Allison Wallace 9/18/25 Allison Wallace 9/18/25

Chasing Waterfalls on the Blue Mountains Nature Track

There are so many walking tracks in the Blue Mountains National Park that it can be sometimes hard to pick one, but my driving force is always finding waterfalls and hidden rock pools.

Having traipsed along the Wentworth Falls trail several times, finding new a trail that offers up a secret swimming pool along the way was a big tick – enter the Nature Track.

We started the circuit walk at the Conservation Hut (which meant we could finish there and enjoy a cup of coffee too).

The whole trail is about 3.5km long but don’t let that fool you, there are plenty of stairs to navigate and even better, some hidden treats just off the track.

Stray just minutes from the formed path and you’ll find one of the most magical places in all the Blue Mountains: an incredible swimming hole at the foot of a canyon. You’d never know it was there which makes it all the more amazing – more on that later.

This walk has it all – epic views, lush ferns, waterfalls and tranquil pools. Heading out in the middle of July is great to get the blood pumping on a cold winter’s day.

We headed off in a clockwise direction which takes you to Queen Victoria Lookout after about 300m, offering up sweeping views of the Jamison Valley and a nice slow start to warm up the legs.

Not long after that, you will get to Empress Lookout where you will get glimpses of Empress Canyon and Empress Falls – your destination in the valley to see up close later on the walk.

From here, the descent becomes more noticeable and the stairways steeper. You will reach a junction where the Nature Track is signposted to the right, but it is only a 250m detour to the left along the Valley of the Waters Trail to explore Empress Falls.

Just before you reach the bottom of the falls you’ll get a couple of great views of the top of Empress Falls. You’ll then come out of the forest and head along a path beside the falls, which has a metal handrail in place.

The base of the falls is protected by a handrail and the rocks around here are quite slippery but I imagine quite a few people duck under to have a dip as it is a stunning spot.

After breathing in the waterfall air, it is time to make our way back to the Nature Track and onto Lillian’s Glen and this is where you will find the hidden gem - Asmodeus Pool.

If you are not looking for this natural pool, you won’t find it and will walk right on by over Lillian’s Bridge.

Asmodeus Pool is a pristine little swimming hole which sits at the bottom of a narrow slot canyon, there’s even a waterfall that runs into it!

It's quite simply a dream destination and it’s nicely hidden away, despite being just moments from a popular walking track. It's not signposted and does require climbing over a boulder to access but then you have this magical spot all to yourself and it feels very private.

We did a quick change into swimwear to have a (freezing) wild swimming experience. The pool isn’t deep (enough to dunk your head under) and it is kind of like a sandy beach so you don’t need to worry about rocks.

Our swim didn’t last too long in the roughly 2-degree water before it was back out and into our dry clothes for the hike back out.

From Lillian's Glen the trail heads uphill and then you will pass through some impressive overhangs. The next rest stop (we needed it after going up the stairs) is Edinburgh Castle Rock Lookout.

This section of the trail is so different to the lush bush you have come through. It is an unfenced lookout on top of a rock formation, overlooking the northern part of the Valley of the Waters.

After this the path evens out (read: no more stairs) and you follow a fire trail all the way back to the Conservation Hut.

The walk itself is fairly easy, although of course this being the mountains, there are still quite a few stairs to climb so expect to get your heartrate up!

Stay nearby in Wentworth Falls and enjoy a longer break.

Allison Wallace 8/8/24 Allison Wallace 8/8/24

Cruising Atherton’s Waterfall Way

About an hour out of Cairns, there is a tropical wonderland that has nothing to do with the Great Barrier Reef. And no, I am not talking about the Daintree Rainforest – amazing as that is.

I have been to Cairns many times but never explored the Atherton Tablelands – specifically what is known as the waterfall circuit.

This area is a natural playground of tropical forests, volcanic crater lakes, and rivers rushing towards the coast to create a wonderland of incredible waterfalls and I couldn’t wait to explore them.

We started our day trip after a coffee by heading to probably one of the most Instagrammed waterfalls in the area - Millaa Millaa Falls.

We got there early and managed to almost have this spot to ourselves to admire the 18-metre drop. It’s not too much of a swimming spot as the water is very shallow until right near the falls but it is awe-inspiring to soak in the majesty of nature.

Access is pretty easy from the top carpark down a short stone walk or if you have mobility issues, you can get to the viewing platform from the bottom carpark.

The Instagram-worthy Millaa Millaa Falls

Our next stop was just down the road at Zillie Falls where we were a little disappointed with the views from the platform.

Access to the platform is pretty easy, across the road from the carpark (but with no crossing so be careful!)

The view is quite restricted, not really looking down at it, but not looking across it either, it’s yet another view that doesn’t allow you to take in the waterfall’s full beauty.

We weren’t able to uncover any sort of official track down to the base of Zillie Falls and given we were there smack bang in the middle of wet season, it didn’t seem like a good idea to try and scramble down the rocks.

Our final waterfall on the ‘official’ circuit was Ellinjaa Falls, and it was probably my favourite.

A short zig-zag walk from the carpark brings you out to a beautiful view of the falls. To get in the water for a swim, you do have to carefully walk over the shallow rocks to get to a space deep enough to swim.

We ended up having this beautiful waterfall all to ourselves, laughing and squealing as we swam through the powerful falls to discover a private cavern behind, unable to hold a conversation because of the thunderous noise of water crashing down from 12 metres above.

On our drive back to Cairns, we detoured to check out Josephine Falls. The walk to see this incredible feat of nature is a bit longer – around 1.2km – but it isn’t strenuous and the surrounds are lush and rainforesty.

Josephine Falls is a popular tourist spot with a natural waterslide drawing people in.

Unfortunately for us, there would be no swimming (or sliding) down these falls for us as the water levels were dangerously high after crazy rainfalls the week before we arrived.

Nationals Parks have even installed an alert system here with closeable gates and coloured lights to indicate when water levels aren’t safe –people have lost their lives. With too much rain it becomes dangerous to swim but the tradeoff comes in the ferocious views, the loud screaming torrent and the furious deluge you are able to witness.

Deciding we needed one last swim before retiring from chasing waterfalls for the day, we drove just down the road to Babina Boulders and the Devil’s Pool.

The Devil's Pool walk is a 1.3km return walk along Babinda Creek downstream from the Babinda Boulders picnic area and carpark. The walk isn’t difficult, slightly undulating along a rough bitumen track, the walk leads through the rainforest to two viewing platforms where the creek cascades down a series of spectacular waterfalls, granite boulders and washpools.

There is no swimming down this end of the creek, despite how tempting the deep pools amongst the boulders look. There’s a barrier on the lookout point and warning signs about the dangers of swimming here.

After walking back, take a different turn from the carpark and you will find one of the calmest and most beautiful swimming spots. I could spend a whole day here.

Imagine a beautiful creek with crystal clear water that weaves around huge boulders. Even during the hottest days in summer, the water here is still quite cool and perfect for a refreshing swim.

We found a rushing current we could jump into and float along before getting back out and doing it all again like the big kids that we are.

While we didn’t visit on that same day, the day we were flying out, we made an effort to see one last waterfall.

Crystal Cascades is a series of water holes and waterfalls along Freshwater Creek in the Baron Gorge National Park, 17 kilometres from Cairns.

An easy 1.5-kilometre walk along the creek will bring you to several cascading waterfalls and a large swimming hole and the morning we went, we had the place to ourselves!

We didn’t swim at the top end of the falls with the rushing water looking a bit too intense but jumped in for a dip at one of the swimming holes we had passed on our way up to the lookout to cool off from the March humidity.

If you are looking for a unique waterfall experience in the area, Emerald Creek Falls is amazing!

Allison Wallace 2/4/24 Allison Wallace 2/4/24

Walking to Montezuma Falls - Tassies tallest waterfall

Western Tasmania isn’t short of hikes but it is also home to Tassie’s tallest waterfall. Even better, the hike to get there is a relatively easy one!

Montezuma Falls is actually one of Tasmania’s ‘60 Great Short Walks’ and can be completed in about three hours return. However, the falls are so spectacular, you might lose some time just staring in amazement and soaking it all in.

We stopped here on a drive from Strahan to Cradle Mountain, using the 11.5km return walk to stretch our legs (or warm up for Cradle Mountain!)

You lose light pretty quickly in this old mining entrance

The walk follows a former tramway through wet, steep, thickly forested country and you can see signs of the mining history of the area as you wander through. Keep an eye out for a small entrance to an old mining tunnel. We walked in about five metres and lost light straight away so this is not for those with a bout of claustrophobia…

The track is really well-maintained and – this will appeal to many non-hikers – mostly flat! If I lived on the Apple Isle, I can promise I would be here a lot as you can even take your dog on lead which seems a rare experience for good waterfalls hikes as they are mostly in National Parks. We passed a few very happy, and slightly muddy, pooches on our visit.

Despite seeing a couple of dogs and their owners, we pretty much had the trail to ourselves which is a rare treat!

The track follows the Ring River and offered up some great views down into the river valley as we walked along – my mate Catherine and her long legs setting the pace.

As with many tall waterfalls, you hear the roar before you see them. This is especially true of Montezuma as the 104m drop is tucked away around a corner.

We headed straight for the base of the falls and admired the power of Mother Nature for a while. The view from the bottom is incredible and there is plenty of space to put down your stuff and take some photos. Looking up, Montezuma Falls spills down the steep cliff in several stepped tiers.

After soaking in the view and getting a little spray we made our way to a suspension bridge over the gorge that is just before the falls.

Walking across the narrow bridge (just wide enough for one person) offers up both a different perspective of the falls, and incredible views through the valley. It really shows you how immense Montezuma Falls is.

Once over the bridge, we thought to explore a little further and found a picnic table and what looked like a fire trail. However, with no reception and no idea where it led, we had a snack and headed back to the car.

If you want to visit and stay nearby, your best options are Strahan (65km away) or tie it in with a stay near Cradle Mountain (97km away).

There is so much to do in this part of Tasmania, we barely scratched the surface of the Wild West!

Allison Wallace 6/25/23 Allison Wallace 6/25/23

Is Morans Falls Lamington National Park’s prettiest waterfall?

Lamington National Park in the Gold Coast Hinterland is full of waterfalls, but Morans Falls may reign supreme above the others.

From the pictures you find online, it may seem like this waterfall is incredibly remote and hard to get to, but that couldn’t be further from the truth.

Just a 2.4km easy walk through sub-tropical rainforest that starts not far from O’Reilly’s Rainforest Retreat will reward you with this incredible feat of nature.

The entire trail is on a formed track and not very challenging, although there are some uphill sections. There aren’t any large stairs and the trail zig zags when going up/down hill, making it even easier on the legs

The trail itself is scenic despite being short. Plenty of twisted vines, ferns and strangler figs to admire as you make your way to the main event.

Because the trail is so accessible, it can get pretty busy. We decided to pack some head torches and see if we would be lucky enough to have a nice sunset from the top of the falls given that they face west.

We were lucky there were only a handful of others doing the same thing the Friday afternoon we were there. If you really want to avoid too many people, I suggest a mid-week visit if at all possible.

We heard rumours of a short-cut track from O’Reillys but were told it can be muddy and isn’t as well marked, so we made our way to the main track. The added benefit of this, is that you walk by the official lookout point where you can view the epic falls from a distance. There is something really special about seeing all that water tumble down a cliff face.

Not far beyond the lookout, you’ll find yourself at the creek that turns into Moran Falls. There is a small concrete block pathway across the creek so you can cross over and continue walking to the second official Moran Falls lookout on the other side of the falls (although the second lookout is of the surrounding rainforest and valley rather than the falls). But, for those gram-worthy views from the top of the falls, you need to change direction and follow the creek towards the cliff – it goes without saying to watch your step and be careful around here.

Plummeting 80 metres to the valley floor, Morans Falls fluctuates between a thunderous roar after rain, to a gentle trickle in the drier months. There was a decent flow on our visit, and we even ducked under for a dip – a very fresh dip!

The sound of the rushing water was so loud at points that you need to be pretty close to have a conversation.

The uninterrupted views across the Albert River valley towards Mount Lindsey and Mount Barney are 100 per cent worth it and so was our sunset. Mother Nature really put on a show for us and it was so nice just soaking it all up.

To make it back, we headed back the way we came – definitely not attempting some sort of unknown short cut in the dark!

Allison Wallace 5/29/23 Allison Wallace 5/29/23

Explore a waterfall wonderland in Lamington National Park

If there is one thing you need to know about the Green Mountains section of Lamington National Park, it’s that it is full of waterfalls!

We spent a full day exploring this section and were lucky enough to have the best weather and not too much water that the many creek crossings weren’t too dramatic. I can imagine after heavy rains that your feet would be wet the whole time.

Staying at O’Reillys Rainforest Retreat meant that we could start whenever we wanted and still make it back for a sunset drink, but you could easily drive out here from anywhere on the Gold Coast for a day trip as well if you started early – just be aware that the windy road to the top will slow you down.

We combined a few trails to make the most of a full day hiking in the park – starting on the West Canungra Creek circuit down to Yerralahla (Blue Pool). You ease into the day, following the Border Track for about 600m before branching in to the West Canungra Creek Circuit.

The first part dives into lush rainforest and leads you to Yerralahla Pool - there is a 400m drop in elevation from O’Reilly’s to the Blue Pool.

Though we hadn’t yet really worked up a sweat, we stripped off to have a quick swim before continuing.

From here, we followed the creek up stream, crisscrossing about 10 times, sometimes rock hopping and only once took our shoes off to wade across. Sometimes the track at crossings isn’t clear, so you (unlike me) you need to keep an eye out for those elusive trail markers!

Sitting by one such crossing for a lunch break, we spotted the local Spiny Blue Crayfish in one of the many deeper pools – a protected species - which looks like a cross between a yabby and a lobster but with vibrant blue markings.

At the junction of the Box Forest Track, there’s a decision to be made: continue along the creek, or head up the valley away from the creek. – we took the Box Forest circuit up to the Border Track that takes you back to O’Reillys .

Waterfalls aren’t the only scenery on this walk

It’s now almost the end of the waterfalls… but the last two falls (reached by short side-tracks) are the most of the day stunning in my opinion. The first signposted side-track leads to Tulleriguam Falls (Box Log Falls). These falls are tucked away and you can feel the temperature drop as you get closer. We stood here for a bit just soaking up nature’s show.

The next (short) side-trip is to Elabana Falls which is by far the busiest spot of the day with a lot of people just walking here from O’Reillys and back.

Elabana Falls is actually not one, but two falls and despite the crowds, it is still spectacular. The falls feature a tall upper section that looks like a curtain and a lower cascade that consists of multiple streams of water flowing into a natural swimming hole.

You will need to scramble over a few rocks to get the best views but the view from the track isn’t too shabby.

We stopped here for a VERY refreshing swim. The chill in the water will take your breath away. We saw plenty of small blue spiny crayfish on our swim too.

Like with any natural pool, there are submerged rocks and varying water depths so sliding and not jumping is recommended – plus, it is super slippery around here.

After spending most of the day descending or being on (relatively) flat ground, it is time to ascend back out of the valley. Be prepared for some exertion at this point but the gradient is pretty gradual.

You might find some obstacles on the trail

By the time we made it back to the retreat, we had logged about 19km and it was worth every step!

Allison Wallace 10/17/21 Allison Wallace 10/17/21

Wallaman Falls: Australia’s tallest waterfall

When you go chasing waterfalls, finding the tallest single-drop waterfall in the country is pretty cool.

Staying in Townsville, we decided to take a day and go visit this impressive feat of nature - Wallaman Falls. It took us about 2 hours one-way, but it is an easy drive.

It was a little overcast as we headed north, but hopeful that it would clear we pushed on!

The final section of the drive is a windy, narrow road uphill and as we climbed, the cloud got thicker. We were inside it and had to take it pretty easy as it was impossible to see any oncoming traffic.

We saw a lot of signs saying to watch for Cassowaries but we weren’t lucky enough to see one.

As we reached the main carpark, there was drizzling rain but we were determined not to let that hamper our adventure. Leaving jumpers in the car so there was something dry on our return, we set off.

Measuring 268 metres from Stony Creek down into the Herbert River Valley, it would have been great to see it from the viewing platform, but it was not meant to be. You could hear the thundering falls but seeing them was impossible.

It may not sound like far, but it is about 1.6km to the bottom of the falls and remember, you have to come back up! There are signs saying it was very steep, needing a certain fitness level and notifying us that people had in fact died attempting to walk this path to the base.

The track begins as a sealed path before giving way to rocky and rooty, rainforest undergrowth. The cloud was still thick around us and our ears were heightened to the sounds of what felt like a jungle.

The further down we went, the wetter it got, with thick moss growing on rocks and tree trunks. Even without the cloud, we wouldn’t have been able to see the falls until we reached the bottom as the vegetation was thick and lush as we made our way down the path.

Eventually, nature’s majesty revealed itself to us. We were below the rain cloud and had a spectacular view of Wallaman Falls. We could feel its power and were amazed by its beauty.

Looking up, the mist from the falls creates a rainbow of colour – even on a day as grey as the one we visited on.

Apparently, you can swim in the 20m pool at the bottom of the falls. I am not sure how safe that would be given how slippery the large boulders at the base are and how powerful the falls sound. I was pretty happy to feel the spray on my face and soak it in from land.

Then it was time to head back up. I can definitively say that the incline is definitely more noticeable on the way back up, so we moved at a slower pace and worked up a sweat!

Back at the car and drying off for our trip back to Townsville, we stopped in Ingham for a late lunch. We couldn’t go past the Lees Hotel, better known as the official ‘Pub with no beer.’

The story goes that the song “A Pub With No Beer”, made famous by Slim Dusty, was first written as a poem in the original Day Dawn Hotel (now Lees Hotel) in 1943, by an Irish cane cutter Dan Sheahan, after some American soldiers drank the pub dry the previous night. Luckily for us, there was plenty of cold beer – and a giant pub meal – to revive us after our adventure to Wallaman Falls.

If you want to swap the inland tropics for the coast, Magnetic Island is not far away and makes a great escape!