequences for the Marysville township and surrounding forest. There has been a remarkable environmental and human habitation recovery, including restoration of the floodlighting installation.
Weather: Expect cold and possibly wet conditions, necessitating appropriate clothing and footwear. Apart from a forecast of heavy rainfall, the trip will proceed. As Piotr Pecho noted in his 12/7/25 Toolangi trip remarks, “…rain enhances the natural beauty of the area – the forest becomes more lush green and the waterfalls are at their most spectacular”. Trip Registrants will be contacted by SMS at 7 pm on Wednesday 23rd July to confirm go/no and options attendances.
Equipment: Below are the recommended vehicle requirements. If you are not sure if your vehicle is suitable for a trip, please have a chat with the trip leader.
Keppel Lookout is accessed by gravel road and an easy sidetrack out of Marysville, Steavenson Falls ex Marysville is on bitumen road. High range 4WD is adequate.
However, any Sunday morning exploration of easy/medium 4WD tracks will mandate good off-road tyres (All Terrain, 60 profile recommended as a minimum), UHF radio (or one borrowed from the club), a well-maintained vehicle with low range (or equivalent), good ground clearance (200mm recommended as a minimum), recovery points, standard recovery gear including dampener, rated snatch strap and shackles, shovel. Drivers must have completed the RRCV club training or equivalent.
No camper trailers, pets or firearms
Maps and Reference Material: Rooftop’s Marysville- Lake Eildon Adventure Map.
Trip Standard:
Saturday – Easy. Some unsealed forest road and a short, uneven side track.
Sunday (tbc) – Medium. Possible steep, low-range inclines and some rocky tracks.
Fuel: A full tank ex Melbourne.
Distance: Sub 100 km departing from and returning to Narbethong for Saturday Falls visit and any Sunday morning activity.
Duration: Saturday evening and potentially Sunday morning.
Convoy limit: 10 vehicles
Meeting arrangements: 4.00 pm briefing at the Black Spur Inn, Narbethong, with departure for Keppel lookout at 4.30 pm sharp.
Trip Leader: Gerry Mak at gpmak@hotmail.com or 0407 329 723 for inquiries.
Club Guest Registration policy: It is club policy on insurance cover that if a member brings any non-members on the trip they must be registered and have paid the required fee as Temporary Members BEFORE the event.
i.e. non- members can no longer register on the day with the trip leader.
Temporary Membership information and ways to register can be found at: Temporary (Guest) Membership
Also, if a non-member wishes to bring their own vehicle, the member inviting the non-member must contact the trip leader for approval to bring the vehicle. Such approval will consider skills of the driver, suitability of the vehicle and whether a place within the convoy limit is available for a non-member's vehicle.
