Mt Wilson Mt Irvine Bushwalking Group Volume 21 Issue 7 July 2011 HAZELBROOK AND LAWSON WALKS TOPIC declaring the park was OUR JUNE temporarily closed due to helicopter activity associated WALK with track reconstruction in the WATERFALL CIRCUIT AT area. A quick call to the BMCC LAWSON AND TERRACE number quoted on the sign FALLS CIRCUIT AT determined that the work had HAZELBROOK been cancelled due to the th windy conditions and we were Friday 17 June 2011 free to continue. (How did we There is an old adage that warns ever manage without the you should be careful of what ubiquitous mobile phone?) you wish for. Last month we changed our schedule to slot As the terrain levelled at the these two circuits in, hoping the bottom of the stone steps the waterfalls would still be running Winter in the Bush muddy conditions prompted the well following the good rains tucking of trouser cuffs into early in the year; then the socks (my shorts wouldn’t heavens opened! Flooding on the Central and reach) and we continued North Coast, torrential downpours in the toward Lawson Creek. Soon, through the Sydney area and steady rain for days on end in forest canopy, we caught a glimpse of the the mountains. (In a note received recently silver veil of a waterfall. At creek level we from bushwalking group co-founder Mary made our way through a mossy fern-filled Reynolds, she stated their rain gauge at Mt bower to arrive at the base of the first falls for Wilson keeps overflowing in this appalling the day, Adelina. A narrow band of water weather.) drops into a shallow pool before flowing down the creek line bordered by moss covered th Then, lo and behold, Friday 17 dawned to a boulders. clear blue sky; we are blessed. Perfect conditions in which to walk these gullies and These falls are named after Adelaide Mary view the plentiful bounty from the skies Wilson, daughter of Henry Wilson, publican tumbling over the rock faces as it courses of The Blue Mountains Inn at Lawson toward the Nepean and so out to sea to begin (Lawson Public School now occupies the site). the life giving cycle once more. In 1882 he organised the building of a track to these falls as an added attraction for guests at Eleven gathered in Honour Avenue (named to his inn and tourists generally. (Adelaide, or recognise those who served in WW1) on this Adelina as her father called her, must have clear but windy morn, eager to explore this been a rather flamboyant dresser for she was new walk for the group. Our progress was known locally as The Blue Mountains Parrot.) brought to an abrupt halt however by a notice The falls were known as Adelina before 1871 2 Mt Wilson Mt Irvine Bushwalking Group but then became known as Livingstone Falls a sandy beach. These falls were named for the after the famous Scottish doctor. In 1910 they Federation of Australia in 1901, curiously reverted to Adelina; a victory for local history however the name was given in 1889; over Dr Livingston, I presume. obviously a decision by someone full of We then made our way along the western bank optimism. Previous to this they were known as of Lawson Creek accompanied by that Hays Cascades after Joseph and Eliza Hay magical sound of water burbling and gurgling who had extensive land holdings in the area. as it rushes down the gully, often hidden We retrace our path for a short distance and below the overlapping circles of tree fern now take the previously ignored stone steps; a fronds. There are beautiful examples of the sign, painted on the rock long before Smooth-barked Apple (Angophora costata) metrication, indicates it is half a mile to here. Some rise from colourful mats of Cataract Falls. We climb up past a lookout, discarded bark; their trunks, now clothed in which is temporarily closed, and drop back freshly exposed garb, are irresistible to touch. down to, and cross, Cataract Creek. The track Contrasting with these smooth colourful as we approach Cataract Falls is stunning. On trunks are those of the Sydney Peppermint our left the land slopes down beneath a thick (Eucalyptus piperita ) clothed in rough fibrous tree cover to the creek. On our right are rock- bark. As the track leads us deeper into the faces and overhangs dripping luxuriantly in gully Blue Mountains Ash (Eucalyptus bright green mosses and tiny ferns; the oreades) become more prominent, their brilliant green of the moss is emphasised at smooth white trunks towering up out of the one point by the salmon pink trunk of an confines of the gully; their rather sparse Angophora surrounded by vivid orange canopies now able to catch the sunlight. Today medallions of discarded bark. An old lichen these tall slender trunks, rising above skirts encrusted wooden sign high on a tree trunk formed by ribbons of discarded bark, sway indicates we are at Cataract Falls. slowly back and forth; a majestic wind- These falls drop in two distinct stages into a powered ballet performed to a symphony of wide shallow pool with a cavernous rock water music. overhang to the right. Fallen and beautifully Presently we arrive at the junction of Lawson distorted moss-covered tree trunks surround and Ridge Creeks and descend to the base of the pool. Under the watchful eye of a stony the thoughtfully named Junction Falls. Here face peering from the rock in which it is the waters of Ridge Creek first drop in three carved we take the track that leads us to the main ribbons to a rock shelf then fan widely to middle of the falls. From here someone cascade into a shallow pool. Nearby Lawson notices an object in a tree at the top of the Creek leaps in a single bound from atop a falls; is it a nest, perhaps a bird, what could it large rock protuberance onto fallen boulders be? below. It is decided this is a perfect spot for We now emerge onto a fire trail that we follow morning tea. along a ridge for a kilometre or so, surrounded A timber bridge then leads us across Lawson by the golden blossom of the Sunshine Wattle Creek which we follow for about three (Acacia terminalis) , then drop down to hundred metres. The rocky slope on our left Terrace Falls Creek, our second venue for the contains many small caves partially hidden day. After a stroll along Terrace Falls Road, behind the vegetation while to our right the with a shower threatening after such a clear swaying Blue Mountains Ash put on a morning, we arrive at the eastern entry point rhythmic encore performance. We ignore the of the Terrace Falls Track. stone steps on our left and continue on to Dropping down past some huge moss- Federal Falls on Cataract Creek. These are a shrouded sandstone tors we pass between two delightful set of falls in a small amphitheatre giant Mountain Grey Gums (Eucalyptus surrounded by lush vegetation and containing 3 Mt Wilson Mt Irvine Bushwalking Group cypellocarpa) growing no more than a metre that Anne was from Sydney and she joined us apart, they form an impressive gateway to this for part of the remaining circuit. magical area. We turn left across some fallen Pushing on we cross Terrace Falls Creek with tree trunks and pass a grove of Coachwood the help of an improvised hand-held handrail (Ceratopetalum apetalum) ; their lichen- and head toward Willawong Pool. We pass an mottled trunks towering up past a gigantic old stone fireplace on the left now completely triangular rock overhang. Soon we are at clothed in vivid green velvety moss; this area Pyramid Falls, falls which consists of three is known as Picnic Point. Shortly on the right major drops each spreading wider as they is a high rock wall, parts of which are descend into a delightful ferny dell. There is blackened by fires from times of Aboriginal no visible outlet from the pool at the base of use of the area as a shelter; clumps of a grass- these falls, the water obviously flowing like plant cascade from the ledges above. At underground to emerge further down the gully. Willawong Pool, a beautiful sheltered spot, we Back on the main track we continue the rather look across to a small cave under a large steep descent through this most beautiful of boulder at the edge of the water. It is at this landscapes. The open eucalypt forest gives pool that Lawson Creek, along which we had way to rainforest consisting mainly of walked this morning, meets Bedford Creek. Coachwood with the rough dark trunks of a We return to the main track and make our way few scattered Sassafras (Doryphora sassafras) upstream beside Terrace Falls Creek. This area adding contrast to the scene. There is an is absolutely enchanting, green pervades the abundance of ground ferns and many Rough whole scene; mosses, lichens, ground and tree Tree Ferns (Cyanthea australis) hold their ferns and dense rainforest foliage dominate in fronds aloft on gently curving trunks. To our this verdant little valley. We cross the creek left we are looking down into an extremely below Little Terrace Falls, a stunningly steep-sided gully, at its base the waters of beautiful double cascade, then make our way Pyramid Falls reappear to cascade and tumble along the creek line. Here, in this fern-filled over mossy rocks on their way to Bedford gully, the creek flows in a series of exquisite Creek.