The waterfalls of the Central Coast

THE WATERFALLS

of the CENTRAL COAST

THE CENTRAL COAST IS, QUITE RIGHTLY, BEST KNOWN FOR ITS STUNNING COASTLINE AND ITS RELAXED BEACHSIDE SUBURBS. BUT THERE IS ANOTHER WORLD OF LESSER-KNOWN SCENIC AND RECREATIONAL ENJOYMENTS TO BE DISCOVERED IN THE REGION’S UNSPOILED HINTERLAND. AND THE JEWELS HIDDEN IN THE LANDSCAPE ARE UNDOUBTEDLY ITS WONDERFUL WATERFALLS.

WORDS & PHOTOS KEVIN MORGAN, MAGIC LIGHT PHOTOGRAPHY

SOMERSBY FALLS

SOMERSBY FALLS IS, DESERVEDLY, THE BEST KNOWN AND MOST VISITED OF ALL THE CENTRAL COAST WATERFALLS. IT IS LOCATED ON FLOODS CREEK WITHIN THE BRISBANE WATER NATIONAL PARK AT SOMERSBY AND HAS A WELL-MAINTAINED PICNIC AREA, COMPLETE WITH TOILETS AND BARBECUES. WITH ITS CASCADING WATERS, LUSH RAINFOREST, COOL AND GREEN BOULDER-COVERED CREEK BED AND ABUNDANCE OF NATIVE BIRDLIFE, IT’S A DRAW FOR BOTH NATURE LOVERS AND PHOTOGRAPHERS. SOMERSBY FALLS HAS A GREAT PICNIC AREA, AND IS JUST 15 MINUTES’ DRIVE FROM DOWNTOWN GOSFORD.

THE TOP FALLS

The track to the bottom of the Top Falls (also known as the Main Falls) is well signposted and a short easy-to-moderate five-minute walk with a couple of optional detours on the way to lookouts. The falls are very picturesque and well worth visiting at any time, but really put on a show after heavy rain.

SIDE FALLS

A short detour off to the left while on your way to the Top Falls will take you to what’s informally known as the Side Falls. Turn left soon after coming down the stairs towards the Top Falls from the picnic area and the pretty Side Falls are only a few metres along the left-hand track. These falls really only come into their own after heavy rain, but are still worth checking out as it’s such a quick and easy detour to get to them.

BOTTOM FALLS

After spending some time at the Top Falls it’s worthwhile following the main track downstream to what’s known as Bottom Falls. The track is once again well signposted and maintained, and is only a further five-to-10 minutes’ easy-to-moderate walk from Top Falls. Once you get down the timber stairs, you’re almost there, but watch your step on the last few stone stairs as they can be quite slippery. These falls and the small cascades around them are quite captivating, and can look so different depending on the amount of water flowing. It is cool and shady at the base of the falls so it’s a really good spot to take a moment and relax on a hot day. Bottom Falls is named so because it is at the base of the main part of the track but, for the slightly more adventurous, the track does continue downstream to more waterfalls and pools. It’s not quite as well maintained and a bit more difficult, but well worth the extra walk.

LOWER FALLS

This waterfall is my personal favourite at Somersby Falls. It flows over a large overhanging rock and, after climbing down the right-hand side of the falls (facing downstream), you can walk in behind the falls (stooping so you don’t bang your head) and come out on the other side. From here you can get some good photos of the falls from a different angle and you can also continue further downstream. Another fantastic perspective is from behind the falls looking out through the curtain of water. A two-tiered rock shelf in front of the falls also provides a great spot for photographing the falls and the reflections in the surrounding pools of water.

POOL OF SERENITY

About another 10 minutes’ downstream from the Lower Falls is a serene and shady pool, fed by a small waterfall tumbling over a rock shelf. I don’t believe this pool has a formal name so I’ve called it the Pool of Serenity as it seems to describe it perfectly. The track to this spot is not as easy to follow and at times requires a bit more scrambling over the rocks and boulders of the creek bed, so it’s probably not recommended for the less agile.

SECOND FALLS

It’s possible to detour off the main track about halfway back up the track from Bottom Falls to the Top Falls to check out what I’ll call Second Falls. It’s a smaller waterfall just downstream from the Top Falls where the creek tumbles over a rock shelf into a small pool. Without heavy rain it is not much more than a trickle, but it is completely transformed after rain.

GIRRAKOOL LOOP TRACK WATERFALLS

GIRRAKOOL IS PROBABLY THE SECOND MOST POPULAR SPOT FOR WATERFALLS ON THE CENTRAL COAST. IT’S LOCATED IN THE BRISBANE WATER NATIONAL PARK AND, LIKE SOMERSBY FALLS, HAS A PICNIC AREA WITH TOILETS AND BARBECUES. NATIONAL PARK FEES APPLY.

TO SEE THE BEST OF THE AREA’S WATERFALLS, FOLLOW THE GIRRAKOOL LOOP TRACK, A MODERATE TRACK ABOUT 2 KM IN LENGTH THAT TAKES ABOUT 30 TO 40 MINUTES TO COMPLETE (WITHOUT STOPS).

PILES CREEK CASCADES

Start at the signposted entry to the track below the carpark and behind the old picnic shelter to do the loop in a clockwise direction, and just follow the track for about five to 10 minutes to reach the first waterfall. Here you will find Piles Creek Cascades, a small set of cascades running over a rock platform and ending in a small waterfall. There’s not much to see here if there hasn’t been recent rain.

PILES CREEK FALLS

Head back to the track and continue until you see the signs for Broula Lookout and Bundilla Lookout, both of which have limited views of Piles Creek Falls, the largest of the waterfalls on this walk (Bundilla is the better of the two).

THE WATERFALLS OF THE CENTRAL COAST continue on page 83