Wentworth Falls – the highest Blue Mountains waterfall

Wentworth Falls is considered one of the most scenic waterfalls in the Blue Mountains. It’s also the highest waterfall in the Blue Mountain; Jamison Creek tumbles over three tiers with a total fall of 187m. The waterfall gets its name from William Wentworth, who with Gregory Blaxland and William Lawson in May 1813 found a route across the Blue Mountains to reach what is now Wentworth Falls.

The waterfall can be seen from a number of vantage points:

• Along the Undercliff Track, which includes a number of signposted lookouts:
  • Princes Rock Lookout
  • Fletchers Lookout
  • Rocket Point Lookout
• Middle of the falls via the historic Grand Stairway on the National Pass track
• Base of the falls via the National Pass (Grand Stairway) and Wentworth Pass (Slacks Stairs)

Princes Rock Lookout

The Prince Rock Lookout offers one of the best views of the Wentworth Falls from the top. You can see most of the main falls, and the much smaller Queens Cascade. (The scluded and smaller Eagles Nest Lookout provides a very similar vantage point.)

Fletchers Lookout

A fenced and signposted lookout, Fletchers Lookout has two fenced platforms that provide a view over the top of the waterfall. It’s reached by a 0.6km walk from the end of Falls Road along the Wentworth Track.

Rocket Point Lookout

On the opposite side of the falls to Fletchers Lookout, Rocket Point Lookout offers an even more spectacular “birds eye” view of the waterfall. This lookout is reached from the end of Falls Road (1.6km return walk) or mor commonly from the Wentworth Falls Picnic Area (2.4km return walk including the Rocket Point Circuit).

Middle of Wentworth Falls

One of the most dramatic views of the falls is from the base of the Grand Stairway along the Federal Pass, which reaches the middle of the waterfall. It’s a steep descent with multiple flights of steps that are carved into the cliff-face. You can see both the main upper drop, and mutiple smaller cascades.

Base of Wentworth Falls

The Federal Pass takes you first to the middle of the waterfall, and then to the Wentworth Pass and Slacks Stairs, which continues to descend steeply. From the top of Slacks Stairs (and along the National Pass ust before you reach the Slacks Stairs) you get one of the few perspectives that reveal entire height of the waterfall.

At the bottom of Wentworth Pass is the base of Wentworth Falls, where you can see the bottom tier of the falls, which drops intpo a small pool.

Swimming at Wentworth Falls

Although it requires a steep walk back up, there is a shallow swimming hole at the middle of the falls. It’s reached via the Federal Pass walking track (about 5km return and is rated Moderate/Hard due to a very steep descent and ascent, which includes some steel ladders). You’ll need to scramble over a few big boulders to access a shallow pool beneath the main drop.

The pool at the base of of the falls is much better for swimming – although the walk back up will be even longer and steeper!

Getting to Wentworth Falls

The Conservation Hut is the starting point for:

• Overcliff Undercliff Track
• Valley of the Waters Track
• Nature Track
• Wentworth Pass
• National Pass

The Wentworth Falls Picnic Area is the starting point for:

• Wentworth Falls Track
• Wentworth Pass
• Princes Rock Walking Track
• National Pass

More information

• National Parks (NPWS) – Wentworth Falls Track
• Sydney Uncovered – Wentworth Falls Hiking Guide