No Need To Chase Waterfalls With This Easy Bushwalk!
By Jenae Johnston
Time to get the little whippersnappers out of the house and take them on an adventure! This local waterfall will impress the whole family and with farm fresh produce and cider just across the road…we are sooooo there. Clink..!
A short easy breezy bushwalk to the main event of a very impressive waterfall – we’re in!!
Take a lovely drive, not too far from the coast, into some gorgeous farmland and bush. Though it’s not far, it feels like you’ve retreated waaaaay out of town which is always refreshing.
A relaxing bushwalk complete with boardwalks and wide dirt paths, this trail is part of the Dharawal National Park and starts on Darkes Forest Rd in, well, Darkes Forest of course!
Get ready to explore…there’s lots to see here! And we love taking it at a leisurely pace – soooo good to slow down and breathe.
Family-Friendly :: Yes!
Easily Accessible :: An easy drive from the Illawarra Coastline.
Dog-Friendly :: Nope, as it’s part of Dharawal National Park [assistance dogs allowed].
Stairs :: There are a couple of steps, but minimal. You could navigate a pram, but not a wheelchair.
Time :: Approximate distance 1.5km return trail about 45min return depending on how long you enjoy the surroundings and if you take a picnic stop.
Cost :: No cost
Carpark to bushwalk…!
This walk does not mess around. From the informational signage in the carpark you walk straight onto the trail – too easy! Peaceful wide trails get you started on the slight decline as you get deeper into the bush with some interesting native plants and wildlife along the way.
After about 200 odd metres you reach the raised boardwalk on the right. You land right in the thick of a heath here which is abundant in birdlife…and possibly a snake too, if you’re lucky! Yes lucky, what a treat!
Go early before the heat of the day to avoid running into a slithering friend if that’s a little bit too terror-inducing for you.
The walk switches between dirt path and boardwalk and weaves throughout the heath which fills with wildflowers in the spring and is quite spectacular. The boardwalk is raised over the swamp so you can enjoy the gentle babble of frogs.
Continue on until you reach the viewing platform. This is a great child friendly location to look at the view of the falls and down the valley, as well as have a seat and a snack.
Go forth and explore!
For the more abled bushwalkers who need more of a scramble, don’t worry, this is not the end of the trail. Backtrack slightly from the viewing platform to take the well-worn sidetrack leading to towards the falls.
Stay a really good distance back from the edge here – there is plenty of room to stay well away, so no excuses! Scramble slowly across the iron stained sandstone and head across to the other side of the falls.
You can walk back upstream here to have a little exploration, pending the water levels, but if you walk to the other side of the falls you can pick up the trail that will lead you down through the Banksia, Gymea Lilies and boulders.
The trail leads you to the mid-falls point to a wonderful natural viewing platform.
It’s not suitable for swimming, but you get a close up of the falls.
There is plenty of space to sit back and chill out enjoying the tranquillity. Romance plus here, just saying!
Insider tips…!
Once you are ready to head back, just follow your same path back to the top of the falls, across the creek and then the path back to the main boardwalk. Continue on the way back out and enjoy taking a few little trails off to the right that lead off to the weir far back from the falls. A good spot for the kids to safely kick around in the puddles and see if they can spot or hear any local frogs or tadpoles.
What’s nearby
Darkes Glenbernie Orchard is directly across the road from the Madden’s Falls carpark. You can either go before or after your walk.
Pre-walk, grab some local produce and some delicious apple ciders for a little picnic.
Post walk, take the opportunity to have a taste of the award winning alcoholic beverages that top off a great day. There is plenty of space for the kids to run around and burn any remaining energy cos’……kids.
Why the locals love the Maddens Falls bushwalk
Not everyone wants a hardcore trek to get their nature fix and it’s not always convenient to take the kids on the longer hikes. This little beauty packs a big punch with very little effort and you can easily just stop in without too much preparation or special hiking gear.
Bonus points if you take a picnic and binoculars to check out the abundance of wildlife in the area. It’s also Instagram heaven for those golden hour waterfall shots that we all love…!
