Murphys Glen and Pyramid Falls – 24 February 2022

I was heading up the mountains with Bob and what was forecast to be a wet day. So we had dismissed any ideas for canyoning and then considered some other options. We decided to first visit Murphys Glen in Blue Mountains National Park at Woodford.

This turned out to be a very interesting place to visit. I had been there several times when I as a child, but Bob had never been there. We decided to walk in via the Turpentine Track which leaves the fire road just about the rim of Murphys Glen – which is a diatreme (volcanic crater).

The Turpentine Track was a short and pleasant walk. We had no rain, but at times had to push through wet bushes. On the way down there were plenty of tall Turpentine trees, but as we descended the Mountain Blue Gums (Eucalyptus deanei ) started to dominate.

We soon arrived at the camping area.

We were amongst some really tall trees. At one time, one was measured as the tallest tree in NSW.

We continued along the fire road to the bottom point of the crater – where there is the remnants of an old dam, once used for water by fire fighting tankers. The dam wall is still in place, but has been washed away in one place.

We then followed a track that descends, following the outlet creek to a swimming hole at Bedford Creek. A short way down this creek was a nice waterfall.

We kept following the track.

It soon crossed the creek and then traversed on the true right for a while.

It then drops down, past another waterfall to reach Bedford Creek.

We then had look at the lower waterfall.

And the outlet creek is quite attractive too – especially after the recent rain.

Back at Murphys Glen, we headed back to Bob’s car via the fire road. On the way we passed some orchids –

Bonnet Orchid

Greenhood Orchid

Higher up we spotted dozens of Greenhood Orchids.

Back at Bob’s car, parked at the start of the Turpentine Track, we then explored an old and closed off fire road nearby. It climbed to a small hill nearby. On top were some nice trees.

And we could see towards Ingar –

It was now lunchtime, so we drove to Lindas Rock where there are more views. After having lunch, we explored the rocky areas for Aboriginal engravings or sharpening grooves.

This could perhaps be an old engraving –

I wonder if this could be a dish? –

And perhaps two sharpening grooves in the middle of this photo –

We had finished our lunch and it was still quite early, so we decided to visit Pyramid Falls at Hazelbrook. Bob drove to the start of the fire trail along Valley Road and we were soon down at small creek that joins Bedford Creek near Bedford Pool.

We could peer down through the trees and see a high waterfall. And there was an old lookout. The trees have now grown and cut out the view of the falls.

A short way further along is  the track down past Pyramid Rocks.

A short way down this track, we could walk to the bottom of Pyramid Falls via short side track. The falls were well worth visiting.

We then joined the main track and descended to Bedford Creek at the Bedford Pool.

Next we walked around the loop track towards Terrace Falls.

The lower waterfall, sometime called “Little Terrace Falls” had good flow –

And here is Terrace Falls –

Above Terrace Falls, we left the track that goes upstream to Victor Falls and made our way back via another track to the fire road, and then walked back to Bob’s car.

We had timed things very well. Just after we got back to the car, it started raining very heavily.