This was a nice walk from Leura to Katoomba that I set out on the photograph the waterfalls and to look out for fungi.
Middle cascades – Katoomba Falls
The waterfalls were still up, but only a bit. So i didn’t have to worry about spray as much as on some previous trips although it also meant that the waterfalls were not as spectacular as they had been. The fungi was quite reasonable – especially near Leura Forest.
I walked from Leura Station down the Mall to reach the Prince Henry Track. I proceeded along the track a short distance and then turned off to go along the track to the lookout overlooking Bridal Veil Falls. I was developing into a sunny day, so I could see that I would have to be quick if I wanted to photograph all the falls that make up Leura Falls.
Bridal Veil Falls – the upper waterfall of Leura Falls
I walked quickly to Leura Cascades and kept on going till I could see Bridal Veil Falls once more. I followed the track down to the base of the falls and there took a few photos of the falls and the lower cascades (including Weeping Rock Falls).
Bridal Veil Falls
Weeping Rock Falls
I then continued into the Amphitheatre and photographed what I call the Octopus Tree.
The lower falls of Leura Falls
Then around a bit further and down the ladders and steps to Linda Falls. On the way, I tried to photograph Lila Falls. These lie just above the track, but to get to their base I would have had to push through a lot of fallen vegetation – and even then have had no really clear view.
Linda Falls
Linda Falls were nice, and I deviated off the track just past them and followed the old yack to the base of Leura Falls. This is the track used by walkers setting out on Lindemann Pass. The base of the lower waterfall of Leura Falls is a bit of a mess. An old sewerage scheme used to consist of pipes going down beside Leura Falls to a treatment works just down the valley. This was dismantled in the 1990’s but you can still see some concrete blocks.
The lower falls of Leura Falls
I then walked back to Linda Falls and down past Sylvia Cascades to Marguerite Cascades. I ventured off the track to climb up the lower pasts of the cascades to the middle and upper levels. The middle level was Ok for photography, but the upper level was too loose to set up a tripod.
Marguerite Cascades (middle level)
I then continued to Leura Forest for a snack and had a lot around for fungi.
On previous trips to the forest, I have walked out via Dardanelles Pass. So this time, I took the lower and slightly longer Federal Pass Track. I walked around the bottom of the Three Sisters and Echo Point to drive at the base of Katoomba Falls.
I then climbed up Furber Stairs. At the half way ledge, I took the side track to the middle cascades. This time a lot of people were there – many of them doing instagrams of themselves and the cascades.
The clear view from this ledge also showed a thunderstorm was approaching. It was over Mt Solitary. I packed my camera away and quickly climbed to the lookout on the top at Reids Plateau. This was a good place to photograph Katoomba Falls, The Three Sisters, Orphan Rock and the Jamison Valley. The storm appeared closer now, but the weather radar showed it should just miss where I was. I stopped and had a late lunch and then walked into Katoomba.
The rain hit just as I got to the shops. It was impressive looking out of the windows of the train back to the city.
More photographs from the day are online. The waterfalls here and the fungi here.