The Most Spectacular Waterfalls near the Blue Mountains
Estimated reading time: 7 minutes
The Blue Mountains become Sydney’s most popular day-trip destination, being itself the home to scenic walking tracks, attractive lookout points as well as innumerable panoramic waterfalls. Almost all Blue Mountains waterfalls are followed by a bushwalking trail so that you feel more adventurous & curious. Some waterfalls have hidden from human captivity lodging among the lush greeneries of this great canyon. While enjoying the rhythm of silver cascades & the tranquillity of uncorrupted surroundings, don’t forget to update your Instagram story with some nice photographs from these wonderful lookout points. Also, you must be careful about seasons as some falls are confined to a particular season in the year. Some waterfalls occupy natural swimming holes at the bottoms. On bright summer days, they are ideal to have a bath & console travel fatigue.
Table of Contents
Top 5 Blue Mountains Waterfalls you must see
The whole vicinity is full of scenic waterfalls forming silver-like brilliant cascades. Here are the most enchanting 5 waterfalls you can see in the glorious Blue Mountains canyon. The ruins remind the history of ancient Aborigines.
Wentworth Falls
Wentworth falls is one of the most scenic Blue Mountains waterfalls. The waterfalls are there sooner once reached Wentworth village. Wentworth falls village got the names “Weatherboard” & the “Jamison Valley” before its last nomination in 1879 as “Wentworth Falls” by the name of a reputed explorer. It’s just 95 km from Sydney along Falls Road in Blue Mountains National Park. This fall is about 187 meters in height.
It is a three-tiered waterfall that origins from Jamison Creek. There is a bit of adventure over the cliff trail from the picnic area towards Jamison Creek to the top of the falls. Otherwise, there is National Park Walk along the Princess Lookout. The waterfall vicinity is full of fern-filled gullies, ironstone cliffs, Empress Canyon & mountain creeks. Meanwhile, the heavy endemic mangrove population makes it an ecologically important site. The water is so clear that it forms vivid rainbows at bright noons.
Katoomba Falls
A hike to Katoomba Falls is a part of the itinerary of most of Blue Mountains private tours. It is one of the most gorgeous Blue Mountains waterfalls and is closest to the magnificent Three Sisters. Drive to the echo point near Katoomba on the Kedumba River descending to the Jamison Valley. You can watch it either from the sky or land. A skyway cable car starts from Scenic World & takes you among lush green rainforests with picturesque views of the valley & surrounding escarpments. But on heavy misty days, a walk to fall’s bottom is seemingly better. The Prince Henry Cliff Walk is a 7km hike to the Gordon Falls lookout in Leura. These hikes provide several lookout points to get a scenic view of the falls. However, Katoomba Falls have tended to have a short season during autumn & spring.
This is a segmented fall, which drops into the Jamison Valley at a height of 150m. It’s a small cascade but has countless beauty. The main watercourse is the Kedumba River. All the other attractions include Scenic World, Prince Henry Cliff, Jamison Valley & Leura. You can visit rich biodiversity which really seems to be a gift of nature.
Minnehaha Falls
Get rid of the hustle & bustle of Katoomba. Here is one of the most solemn Blue Mountains waterfalls where you can stay still & relax yourself getting close to nature. The name comes from a fictional Native American woman “Minnehaha”, & also incorrectly thought to mean “Laughing water”. A 20m high tiny waterfall lodges amidst Minnehaha Reserve in North Katoomba. You have to walk around 1.2 kilometres in Minnehaha Reserve to reach the falls.
The walk starts at the end of Minnehaha Road in Katoomba. This challenging bushwalk will lead you to the bottom of the fall. The picnic looks a bit hard as this track is full of steeps & dirt tracks. Finally, there’s a tiny swimming hole at the base of Minnehaha Falls where you can dive & chill yourself on a warm sunny day. There are many rocks around, on which you can sunbathe or take your picnic lunch. However, bear in mind to leave only footprints & not to mess up there with garbage.
Bridal Veil Blue Mountains Waterfall
There is an ancient love & loss legend hidden within the name “Bridal Veil”. A girl named Norita leapt from this mountain to join her lover, Grey Eagle after death. She heard her parents kill her lover. For her great sacrifice, Mother Nature converted her hair to a bridal veil of falling water. The fall is also known as Govetts Leap. It falls over the Taylor Wall and resides at Govetts Leap Lookout, which is found about 2.4 kilometres east of Blackheath in the Blue Mountains. The bridal Veil has a single drop of 180m & fed by Govetts Leap Brook.
The bridal Veil is among the most magnificent Blue Mountains waterfalls in NSW. Also, this is a famous lookout point that allows for an incredible panorama of Gross Wilderness & dancing water cascades and is one of the recommended stops for a Blue Mountains sunset tour. Stay & relieve yourself listening to the soothing orchestra of yellow-tailed black cockatoos. The surroundings contain rich biodiversity & especially ideal for birdwatching.
Victoria Falls
Victoria Falls is a panoramic vicinity accessed after a bit challenging walk of 2 to 2 1/2 hours with a distance of 3.1km. It is located in the Blackheath area, featuring one of the prettiest Blue Mountains waterfalls in your NSW picnic. Victoria Cascades fall upon the Gross Valley at a height of 400m. However, first, you must drive to the car park, along Victoria Falls Road, just 500m past Brown town Oval. Only a few steps left to the Victoria Falls lookout. The lookout gives extraordinary views of Victoria Creek & Upper Gross Valley beyond a massive sandstone escarpment.
The surroundings are full of tranquillity. This deep silence is occasionally broken by the sounds of splashing cascades or the chirp of sulphur-crested and yellow-tailed black cockatoos. Along the return path, you can see the track of the waterfall left on the lookout. This slopy path zigzags down the sandstone cliff. Short side paths allow to the top of the falls & Victoria Cascades while the main track proceeds until the base of the waterfall.
Safety tips for visiting Blue Mountains waterfalls
Almost all Blue Mountains waterfalls are associated with intense steeps & cliffs. So it’s better to undergo the following safety tips during your picnic. Always keep in mind to follow the instructions posted at waterfalls & walking trails. At the waterfall, you must thoroughly be careful on the footing. Some slippery rocks may be filled with algae & pretend to be dry.
The top of a waterfall is also very dangerous. When you are there, don’t try to lean over a ledge. Also, you must be attentive while taking photos & selfies. Make sure if you are in a safe location, before snapping your shot. Several unfortunate incidents have occurred in past years as photographers care about taking a photo rather than securing their steps. Always keep in mind to follow developed trails when you are hiking. Meanwhile retrieve a hat, sunscreen & some sturdy shoes for a better picnic. They can surely protect you from ill weather conditions occurring in your walk.
This is the best destination if you are an adventure seeker & a nostalgic traveller. So, don’t forget to portray your eternal memories among the dancing cascades of panoramic Blue Mountains waterfalls. Join us with a Blue Mountains tour from Sydney & plan a wonderful tour of those spectacular waterfalls.
Related articles
