Sydney and its surroundings have many spectacular canyons and waterfalls, and Wentworth Falls in the Blue Mountains stands out as one of the most beautiful destinations, making it an ideal choice for your Christmas vacation or weekend retreat!
Originally, we had chosen the hiking route via the National Pass Track to reach Wentworth Falls, but upon arriving at the bottom of the waterfall, we discovered that the National Pass was closed for safety reasons due to heavy rain in the past few days. We retraced our steps from the valley bottom to Fletcher’s Lookout and opted for the Shortcut Track instead!
Unexpectedly, this turned out to be an amazing short walking journey, featuring numerous waterfalls and lookout points. While there are plenty of stairs to navigate, most people find them manageable. Along the 5 scenic viewpoints: Jamison, Wentworth Falls, Fletchers, Rocket Point, and Princess Rocket, the cliff-side trail offers stunning views whether you’re ascending or descending.
Given that many short walking trails in the Blue Mountains can get quite busy, it’s advisable to plan your visit to avoid crowded conditions.
The experience
We explored Wentworth Falls, where the journey featured scenic views, water elements, and a bit of climbing. The kids found it adventurous, never complaining about fatigue throughout the entire trip. The whole family agreed it was quite enjoyable, and we’re planning to do it again when the weather gets warmer.
This hike seems suitable for kids aged five and above. The path is not entirely smooth, involving quite a few stairs. Kids should bring an extra pair of shoes and a set of spare clothes in the car. Our shoes ended up getting wet, and unfortunately, we didn’t have a replacement. Make sure to wear athletic shoes and avoid casual ones.
We started from Wentworth Falls Picnic Area, where we parked our car, and there are restrooms nearby. After a picnic snack, we set off.
If you still have plenty of energy by the time you reach Wentworth Falls, you can walk about ten meters ahead to a small waterfall and climb up the mountain. There’s a path leading to Rocket Point Lookout. This part of the trail may be challenging, but the kids enjoyed every bit of it.
The entire round trip took us nearly two hours, concluding a delightful family day.
Things you need to know about Wentworth Falls
Highly recommend bringing swimwear and walking to the bottom of the waterfall to experience the impact of the waterfall. The water here is quite shallow, allowing you to soak in it.
Parking location: Wentworth Falls Picnic Area has a parking lot, though not very large. If you wait a bit, there are usually available spaces as people leave.
Time: It takes about 15 minutes to walk to the first small waterfall, then another 15 minutes to reach the bottom of the waterfall, passing through a relatively steep stone staircase. The return journey took 45 minutes as climbing the stone stairs was quite tiring, but the scenery is worth it.
Additional information
- Approximately 1.5 hours’ drive from Sydney
- Alternatively, take a train to Wentworth Falls in the Blue Mountains.
- Starting point: Park at Wentworth Falls Picnic Area
- Hiking route/time: Approximately 3.7 kilometres round trip, taking around 2 hours, including time for photos and enjoying the scenic views.
- The hiking path consists of sandy and gravel terrain, with the descent from Rocket Point Lookout to the bottom of the waterfall being steeper. Other than that, the trail presents no significant difficulty.