Waterfall Reserve

Waterfall Reserve

Not every hike needs to be a huge day out with cliff edges and endless views. Sometimes all you really want is a quiet rainforest, a couple of waterfalls, and a track gentle enough that your sore legs don’t immediately file a complaint. Hidden among the cool forests of Mount Wilson, this is Waterfall Reserve. 

Quick Details

Total Length: 3km

Elevation: 70m

Grade: Easy

Best season: Year round, but best after rain

Suitable for kids: Yes

Starting the Trail

We’ve just woken up at Cathedral Reserve. The morning air is cold, and we’re both hobbling around like we’ve just done two leg days in a row at the gym. We had done Joe’s Canyon through to the Wollangambe the day before, and while we originally had plans to go back down there again that morning, we quickly changed our minds. 

We packed up our gear while searching our maps for a short and easy hike that we could do instead. We jumped in the car, and started driving out of Mount Wilson when all of a sudden I shouted “Oh wait!” Jess slammed on the brakes. “There is another hike we can do here. Waterfall Reserve!”

We turned around and headed back into Mount Wilson, parking in the small clearing at the reserve. We threw on our packs, and headed into the trees. 

This is one of those hikes where the forest just swallows you whole from the moment you step into it. Towering trees and ferns, leaves under your boots, and green every way you look.

It’s so quiet in a really peaceful way. The only sounds are the breeze rustling through the tree canopy above and a trickling of water somewhere out in the green. 

The track heads downhill, there’s some old steps here and there in various states of disrepair. There’s one small section with a large fallen tree, but it’s been there for so long that the track just naturally moves around it. And there’s some arrows here and there to keep you in the right direction.

We had the whole trail to ourselves all morning. Well… except for one chunky little Kookaburra.

It’s not a long track by any means, making it perfect for a family walk or a quiet solo hike. No need to rush anywhere or get to a busy destination before the crowds hit. Just a chance to slow down and enjoy the tranquility of nature. 

Lower Falls

The track splits, and we head down to the viewing platform for the lower falls. 

There’s a lot of fallen trees and debris around the base of the falls, so it won’t be the most impressive waterfall you ever see. But there’s a quiet beauty in how the water continues to follow its rocky path around everything in its way. 

We ended up staying at the viewing platform for quite a while. We’d tell you that it was because we were just enjoying the waterfall, but honestly the next part was uphill, our legs were still sore and we were mentally working our way up to the challenge of the short slope to come. 

At the top of the lower falls, if you look closely, you’ll see a rather odd thing. A concrete barrier across the creek creating a pool. We’ve seen it a few times before and could never figure out what it was, so this time we reached out to the Mount Wilson Historical Society, who told us they think it was built to send water to the boiler at the old steam mill at Wynstay.

Upper Falls

After a short walk up the hill, we were ready to rest again, so we stopped off to look at the upper falls. This one also has a couple of fallen trees in front of it. But it’s still pretty. It’s similar to Bridal Veil Falls in Leura, with the water fanning out over the dark textured rock face. 

Knowing that the last leg of the hike was a steep, albeit short, hill climb, we stayed around the Upper Falls for a while. Just happy to just sit quietly for a while as we sat in silence enjoying the sounds of the forest around us. 

Getting There

Waterfall Reserve can be found in Mount Wilson at the end of Waterfall Road (turn right at the Turkish Bath house). 

As at the time of writing, Mount Wilson is currently closed to all traffic except for residents. We hope it will be reopen again by the Summer — hopefully by then our leg muscles will have recovered and we’ll be ready for another Wollangambe adventure!

Tips and Tricks

Bring a picnic lunch to enjoy at the Reserve.

Mount Wilson tracks are a great place to find fungi… We know it sounds like a weird hobby to look for fungi, but honestly, once you start spotting them it kind of becomes a lot of fun to find the weirdest, and tiniest, and grossest ones you can.