Leura Waterfall Walk – 14 October 2018

A wet day was forecast in the mountains. This means it is a good time to do another waterfall walk. I was visiting my friend Wendy, and we thought a walk visiting some of the waterfalls near Leura would be good.

Weeping Rock Falls (Leura)

Before we set off, I could not resist photographing some of the honeyeaters that were enjoying the nectar of her Grevillea. Even rain would not keep them away. Here are some Eastern Spinebills, New Holland Honeyeaters and Little Wattlebirds.

We then headed to Leura Cascades. Its a short distance from the carpark to the cascades, but the track is constructed in a way that it forms a series of pools, so it is hard to avoid wet feet.

At the bottom of the main cascades, there is a cave, so even during rain, it is possible to set up the camera a tripod. The cascades are marred somewhat by a recent landslide.

Its not far from there  to the top of the first main waterfall – Bridal Veil Falls.

We then continued along the track to the base of these falls. It was too wet to photograph them from below – there was too much spray. But it was not too bad below the small Weeping Rock Falls downstream.

We then continued around into an amphitheatre, and on the way, we could look down to the main lower falls – Leura Falls –

In the amphitheatre, there is the interesting Octopus Tree –

The track then goes down a series of ladders and along ledges to the bottom of Linda Falls. Near there is a side track to the base of Leura Falls. A short and worthwhile side trip.

We then headed into Leura Forest. This is an impressive place – with huge trees. We took shelter in a gazebo with a picnic table. This was a good dry refuge for lunch. However a Brush Turkey was also sheltering there, and wanted to share our lunch.

After lunch, we had a look around for fungi and slime moulds. There were a few out.

We continued along the Dardanelles Pass track and then up the Giant Stairway to the top of the cliffs at the Three Sisters. Views were somewhat restricted by the mist, but it was certainly atmospheric.

Our path back was the Prince Henry Walk – which follows the top of the cliffline. This is a very pleasant walk in all conditions. Due to the rain, the Banksia Streamlet, was flowing over the cliffs with an impressive waterfall.

There were also some fungi and orchids out.

Back at the Leura Cascades carpark, we decided we had enough time to visit a few more local waterfalls. The first one we visited was also at Leura – Gordon Falls –

We then headed down to Wentworth Falls and did a walk around the top of some of the waterfalls there . The first one is Wentworth Falls itself –

Then we walked  down to the top of the falls and saw the nearby Rocket Point Falls. This often hardly has any flow.

Just upstream of the main falls are the Queens Cascades.

And upstream of that are another Weeping Rock Falls –

During, or just after rain is the best time to see the waterfalls of the Blue Mountains. The only downside is you get a little wet in the process. Thanks to Wendy for organising this nice day in the bush.