Waterfalls and valley views along the Fitzroy Falls East Rim to West Rim bushwalk

Summary: The track from Fitzroy Falls East Rim to West Rim is one of the shorter but more scenic bushwalks in Kangaroo Valley. The bushwalk traverses the east and west rims of the Yarrunga Creek gorge, with spectacular views over the valley and of Fitzroy Falls from both escarpments.

Trailhead: Start at Fitzroy Falls Visitor Centre or at the end of the East Rim track, on Nowra Road (Kangaroo Valley, about 3 hours south-west of Sydney)
Distance: 8.1km
Duration: 2-3 hours
Grade: Easy
270m total ascent
Route type: One-way
Best season/s: All year
Online map: https://www.alltrails.com/explore/map/fitzroy-falls-east-rim-to-west-rim-b0ced08
No Dogs
No mountain bikes

The bushwalk from the Fitzroy Falls East Rim to the West Rim is ideally done as one-way walk if you’ve got two cars, or if you get dropped off at one end as I was. Which I would recommend, as the east rim of Fitzroy Falls is definitely the less spectacular side. The start of the walk is not particularly easy to find as doing the East Rim as a one-way walk is not common, but there is 4WD track from Nowra Road that connects to the Fitzroy Falls East Rim track (it’s about 300m from the main road).

mg 9405 lr Waterfalls and valley views along the Fitzroy Falls East Rim to West Rim bushwalk — The start (or end) of the Fitzroy Falls east rim track

mg 9406 lr Waterfalls and valley views along the Fitzroy Falls East Rim to West Rim bushwalk — The start (or end) of the Fitzroy Falls east rim track

From here there is a well-marked track that follows the top of the escarpment, with a number of lookouts over the Yarrunga Creek gorge. The first lookout, Yarrunga Lookout, offers broad views over Morton National Park to the south-west, with Mt Carrialoo and the more rounded Mt Moollattoo to the left and Bundanoon in the distance. To the other direction (looking north-east) is Fitzroy Falls, which is at the end of the Yarrunga Creek gorge – but is not yet visible.

mg 9408 lr Waterfalls and valley views along the Fitzroy Falls East Rim to West Rim bushwalk — Looking south-west over Morton National Park from Yarrunga Lookout

mg 9411 lr Waterfalls and valley views along the Fitzroy Falls East Rim to West Rim bushwalk — Looking south-west over Morton National Park from Yarrunga Lookout

A bit further along the track is Valley View Lookout, with views over the Yarrunga Creek gorge again.

The next viewpoint along the Fitzroy Falls East Rim track is the Lamond Lookout, which offers similar views over the valley. Shortly after this lookout is the Warrawong Lookout, and the start of the Janet Cosh Wildflower Walk (named in honour of a local plant collector). I’ve walked 2.5km from the start of the walk, with another 1.2k to the Fitzroy Falls Visitor Centre. As well as a view over the narrowing gorge, there’s the first sighting of Fitzroy Falls, at the head of the valley.

mg 9418 lr Waterfalls and valley views along the Fitzroy Falls East Rim to West Rim bushwalk — View from Warrawong Lookout,

Fitzroy Falls from Warrawong Lookout — View from Warrawong Lookout,

The walk so far has been through eucalypt forest and fairly flat, as the Fitzroy Falls East Rim track closely follows the edge of the escarpment. So it’s a pleasant change when it drops into the lush Ferny Gully, passing a stand of tree ferns below a tall rainforest canopy, and crossing a couple of small creeks.

mg 9424 lr Waterfalls and valley views along the Fitzroy Falls East Rim to West Rim bushwalk — Janet Cosh Wildflower Walk

mg 9427 lr Waterfalls and valley views along the Fitzroy Falls East Rim to West Rim bushwalk — Janet Cosh Wildflower Walk

The last lookout before the end of the East Rim Trail is the May Lookout, perched over the edge of the gorge.

Shortly after this last Fitzroy Falls East Rim lookout, the track crosses Yarrunga Creek, and becomes the Fitzroy Falls West Rim track. The track soon reaches the Fitzroy Falls Visitor Centre, which has lots of information on the local area and a cafe. The Fitzroy Falls West Rim is far more impressive than the Fitzroy Falls East Rim, and would be the best option if you haven’t got time for the full walk. It’s also much more popular, and not so pleasant on a busy Easter weekend!

mg 9439 lr Waterfalls and valley views along the Fitzroy Falls East Rim to West Rim bushwalk

mg 9447 lr Waterfalls and valley views along the Fitzroy Falls East Rim to West Rim bushwalk

Heading west along the Fitzroy Falls West Rim track, which is now more a boardwalk than a bushwalk, the first lookout is reached after 200m.

Cantilevered 80m above the valley floor, the metal platform provides a view to the base of the falls as well as down the length of the Yarrunga Creek valley.

A couple of hundred metres further, Jersey Lookout provides a view back to the head of the valley and to Fitzroy Falls, with part of the lower falls visible.

A gradual uphill section leads to the next viewpoint, Richardson Lookout.

mg 9462 lr Waterfalls and valley views along the Fitzroy Falls East Rim to West Rim bushwalk

mg 9467 lr Waterfalls and valley views along the Fitzroy Falls East Rim to West Rim bushwalk

There’s a couple more viewpoints, before the Fitzroy Falls West Rim track crosses a side-creek, just before The Grotto. Even with the Easter crowds, this section of the walk is fantastic – it would be even better on a day with no-else around!

A short detour off the main track is The Grotto, an overhang with coachwood and water gums in front of a small cascade. Despite it being a busy day, I have the serene grotto to myself for a few minutes.

Fitzroy Falls to The Grotto is the most scenic section of the Fitzroy Falls West Rim walk; continuing another 900m takes you past Starkeys Lookout and to the final viewpoint, Renown Lookout.

mg 9483 lr Waterfalls and valley views along the Fitzroy Falls East Rim to West Rim bushwalk — View from Starkeys Lookout

mg 9486 lr Waterfalls and valley views along the Fitzroy Falls East Rim to West Rim bushwalk — View from Starkeys Lookout

From here, it’s back the same way to the Fitzroy Falls Visitor Centre; if you’re doing a car shuffle you can save about 500m by finishing on a fire trail near Glen Road (but it’s hardly worth it). It’s an easy but nice walk, especially after heavy rain when Fitzroy Falls is in full swing!

Accommodation near Fitzroy Falls

It’s feasible to do a day-trip from Sydney to Fitzroy Falls, and it’s a short detour off the Hume Highway between Sydney and Canberra. Alternatively, there are lots of secluded cabins and cottages around Fitzroy, Kangaroo Valley and Moss Vale if you’re looking for a weekend away.

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