Five waterfalls near Sydney to road trip to this weekend
Sydney is famously surrounded by some fairly wild and hilly territory and where you find mountainous terrain, you also find wondrous waterfalls.Fortunately, the NSW capital is also blessed with ample rainfall so when a river plunges off a cliff, it usually does it with style. If you need an excuse to get out of town and see something new, try one of these five wonderful waterfalls as a destination target.
Curracurrong Falls, Royal National Park
What makes Curracurrong so special is this waterfall doesn’t tumble into a pool or river but into the sea itself, plunging off an 80-metre cliff to the Pacific Ocean in a glittering cascade. Royal National Park is about an hour south of Sydney, but to find this waterfall it’s also about a four-kilometre hike from Wattamolla Beach. The effort is worth it, especially after decent rainfall and an onshore wind blows the spray skywards.
Maddens Falls, Dharawal National Park
You’d be forgiven for never having heard of Dharawal National Park but this hilly area in the Illawarra region is only 70km south of Sydney, and of course, much closer to Wollongong. Maddens Falls are a delight: the easy one-kilometre access track near Helensburgh is a picturesque walk and at the end, the creek drops off a wide cliff into pools below.
Wentworth Falls, Blue Mountains
This is the Big Kahuna when it comes to NSW waterfalls where the Jamieson River plunges some 200 metres in several tiers into the valley below the town also named Wentworth Falls. Just an hour or so west of the city, head for the Wentworth Falls picnic area then various walks – easy or more difficult – take you to this spectacular cascade. There are views aplenty and either bring barbecue provisions or try the nearby Conservation Hut for a spot of lunch.
Katoomba Falls, Blue Mountains
If you’re doing a waterfall tour of the Blue Mountains then Katoomba Falls is unmissable for its spectacular 150 drop into the Jamieson Valley. You want to head for Katoomba (obviously!) then seek out Scenic World with its stunning views and cable car ride. The walk to the falls is not long but passes through wonderfully cool rainforest to the point where the waterfalls leave the plateau on its rocky descent.
Minnamurra Falls, Budderoo National Park
Jamberoo is an enchanting town in the heart of the Illawarra hinterland and if you haven’t driven down there from Sydney, well, it’s time to get going! The nearby Minnamurra Rainforest Centre is headquarters for the Budderoo National Park and for a small fee, gives access to a wonderful leafy walk on well-maintained tracks to Minnamurra Falls. There are steep sections to the track but the effort is worth it for the picturesque, almost tropical scenery.
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