I spent a very pleasant day at Wentworth Falls wandering around the tracks below Wentworth Falls. My aim was to photograph more of the waterfalls.
Hippocrene Falls
On this trip, I had hoped for higher water levels after recent rain (22 mm the day before and 28 mm two days before 0 measured at Katoomba) – but levels were reasonable, but certainly not as high as I would have liked. Also – the weather forecast had been for cloudy conditions – nice for waterfall photography. But it was a mixture of sunny and cloudy on the day. This meant, that at waterfalls I wanted to photograph I frequently had to wait for the sun to go behind a cloud to soften the lighting.
Potato Orchid – Gastrodia sesamoides
I started from the station and headed down the Charles Darwin Walk, which I followed to Wentworth Falls and then descended via National Pass and Slack Stairs to the bottom of the lower waterfall.
From there, I followed the old track down the creek to Hippocrene Falls. I had visited these falls before, but had not obtained any good photos. These falls are quite spectacular and end in a deep pool. It would make a great swimming hole.
Hippocrene Falls
I spent a fair bit of time at the base of Hippocrene Falls waiting for the light to improve, and then continued on the track down the creek, and then up the Valley of the Waters Creek to Vera Falls. The base of these falls are reached by following a side track.
Vera Falls
After some more photos, I headed back to the main track and followed it as far as another side track that goes to the top of Vera Falls. This is a nice sunny spot with a good outlook. A good place for lunch. And nearby I found some nice orchids.
Orchid – Sarcochilus parviflorus
Next, I continued upstream on another track that soon joins the main Vera Falls Track. Then I continued up to where it joined the Wentworth Pass Track. Just upstream are the lower waterfalls of the Valley of the Waters – Red Rock Falls, Britannia Falls and Flat Rock Falls.
Red Rock Falls
Flat Rock Falls
Flat Rock Falls
Higher up are Lodore Falls, Edith Falls, Sylvia Falls and Empress Falls.
Edith Falls
Sylvia Falls
Top of Empress Falls
I was unable to photograph Empress Falls on this trip because too many absquealers were descending.
I climbed out of the valley and then followed the track back to Wentworth Falls Carpark. On the way I stopped to admit the fine view of the Jamison Valley and I also spotted some more nice orchids.
Orchid – Cymbidium suave
Large Tongue Orchid – Cryptostylus subulata
From the carpark, I returned to the station via the Charles Darwin Walk.
More photos from the trip are online on my website here.