Sally Wattle Waterhole
Sally Wattle Waterhole
This easy hike not far from the town of Wentworth Falls leads to a picturesque waterhole on a tributary of Queen Victoria Creek. It doesn’t seem to be visited often, so there’s a good chance you’ll have it all to yourself. It’s short, magical, and would make a great little hike for kids. This is Sally Wattle Waterhole.
Quick Details
Length: 3.9km
Elevation: 50m
Grade: Easy
Best season: Year Round
Suitable for kids: Yes
Starting the Trail
I was hiking on my own this weekend. After finishing a challenging hike in the morning, I had planned to tackle another difficult one in the afternoon—somewhere past Wentworth Falls, off Kings Tableland Road. But when I arrived, I couldn’t even see a foot track, let alone a trailhead. I checked my map of the area to see what else might be nearby and that’s when I spotted a name: Sally Wattle Waterhole.
That’s it. Afternoon plans—changed. Because that name sounds like something straight out of a fairy tale. If I’m ever going to find May Gibbs’ gumnut babies in the wild, this has to be the place. I texted Jess to let her know where I was headed (safety first) and drove off down the road, parking at Andersons Trail.
The track starts from a locked gate on a fire trail. Not the most interesting hiking terrain, but easy—perfect for a lazy afternoon stroll. I threw my pack on and skirted round the gate, heading up the hill. The track stays nice and wide, a few banksias are out beside the track as well as a few early blooming wattles to add some colour to the afternoon.
I had absolutely no idea what to expect from the trail. I’ve never heard of Sally Wattle Waterhole, and I didn’t do so much as a Google search before setting off. But I was feeling excited—there’s something fun about not knowing exactly where you’re going or what you’ll find. It’s a feeling I’ve missed lately. We’ve been so busy setting up Hike Your Story and revisiting old favourites that it’s been a few months since I’ve been on a new hike on my own.
The fire trail comes to a fork after about 650 metres and I take the option to the left. This is the only turn to make on the short track. From here it starts to twist gently downhill. There’s only around 50 metres of elevation on this hike, making it perfect for kids. After another kilometre or so the trail narrows and is overgrown, but still clear in the direction to go.
My destination is only around 300 metres away now. The trees are tall, the scrub is thick, and I can’t see much of what’s ahead. That sense of anticipation kicks in again—will it be a tiny puddle on the creek, or a hidden oasis? I didn’t realise before now how much I had missed this feeling of anticipation on a new trail.
Who is Sally Wattle?
Sally Wattle isn’t a person, it’s a species of wattle tree (Acacia salicina). I presume some of the trees lining the trail must be Sally Wattles, though I wouldn’t know how to identify them. If they are, I bet this place looks amazing in late winter when they bloom. A few smaller (and confused) wattle bushes were blooming early during my visit.
The Waterhole
The last 50 metres or so has me walking through shallow running water. I presume the waterhole is overflowing and this is the run off. I can see large bullrushes ahead and peaking out behind them is a tall weeping stone wall. I can hear the sound of running water ahead. A promising sign that my impulsive decision may still pay off. The grasses and rushes are thick close to the water's edge, and I pull them aside to make my way through.
As I stepped onto the bank my jaw dropped. The anticipation of the hike gave way to surprise at how beautiful this place is and I just smiled. I had no expectations when I set out on the trail, and I’m so glad, because it made for such a great experience to discover something for myself. It reminded me a little of the Pool of Diana in Gardens of Stone.
The creek gently trickles down the hill into a pool of crystal clear water, faintly blue in the late afternoon light. Water drips from the stone wall into the pool, sounding like soft rain. Small ferns and trees cover the wall on my left, this place must look incredible when the flowers are out. I could definitely stay here for an afternoon of quiet relaxation.
There’s a few tracks of flattened grass around the pool—I presume made from others to access better entrances to the water because there’s a couple of branches under the surface in front of me. While it wouldn’t be deep enough for a proper swim it would be a great place to cool off on a summer's day. It would also be a great wild swimming spot for kids with the water being clear and not too deep.
This place was such a great way to finish the afternoon. Sadly no gumnut babies… But magical all the same. I’ll definitely be coming back here during wildflower season to see what it looks like covered in Sally Wattle. Surely there’s other hidden gems around here I haven’t heard of before—Maybe down that right side of the fork on the fire trail…
Getting There
From the Great Western Highway, turn off onto Tableland Road on the Sydney side of Wentworth Falls. After around 4.2km turn left at the fork onto Kings Tableland Road (which is dirt). Drive a further 7.2km and Andersons fire trail will be on your left. As there’s a locked gate on the fire trail you will need to park off the road. There’s space for maybe two or three cars off the road just before the locked gate.
Tips and Tricks
The grasses and rushes are thick around the waterhole and there isn’t much of an area to sit or anything. Be sure to wear sturdy boots, and long pants. Also gaiters if you have them.
There’s no phone service at the waterhole, be sure to bring a PLB in case of emergencies.
There’s a couple of great sunset spots not too far from here, if you’re looking for a second location to add to the day.