Tag:waterfalls
The Blue Mountains, situated in New South Wales, Australia, is a stunning mountain range that has been designated a World Heritage site. Only 80 kilometres west of Sydney, they boast a variety of hiking trails, rock-climbing paths, and awe-inspiring scenic views. The Blue Mountains at Katoomba are also home to the famous Three Sisters, a popular tourist spot that draws visitors to the area.
Early History
The Blue Mountains and the Great Dividing Range presented a formidable obstacle to the early European pioneers who sought to settle and explore Sydney and its surrounding areas. These settlers viewed the range as an intimidating wall of sandstone cliffs, deep gorges, and thick vegetation. Due to the challenging terrain, settlements were limited to coastal areas, and the seemingly impenetrable mountains made it difficult if not impossible for pioneers to venture beyond these areas. Consequently, the Blue Mountains remained largely unexplored for many years.
This all changed, however, when in 1813, Gregory Blaxland, William Charles Wentworth, and William Lawson set out to cross the Blue Mountains to find a way into the unknown interior of Australia. Unlike many before them, they successfully crossed the mountains, completely the journey in only three weeks and reached the western plains. Thus becoming the first Europeans to do so. Previous explorers had looked for a route through the valleys. Unlike previous explorers, Blaxland, Wentworth and Lawson’s expedition crossed the mountains by traversing the ridges rather than the valleys. Their journey opened the interior to further exploration and settlement, eventually leading to the development of new towns and communities beyond the mountains.
World Heritage Listing
The Blue Mountains was added to the World Heritage Register in 2000 due to it’s exceptional natural beauty, biodiversity and outstanding examples of global geological processes. The site also includes the Blue Mountains National Park and several adjacent conservation reserves, covering approximately 1.03 million hectares.
The region is well-known for its rugged sandstone cliffs, deep canyons, and eucalyptus forests. It boasts a rich biodiversity with diverse plant and animal species. The Blue Mountains is also home to numerous Indigenous cultural sites, such as rock art, ceremonial grounds, and scarred trees, which hold significant cultural value for the area.
The Three Sisters
The iconic Three Sisters at Echo Point are three sandstone peaks that rise from the Jamison Valley below. The peaks are named Meehni, Wimlah, and Gunnedoo and are said to be named after three Indigenous sisters. According to local legend, the sisters were turned to stone by a witch doctor to protect them from an unwanted marriage. The Three Sisters is a significant Indigenous cultural site, and the local Indigenous community consider it a sacred site. It is also a popular spot for hiking and rock climbing, and visitors can take a scenic walk to the base of the formation.
The Jenolan Caves
The caves are a complex system of twenty-two limestone caves and are over 340 million years old. Apart from being considered one of the most spectacular cave systems in the world, they are also the oldest caves in Australia. Within Jenolan Caves are an extensive network of underground passageways and limestone formations, including stalactites, stalagmites, and helictites.
The caves were first discovered by Europeans in the early 1800s, and before long, became a popular tourist destination. Today, the Jenolan Caves are one of the most popular tourist attractions in the Blue Mountains. Visitors can take various guided tours and activities, including self-guided, adventure-caving, and lantern-lit tours. The caves are also a significant site for speleology and have been the subject of much scientific study.
Lennox Bridge
The Lennox Bridge is a historic sandstone arch in the Blue Mountains, New South Wales, Australia. It was designed and built by Scottish stonemason David Lennox between 1833 and 1837. Significantly, the bridge is the oldest surviving stone bridge on mainland Australia and spans the historic Mitchell’s Pass over the Coxs River. It is a particularly popular spot for tourists and photographers. The bridge is also listed on the New South Wales State Heritage Register.
The Hydro Majestic Hotel
The Hydro Majestic Hotel is an iconic hotel situated in Medlow Bath. Constructed by Mark Foy, a prosperous Australian businessman and theatrical impresario, in 1904. The hotel boasts an Edwardian style of architecture with a blend of Art Nouveau and Federation designs. It’s grandeur and unique architecture make it a significant landmark. The United States Department of Defence occupied the Hydro for a brief period during WWII, and it served as a hospital for American casualties from battles in the Coral Sea and South Pacific.
The hotel underwent several renovations over the years. Today it continues to operate as a hotel, offering accommodation, dining, and spa services. The Hydro Majestic Hotel is listed on the New South Wales State Heritage Register for its architectural and historical significance. It is undoubtedly considered one of the Blue Mountains’ most iconic heritage buildings.
The Katoomba Scenic Railway
The scenic railway is a historic railway forming part of the Blue Mountains Line, connecting Katoomba to the Jamison Valley below. Known for its 52° steep gradient, it descends over 300 meters (984 feet) through a cliff-side tunnel. It is one of the steepest railways in the world.
The railway was constructed in the early 1900s for the transportation of passengers and goods. As of now, it still functions as a tourist attraction, providing visitors with a picturesque journey through the Blue Mountains.
Govetts Leap
Govetts Leap is a scenic lookout in the Blue Mountains’ Blackheath area. The lookout offers a panoramic view of the Grose Valley, a deep gorge carved by the Grose River, named after William Romaine Govett, a surveyor who was the first European to discover the viewpoint in 1831. Govetts Leap lookout is a popular spot for tourists and hikers, offering a range of short and long walks.
Govetts Leap also offers breathtaking views of the Bridal Veil waterfall, a popular photography spot. The view of the valley is considered one of the most spectacular in the Blue Mountains. It’s a must-visit destination for anyone visiting the area.
Waterfalls
Within the Blue Mountains are several beautiful waterfalls. Some of the most popular waterfalls in the area are the following:
Best time to visit
The best time to visit the Blue Mountains in New South Wales, Australia, depends on your personal preferences and the activities you plan to do.
- Spring (September-November): The weather is mild, and the wildflowers bloom. It is also an excellent time for bushwalking and enjoying the area’s natural beauty.
- Summer (December-February): The weather is warm, and the days are long, making it the perfect time for swimming and picnicking.
- Autumn (March-May) – The weather is mild, and the trees are changing colours. It’s an excellent time for photography and scenic drives (and also a perfect time to pop over to Mount Wilson)
- Winter (June-August): The weather can be cold, but the crowds are minimal. However, it is an excellent time for those cosy fireside and log cabin holidays and winter sports like skiing and snowboarding.
The Blue Mountains provide a diverse range of experiences throughout the year, with each season offering something special. It is essential to remember that peak season can get quite busy, so it’s wise to consider this when organising your trip.
Looking for Victorian landscape photography locations? While the smallest state in Australia, Victoria punches above its weight for photography locations. Within its boundaries are lush rainforests, spectacular coastlines, rugged mountains, and for the street photographer – a thriving cosmopolitan city cafe culture. While there are certainly a lot more than 5 locations – these are my favourite five, in no particular order. It doesn’t matter the weather – you can always get a top shot.
1. The Great Ocean Road
Probably the most famous Victorian landscape photography locations is the Great Ocean Road. Rated one of the best cliff-hugging drives in the world the Great Ocean Road was built back in the 1930s by returned servicemen. It starts at the beautiful seaside town of Lorne and hugs the cliff along the Southern Ocean to Apollo Bay before heading inland and winding its way through rolling, green hills to Nelson. Along the way, you will find spectacular views around every corner, beautiful rainforests, epic surf locations including the world-famous Bells Beach, waterfalls, wildlife, redwood forests, and epic hikes.
2. Princes Pier, Port Melbourne
Princes Pier is a 580 metre long, historic pier in Port Melbourne that was built between 1912 – 1915. It was the major arrival port for migrants to Australia during the post-war period. Its use declined over the years and in the early 1990s, it was closed due to its poor condition. Between 1990 and 2004 fourteen fires occurred caused by squatters or vandals. The State Government announced a $14m refurbishment in 2006, restoring the first 196 metres. The remaining decking was removed and the original pylons restored. It reopened in 2007 and is now a favourite haunt of photographers and anglers.
3. Dragon Head Rock
Situated at 16th Beach, one of the Rye back beaches, Dragon Head Rock is a rock formation just off the beach and accessible at low tide. From the front, it’s just a rock, but move to the side and it takes on its distinct shape. If you are a fan of long exposure, smooth water shots – it’s a fabulous location to hone your skills.
4. The Grampians
The heritage-listed Grampians, traditionally known as Gariwerd in aboriginal culture is a mountainous area close to Halls Gap and around 3 hours from Melbourne. It boasts world-famous hiking trails from gentle to challenging, waterfalls, wildlife and mountain panoramas.
5.Warburton
Warburton could be Melbourne’s best-kept secret. While it’s well known to Melbournites it rarely features on any list for tourism. Its set among the hills of the beautiful Yarra Valley and is an easy 90-minute drive from Melbourne. Down by cement creek you will find the Californian Redwood forest. Thousands of towering Redwoods set in rows with a carpet of leaf litter and dotted with mysterious forest art, and a fern gully along the creek at the back make it a magical place. Not far from the Redwood Forest is the Rainforest Gallery – a stunning, easy walk through the forest over bridges above the forest floor and down along streams with tumbling cascades.
Well, there you go, my favourite five, which is not to say there isn’t loads more epic locations. What are your favourite locations in Victoria? love to hear your thoughts.
Once a year, my sister and I take a week’s holiday together. No hubbies, no kids. Just sister time with our cameras. This year we chose the hinterlands of the Gold Coast, staying at O’Reilly’s Rainforest Retreat for four days before heading down via Springbrook National Park to Surfers Paradise for another four days. Finally, we flew out of Melbourne, arriving in Coolangatta 2 hours later… due to Qld not having daylight savings, the watches had to go back an hour, putting us at the rental desk to collect our hire car only 1.5hrs after leaving Melbourne.
“Four years after the arrival of the O’Reilly family in 1911 Lamington National Park was declared, effectively isolating the O’Reillys from the outside world. While Lamington wasn’t Queensland’s first national park it is the most significant, and was regularly referred to as ‘Queensland’s National Park”
https://oreillys.com.au/lamington-national-park/
A free upgrade saw us heading off in a lovely little Mitsubishi ASX instead of the Toyota Carolla. Not that it helped with luggage storage … we had two large suitcases and two rolling camera suitcases, and the big suitcases held more camera gear! Gone are the days of travelling light.
Canungra
The first stop was O’Reillys Vineyards, Canungra, where we enjoyed a delicious lunch before a wine tasting and bought some wines to take with us. There was apparently platypus breeding in the creek, but with the skies getting darker and a storm predicted and 34 kms of very, very winding road up the mountain ahead of us, we decided to push on. It was good that we did, as while Qld doesn’t believe it needs daylight, saying it would really help! Daylight is around 4.30 am every morning, but it’s dark by 6 pm.
Goat Track of a Road
Road crews were working on the road repairing damage from Cyclone Debbie. This made some sections narrower than they were already, and it was one lane all the way up. Not one lane each way… one lane in total! there were lots of little turnouts to pull over into, but a couple of times, we came around a blind corner with another car coming towards us…. a wine was definitely called for by the time we arrived. (we found out later the road was an old logging track they covered with bitumen!)
O’Reilly’s Rainforest Retreat is a village-like retreat high up the mountain in Lamington National Park, with a dining room, bar, cafe, discovery centre, church, mini-mart, gift shop, and accommodation options from self-contained through to guesthouse or camping.
Birds Galore
We had decided to stay in the mountain view rooms with a little back deck overlooking the mountains in the distance. It turned out to be an excellent choice as each morning and evening, we had such a myriad of birds in the trees around our room that we quickly bought some rice crackers at the mini-mart to attract them closer.
That night we strolled down to O’Reilly’s dining room… amazing food with massive portions…. not really overpriced for what you got, but geez.. our lamb share platter for two could have fed four; we did our best but still left half…. mind you we still made room for the pavlova even if we had to share that too 🙂
In this post, we turn our sights to the Waterfalls of NSW. If you have read my previous waterfall posts, Waterfalls of Victoria and Waterfalls of Queensland, you have probably figured out I’m rather partial to waterfalls 🙂 On a recent trip to the Blue Mountains, I rambled around with a friend, uphill and down some very deep dales, to add a few more to my list.
Katoomba Cascades
Katoomba Cascades is a lovely, super pretty waterfall about 5 mins walk from the car park. It’s not to be confused with Katoomba Falls, a hard, grade 4 track. The cascades are in a pleasant little glade, surrounded two sides by trees, with a pond at the front and big stepping-stones across the pond so you can shoot from the front or either side. You can continue to the Kedumba River lookout if you like, but I was just interested in the cascades and went no further 😉
The sun rises over the top of the falls, so if shooting on a sunny day, it’s best to shoot either early morning or late in the day when it’s behind you. As I wanted long exposure for the silky water, but it was pretty shady below the cliff edges, I decided to bracket my shots. This also helped bring the colours out in the rocks. The above are three images shot two stops apart and merged in Photomatix.
Empress Falls
Unlike Katoomba Cascades, Empress Falls is NOT an easy walk. It’s a Gr 4 track under the Australian Walking Track Grading System, which is “Bushwalking experience recommended. Tracks may be long, rough, and very steep. Directional signage may be limited” I can vouch for it being very steep. And rough. Getting down was a series of wooden steps, metal stairs, dirt tracks, and stone steps, including stepping-stones across flowing water, all while carrying a tripod and 9kg of camera gear on my back! It’s only 1.1km, but it’s downhill all the way. We went from the cliff tops to below the tree line in this photo. If I ever talk about doing a grade 4 again, commit me. Stat.
The falls tumble through the canyon walls to a pool at your feet on arriving at the bottom. You are on a large stone plateau with a pool between you and the falls. Large moss-covered rocks and the obligatory log (ever noticed how there is one at EVERY waterfall? it’s like parks decor 101. Put a log in front of the waterfall)
The large, reasonably flattish rock surface makes it possible to shoot from several angles. Even with the difficulty of the walk, it’s a busy place, with lots of people stopping by for a photo before continuing (there are two more falls on the track). So we didn’t go any further. I wasn’t sure how long or even how I would get back up, so when we were done, we retraced our steps. Getting down took me about 20 mins. Getting back up was just over an hour.
Upper Leaura Cascades
After our suicidal walk the day before to Empress Falls, and with muscles still complaining the next day, we opted for a more accessible waterfall. The upper Leaura Cascades. Like Katoomba Cascades, they are only a few minute’s walk and half a dozen steps from the car park and adjacent pretty picnic area with man-made caves and arches. While not a large waterfall, it is quite lovely in a little tree-fern ringed pocket. There is a small viewing area to the side, but it’s reasonably easy to get down and in front of it.
Lower Leaura Falls
Once you are done with the upper falls, head back to the car park and to your right, under the arch, past the information sign and then down the steps. You’ll come to a small stone bridge with a view of the falls about 120m down. Keep coming for another couple of minutes, cross the footbridge and the falls and viewing platform are to your right.
The viewing platform is in front of a large rock overhang, and there are plenty of rocks to put your camera bag on rather than in the dirt. It’s wet there, though; either put your rain cover on the pack or bring a plastic bag to sit your camera bag on.
We were there mid-morning, and the sun was hitting the falls as it came through the trees. Not really ideal with the falls strongly backlit. I want to reshoot them, but next time, much earlier or later in the day.
Wentworth falls, Wentworth
The walk to Weeping Rock starts at the Wentworth Falls Picnic area. There are plenty of car parking spots, but it’s VERY popular, and the car park usually fills quickly, and people resort to parking in the surrounding streets. The walk itself goes past Fletchers Lookout with amazing views of the valley, then past Wentworth Falls Lookout before heading downhill to Weeping Rock and Wentworth Falls.
Weeping Rock, Wentworth
The path to the lookout is listed as a Grade 3 and 1.4km return. Grade 3 is considered a moderate track suitable for all ages with short, steep sections. For real people who don’t go to the gym several times a week, it’s my version of hard. Besides me, quite a few people were stopping to catch their breath on the way back. Kids did it standing on their heads. Mature age people, not so much.
When we got down to Wentworth Falls, a zillion people were doing selfies, sitting in the pool, and climbing over rocks. It was crowded! So many people I didn’t even bother trying to get a shot. We left Wentworth, turned back a little, and took the track off to the right on the way back to Weeping Rock. It’s only a very short track off to the side, and it was gloriously empty of hordes of people.
The steps bring you down to the front as you approach the waterfall. There is no designated viewing area, and you can walk around in front of it. The water comes over the top, flowing down into the pools in front and off to the right. Then over the cliff to link up with Wentworth Falls. The cliff edge is NOT fenced, so stay well away from it. If you only go from the start of the track to Weeping Rock and forget about Wentworth Falls (the view at the top is pretty forgettable), then it’s on a 950m return trip.
Note:
My ND filter of choice is Zomei. I know there is a lot of debate around the brands. Some people swear by Lee, others by Nisi, some by Cokin. Both the Lee and Nisi are well out of my price range, but cheap ND filters are worthless. They give off unwanted magenta or brown colour casts that you CANNOT remove in post-processing. While the Zomei optical glass filters aren’t ‘cheap’, they are about 75% cheaper than Lee or Nisi. My ND10 and ND64 were both around $80 each and worth every cent. As you can see from the images above, there is no loss of clarity or colour cast.
if you enjoyed Waterfalls of NSW, check out Waterfalls of Qld.
Waterfalls abound in tropical Queensland. Apart from NSW, Qld has more waterfalls than any other state. Waterfalls also make great subjects for one of my favourite techniques – Long Exposure with ND filters. Part 1 is Waterfalls of Victoria
Ellinjaa Falls
Ellinjaa is on the waterfall circuit in the Atherton Tablelands of FNQ, yep, taking you past several waterfalls. From the car park to the falls’ base, it’s a 20-minute walk through a lush rainforest that’s not too strenuous. Unfortunately, it’s promoted on many sites as excellent for swimming. So you could have swimmers in your shot on a hot day. The viewing platform is in front of steel grates which works great for water runoff but not for tripods. However, with a bit of careful positioning, it can be overcome.
It’s also touted as a swimming hole. But it’s not hard to get from the viewing platform to the side of the pool for a different perspective.
Josephine Falls
Josephine Falls, 75kms south of Cairns, is on the Josephine Creek and in Wooroonooran National Park, FNQ. It’s a beautiful 700m walk in through rainforest and then down a set of steps to the base of the falls. Again, it’s known as a swimming hole. You aren’t allowed up to the top of the falls, as people have been seriously injured or killed sliding down. However, the young and invincible still do it.
Milla Milla Falls
Also on the waterfall circuit on tablelands is Milla Milla. It’s only about 10 ft from the lower car park to the falls(which on these grounds alone moved it to the top of my list). The water tumbles over the top and drops 18 metres over volcanic basalt into a pool at the bottom that is again promoted for swimming. On my first trip there, I was lucky to come across a couple of lovely german girls doing hair flicks. The second time also struck people in the pool but not as photogenic. It was a long wait till we got a break from no one in the pool, allowing us to run off a couple of quick shots.
This time it’s the waterfalls of Victoria. My second (equal) great photographic love is waterfalls alongside decaying abandoned locations. I will drive miles to see one, and when going on a trip, I research and hunt for any waterfalls along our route. Some waterfalls have no base access. And while this does save my legs, it’s not my favourite POV for waterfalls. I prefer to photograph from the base of the falls instead of a lookout at the top. Part 2 is Waterfalls of Queensland
Paradise Falls
The lovely Paradise Falls is 17 km from Whitfield via Cheshunt. It’s often dry, but you get a nice flow after heavy or steady rain. While it was lovely and sunny, the day we visited following several days of rain, and two streams were coming over the top. So if visiting, don’t bother with summer; winter and spring are best. From the car park, walk down the walking path for 200m to the Paradise Falls viewing platform. The track is of easy grade and includes some steps. You can continue to the viewing platform base of the falls. It’s steep but not too bad.
Once on the platform, you can go through the gap between the lookout and cliffs. Then hug the cliffs and head up and across to get behind the falls. It’s a bit of a goat track, but no signs are saying you shouldn’t do it, and lots were. From behind the falls, you are under the overhang. Its size is massive (see the ant-like people on the left to get an idea of perspective). Above is a ten-shot pano taken looking out (5 shots, two rows)
Steavensons Falls
Located in Marysville is Steavensons Falls, which is another beautiful and easily accessed waterfall. An easy walk from the car park brings you to the viewing platform facing the falls. The waterfalls are 121ft high with five separate drops. Several paths from the lookout take you to other vantage points, including one that takes you to the top of the falls. Unfortunately, all the infrastructure was lost during the Black Saturday bushfires, but viewing platforms, toilets etc., have since been rebuilt.
Tooronga Falls
Noojee, which has the dubious honour of being the wettest place in Victoria. We visited in October, and the water coming over the top was impressive. The car park at Tooronga Falls reserve is quite large with picnic and toilet facilities. We even noticed people camping there, so the amenities are good. The waterfall itself is an anomaly. Every other waterfall I have visited is either close to the car park or many steps downhill to the falls. There were many steps uphill to the falls with a downhill return. The track is quite good hardened earth and solid steps. Lots of steps. But worth it. You come out on a lovely viewing platform when you get to the top. This is close to and right in front of the falls. You can continue to Amphitheatre Falls as the loop brings you back to the car park, but we were worn out from the walk-up and retraced our steps back to the car park.
Woolshed Falls
Beautiful Woolshed Falls are in Beechworth. Spectacular after heavy rain and flowed well when we visited in September. Located in Chiltern-Mt Pilot National Park and just ten minutes out of Beechworth, there is an ample car park with toilets and picnic facilities. There are two lookouts. The one to the left from the car park goes to a fenced lookout with a good view of the falls. Take the path down from the car park; you come to the rocky area in the picture above and walk around the rocks to get closer. The rocks can be slippery, though; two of our group fell over but had no serious injuries.
Erskine Falls
While a beautiful waterfall, Erskine Falls in Lorne, is a strenuous 320 steps up and downhill, the count may be a step or two off as I was near collapse by the time I got back up. Once at the bottom, you have a great view of the waterfall from the lookout in front, with nice rocks forming a leading line in.
Agnes Falls
Located in Toora, Vic., Agnes Falls is also very close to the car park and just a slight walk downhill. You can’t get to the bottom, but the lookout is just below the precipice, so you are almost level with the water going over. It’s also not a deep straight drop. Instead, it’s lots of rocky cascades, so the angle you are at is quite good. When we visited, it had been raining the day before, and the rain started again as I was shooting, so it was flowing very well.
Broken Falls
Beautiful Broken Falls in the Grampians is another easy walk. From the car park, it’s a short sealed walk which is steep. Still, it’s short, and wheelchair or pram suitable. You can continue to the base of McKenzies falls on a 2km return, but it’s a LONG way down, with signs warning only to take the descent if you were fit, and with Erskine Falls fresh in my memory, I chickened out.
Originally Broken Falls was a short, not as steep, dirt walk from the kiosk by the car park. The bushfires of 2014 decimated the area, and the kiosk, walkways, toilets, etc., were some of the casualties. Parks Victoria has rebuilt the waterfalls walk area. The original lookout area has been relocated with a sealed walk and a slightly different view. The lookout is now to the side instead of at the front as it was in 2013.
Hopetoun Falls
One of my favourites, Hopetoun Falls, near Beech Forest in the Otways, is an excellent all-year waterfall. However, it flows much better in the winter and spring months. A short walk from the small car park brings you to the upper lookout, where you get a nice view of the falls.
If you continue down the stairs, you come to a reasonably flat boardwalk that takes you to the lookout at the base of the fall. The lookout is safely fenced off (though it’s easy to go around the side and down to the river) and has a bench, though it’s usually wet all the time from rain or waterfall spray.
Triplet Falls
Also near Beech Forest and not far from Hopetoun Falls is Triplet Falls. These falls have three separate streams that cascade over a lush rainforest into the valley. Of course, there aren’t always three streams flowing as it depends on rainfall, but it seems that there are at least two (and it rains a lot in the Otways).
There were two streams the day we were there, but trees blocked our view of the other, and it was only possible to photograph one stream.
Trentham Falls
One of the most accessible falls, the Trentham Falls lookout, is only an easy 70 meters from the car park. There is a goat track down to the base with danger signs not to use it, but no one was paying attention to the sign when I was there. We have been there in summer, and it was just a trickle. Certainly much better in August.
Hopkins Falls
Situated in Allansford, just 15 km from Warrnambool, is Hopkins Falls. It’s handy to the car park, but the base of the falls is on private property. You can access it. Just respect that you are on private land.
The curtain-like falls are 90 metres wide and plunge 12 metres over dark basalt rock. Two viewing platforms overlook the falls, and the super-easy path from the platform to the base is postcard-worthy. The falls are best in winter (we were there in April. In winter, also look for baby eels jumping the rocky ledges during their winter migration.
In 1930, the then Board of Works created a Redwood Forest at Warburton. This one predates the Otways Redwood Forest by about nine years.
They cleared some eucalypt trees and planted Bishop Pine, Douglas Fir, and Californian Redwoods in their place. This was done for “experimental purposes as part of the Board’s hydrology research program”. Over 1476 trees range from 20 metres to the tallest being 55 metres. I don’t know what happened to the program, but the trees are still there for unrestricted access, and the site is just magic. The site is now heritage listed on the Victorian Heritage Database, ensuring survival from logging.
The Yarra River runs along the back of the forest…
and we headed to this first, trekking through a narrow goat track and undergrowth to find the river, and then found a wide path coming back. In the forest, none of us thought to record our Indiana Jones moment 🙁
The river is lined with lush green tree ferns, water tumbled and washed over rocks. Not a sound except for running water and the birds. We were only able to get down to the river at one point, with high banks preventing access most of the length, but the spot we found was beautiful, and we spent about an hour there.
Back in the forest, we found more ‘odd’ evidence on what happens in a Redwood Forest (on a full moon?). Dotted throughout the forest were circles made from twigs and branches and, in one instance, a small shelter. There were dozens of the circles, a couple shaped like large nests, more than a bit ‘Blair Witch’ and no way would I go in there after dark 😉
Getting there:
Drive through Warburton, following the Warburton Highway until it becomes Woods Point Road. After about 7 km, take Cement Creek Road on the left. The road is unsealed and a little rough in places, but 0.7 km along, you will find a small parking area on the right along a fenceline and a small gate barrier. Walk through the gate, and there you are. Walking through the plantation will lead you down to the river, following the walking tracks each way.
The Grampians (Gariwerd) is a series of rugged sandstone mountain ranges and forests rich in wildlife. One of Victoria’s most popular holiday destinations, the Grampians are the destination of day-trippers and campers. They all come for rock climbing, scenic drives, bushwalks, and nature. The tiny and bustling yet laid-back town of Halls Gap is at the heart of Grampians. Its popularity is evident in many accommodation options, from backpackers to luxurious resorts and its many dining options.
Bushfires
On 15 January 2014, a bushfire which was sparked by a lightning strike started in the Grampians National Park. It was one of 68 fires burning across Victoria during this time.
The fire coincided with a heatwave across Victoria with temperatures reaching over 40 C in the Grampians region from 15 – 20 January. The fire eventually burnt 52,000 hectares including bushland and farms and was declared contained on 21 January 2014. Many residents from Dadswell’s Gap, Wartook, Brimpean, St Helen’s Plain, Roses Gap Pomonal, Bellfield, Lake Fyans, Lake Lonsdale, Heatherlie and Ledcourt were affected by the fires. Halls Gap was threatened by the fire front and ember attack and most of the town evacuated. Relief centres were set up in Horsham, Stawell and Ararat for the hundreds of people who were evacuated from their homes. Farmers lost large numbers of sheep that were either killed by the fire or later culled. At least 7000 sheep in total were lost.
A 12 km wide pyro cumulus cloud column of smoke and fire was created by the fire, generating its own weather pattern including lightning and thunder. This cloud gathered burning embers into the sky, which then scattered for many kilometres beyond the fire front, potentially starting new fires .
Australian Emergency Management
Halls Gap
In January 2015, and stayed in a fabulous little house near town that backed onto the National Park. We had a constant stream of wildlife visitors from when we arrived until we left three days later. Kangaroos, Cockatoos, Finches, Emus, and Crimson Rosellas were always nearby.
Break it up, kids
Boroka Lookout
We saw many of the lookouts had been rebuilt due to the last bushfire. Unfortunately, gone were the old wooden railings lost in the fires. In their place, however, were lovely new stainless steel railings at Boroka Lookout. The lookouts at McKenzie Falls have also been rebuilt, along with new amenities blocks. However, the kiosk that stood there is gone and hasn’t been rebuilt. Just the chimney remains.
Tooronga Falls is just east of Noojee, Vic, and is easily accessible from the car park via a 750m walk.
The falls are photogenic, with an excellent year-round flow. On the walk to them the falls, we found lots of opportunities for photography. Tall mountain ash, tree ferns, moss, lichen, and the Latrobe River running downhill all caught our eye. Eventually arriving at the falls, there is a well-situated viewing deck that’s quite close to them. And thankfully, a seat, which we collapsed into after the uphill slog 🙂
The Walk to the falls
According to VisitMelbourne.com, the track is listed as ‘hardened gravel and compacted surface’, and it is quite solid and easy to walk on. We didn’t find it muddy or slippery. However, I beg to differ on the ‘gentle uphill sections’. Gentle for the young and fit, maybe, not the senior and slow.
Unlike many waterfalls I have visited, you walk UP to this one, and the return journey is downhill. Which did save me from arriving back at the car park red-faced and gasping like a ten pack a day smoker 😉 There is a longer 2km walk that includes Amphitheater falls. When we were finished at Tooronga Falls, our stomachs were growling, so we headed back to Noojee.
Noojee Trestle Bridge
Settled in the 1860s by gold prospectors Noojee today, is a tourist town on the main route to the Mount Baw Baw ski fields. After leaving the falls we called into the Toolshed Bar and Bistro at the Outpost for a late lunch. Food was excellent, servings were large, and the ambience very quaint and rustic. Definitely a good find.
We headed back west of Noojee and stopped off at the historic Noojee Trestle Bridge. Constructed in 1919 as part of a railway to haul timber out of the district, the bridge is no longer used. However, it is the highest trestle bridge in Victoria and has been restored. There are steps from the car park at the base of the bridge leading up to the top. You can also walk along the cycling and walking trail across and back down the other side.
Well worth a day trip is Trentham Falls and the Railway Station. And if coming in from Melbourne, the bakery at Woodend is a must to stop at! Trentham is a little town with a population of 1,411 nestled at the top of the Great Dividing Range. It’s halfway between Woodend and Daylesford and is an easy one hour from Melbourne up the Calder Hwy. The Falls are just a couple of kms out of town. On Sunday, we were there, the carpark was packed, and people were constantly coming and going.
The Falls
The falls flowed well when we visited in August. They are only a short 70-metre (downhill) walk from the carpark. The lookout above the falls is quite good. It formed millions of years ago from molten lava rapidly cooling along the river. They are Victoria’s highest single-drop waterfall, plunging 32 metres into the quartz riverbed below. The Trentham website called it the ‘former’ river, but there was a river flowing the day we were there. I had planned on setting the tripod up in front of the base of the falls. But the water was too deep.
The track to the base of the falls is ‘closed’ with signs of unstable cliffs, but that stopped no one. The barrier is about 2ft high, and no impediment to stepping over or around. So we followed the goat track to the base of the falls and spent a pleasant half-hour down there among the mist, hitting the rocks, photographing the falls and the river. Going back up was a little more complicated. I felt like a veritable explorer. Until I saw a man with his pregnant wife and small son strolling down the goat track!
Trentham Railway Station
Leaving the falls, we headed into Trentham to visit the historic railway station. The station was built in 1880 but closed in the 1970s. It has been restored with some rolling stock and buildings open as a railway museum. A small market is held there on Sundays.
As it was now mid-afternoon, we decided to head back to Woodend for afternoon tea before heading back to Melbourne. After walking uphill and down dale at the falls, then around the station, we were well and truly ready for a sit-down and cuppa!
Looking for more victorian waterfalls? Check out HERE