[3] The walls of the gorge are very steep, contrasting the gently sloping landscape found in the nearby areas.

The gorge was incised by the melt streams of the Wisconsin glaciation about 10,000 years ago.

[4] Measuring 41 metres (135 ft) in height, Tew's Falls is the tallest waterfall found in Hamilton,[5][6] among 96 others.

[7] Located at 219 metres (719 ft) above the sea level, it is also the highest waterfall in the city.

At least 10 bowl-shaped basins have been identified within the area, indicating the earlier positions of the waterfall.