Local Vic

Phantom Falls & Keppel Falls on Lady Talbot Drive – Yarra Ranges National Park


Many visit Victoria’s most beautiful Black Spur Drive and explore towns like Marysville and Lake Mountain. But seldom make time to explore the less travelled Phantom Falls and Keppel Falls located on the Lady Talbot Drive.

The road was named ‘Lady Talbot Drive’ after the wife of Sir Reginald Talbot, who was Governor of Victoria from 1903 until 1908.

Phantom Falls

Phantom Falls maybe short in terms of the distance but it is a challenging walk with some steep climbs. Once there, take your time and enjoy the scenery on the bridge that crosses the Taggerty River.

Phantom Falls
Phantom Falls

Length and Walking Time: 800 m – 45 minutes to an hour
Closest Town: Marysville
Car Access: To reach Lady Talbot Drive in Marysville from the Maroondah Highway:

  • Lady Talbot Drive will be on your left shortly after.
  • Enter the Marysville township.
  • At the roundabout, turn right onto Woods Point Road.

Keppel Falls

Keppel Falls are also located close by. Named after the Keppel brothers who saw the falls in the 1880s, these falls are the highlight of Lady Talbot Drive.

Keppel Falls
Keppel Falls

Length and Walking Time: 2 km return

Its a lovely moderate walk by the riverside and the falls can be viewed from the platform. The roads have recently been cleared and opened after being closed for past few years.

For more walking aventure you can park at the Taggerty Cascades carpark and choose to take the Beeches Rainforest Walk (1.3 km return) or Taggerty Cascades (300 m). For longer walks take the Michaeldene Trail that offers 2.7 km or a 4.3 km loop option. Here you will also get to see an old trestle bridge and a lookout.

Keep in mind Lady Talbot Drive has seasonal road closures due to bad weather and dead trees that fall over the road. For latest updates on road condition and changing weather, please visit https://www.parks.vic.gov.au

Location & Distance Guide

Melbourne to Marysville: 97.4 km
Marysville to Phantom Falls: 9.9 km
Phantom Falls to Keppel Falls: 2.4 km
Marysville to Lake Mountain: 21.3 km

Images CC Google and Parks Victoria

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A natural connector at heart, I believe in the power of authentic relationships and storytelling to bring people together. As a content creator, I specialize in crafting words that resonate deeply with readers, creating genuine connections through shared experiences and insights. While I run successful travel blogs that inspire wanderlust and cultural discovery, I’m equally driven to explore the inner landscape of wellness and mindfulness. Currently, I’m developing resources focused on wellness and mindfulness practices accessible to all ages, believing that mental well-being is a journey everyone deserves to embark upon. When I’m not writing or traveling, you’ll find me with my hands in the soil tending to my garden, lost in the pages of a good book, or engaged in creative pursuits that feed my soul. These quiet moments of reflection often become the seeds for my most authentic content.