Wentworth Falls

I wasn't exactly sure who this Wentworth character was, but there is a park named after him and the student union is called the Wentworth building so I figured that a hike to see the falls named after him would be a good outing for tourist saturday. So off I headed to the blue mountains on the train. I learnt the falls (and the town ) are named after William Charles Wentworth, one of the men that headed the exploration to cross the blue mountains in 1813, important fellow - they're bound to be good falls

It takes a couple of hours to get there on the train, I was quite happy asleep on the train till an old guy sat opposite me and thought it would be fun to guess my name. I told him it began with a G and 20 minutes later I am pretty sure we had gone through all possible names (except for Gemma), he then told me everything you ever wanted to know about trains (he was off to the train museum). Brilliant. He also asked if I was still at school and told me I'd get lost and that he'd see me on the news having to be rescued. I had figured the walk would be well signposted and fairly tricky to get lost, but now I wasn't so sure.

Anyway the town of Wentworth Falls appeared and off I got. Following my map I found the start of the Charles Darwin walk, so called because Charles Darwin was so inspired by the falls that he hitched a horse and rode out there a couple of times.

I suspect its a little less overgrown than when he went as the path is well signposted and when rough boards are put down to walk on. The hike follows the Jamison creek and was pretty quiet and peaceful. Even spotted a skink sunning itself in the path

I walked through bush, following the small stream (how does this feed a huge waterfall???) for about an hour eagerly expecting the waterfall

when I walked round the corner and saw

This can't be it - can it. I'd walked as far as my map said and to be fair thought it was pretty small. So I decided to keep going - I could always retrace my steps should I ge lost. Going down a couple of steps the trees cleared and gave a stunning vew across the valley (I began to think the falls must go to the bottom so there must be more to these falls than the small cascade I'd just seen).

Indeed there was more waiting for me. There is a pretty little fall which makes the top section with a pool of water collecting at the bottom (nice to cool off your feet) and then you could hear them.

I climed down several steps (many many many of them, it took a while and as usual I passed a lot of people going in the other direction). The middle section of the falls was stunning and the light was hitting it at the right angle to make it look like more water was flowing over than there actually was

I decided to walk the national pass track and spend a few hours in the valley, then climb out the other side and come back by the overthe cliff track. So off I went, you could see the lower secion of the fall, but to get there was a steep set of stairs that are enclosed to stop you falling off backwards, I decided I really shouldn't do that on my own, so am saving it for another day. I stopped at the top of the stairs to lunch, looking over the falls and with a couple of sulfur crested cockatoos for company

The walk was really pleasant, mostly in the shade so protecting me from the sun, sometimes there was a rail to stop you going over the edge, other times a path somehow cut out of the rock

The stairs to the top went up through (in places) Vera Falls. It seemed to take a long time to get to the top and I was beginning to wonder whether that was why everyone was doing it in the other direction. But once I hurled myself back to the top I discovered the track I was going to take was closed. Brilliant!! But the shortcut track was open so off I went. I even spotted a parrott so it was worht changing my plan slight

This path then became the undercliff track which I had planed on doing which involved going under the cliff (well ducking a lot). But the track went down hill the whole way, I was beginning to think, no more steps please when I came out at the top of te falls. Really pleasant walk and pretty good waterfalls (won't beat Kaieteur but then waterfalls now have a lot to live up to).

I know that I was told off for mentioning the weather but I am British and don't know what else to talk about. I do however think this will make you laugh. I am not sure if you saw on the BBC news this week about the freak weather that has hit Australia. Well it snowed in the Blue Mountains and lots of people were without power in Brisbane due to a thunderstorm. Anyway my house has no heating and because it had been hot I had only bought a thin blanket for my bed. So I was shivering under that sleeping in my think coat, jogging bottoms and hockey socks!! I also had an interview (no idea how it went) over skype while wrapped in a blanket. I figured he'd never know until he asked me to turn on the webcam. I looked somewhat stupid! Oh well we'll see how it went.

Stay well

Love Gem