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Tag: Waterfall

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Palona Cave Walk

Sunrise at the start of the track Palona Cave Walk

Palona Cave Walk

Located in the Royal National Park, near Sydney the Palona Cave Walk is a short and easy bush walk. It takes you through beautiful temperate rainforest to a large limestone cave and a cascading waterfall.

Getting There

We drove to Royal National Park, arriving just after sunrise, so that we could catch the sunrise. Parking at the intersection of Lady Carrington Drive and Sir Bertram Stevens Drive was easy as only two other cars were there. On our return though, it was full, and many cars were parked along the road. Access to the National Park is charged per vehicle and you can pay at the entrance gate or main office. If you plan to visit several parks during the year, an annual pass is available from NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service.

Entrance near the carpark
Entrance near the carpark

The Track

Starting at the car park the historic Lady Carrington Drive trail leads into the forest. This is a wide and well-maintained dirt trail that follows the course of the Hacking River. Originally a road, it was closed and is now a dedicated bike and hiking trail. The trail takes you through temperate rain forest and our early morning start meant that it was quiet and peaceful.

After about 750 m, we reached the junction with the Forest Path, which is another scenic walk in the park. From here we continued along Lady Carrington Drive to Palona Cave track.

Sunrise at the start of the track Palona Cave Walk
Sunrise at the start of the track
Toadstools and moss growing in an old tree stump
Toadstools and moss growing in an old tree stump
Lady Carrington Drive Trail Palona Cave Walk
Lady Carrington Drive Trail

Palona Cave

After another 1 km, a sign for Limestone Cave on the left side of the track points off to the right. Unfortunately, a tree now obscures it, so keep a look out as the path to the cave is easy to miss, being very narrow. If you reach the Palona Brook crossing, you have gone too far. From here you leave the main trail and follow a narrow bush track that leads uphill to Palona Cave. The track is rough and rocky in places, so watch your step. When we visited it was also very overgrown and disappeared in several spots.

Palona Cave is a large overhang with stalactites and stalagmites formed by water dripping through the limestone rock. You can explore the cave and see the different shapes and colours of the formations. There is also a small stream that flows next to the cave and forms a waterfall. We were lucky it had rained recently because this creek is often dry.

This was a great walk with the reward of a waterfall and cave at the end. Remember to wear good boots as the second part of the track is rough. At around 5.3km return, it took us around two and a half hours, with plenty of stops for photos and cave exploring.

Sign to the cave track. Hidden behind the tree.
Sign to the cave track. Hidden behind the tree.
A fallen tree on the walk Palona Cave Walk
A fallen tree on the walk
Gymea Lily
Gymea Lily
Rock overhang on the track Palona Cave Walk
Rock overhang on the track
Entrance to the cave Palona Cave Walk
Entrance to the cave
Cave Entrance Palona Cave Walk
Cave Entrance
The back wall of Palona Cave
The back wall of Palona Cave
Waterfall near the cave
Waterfall near the cave

To see what else there is to do in New South Wales, please see some of our other stories.

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Cooper Park Bushwalking in the City

Stone arch bridge

Cooper Park

Located in Bellevue Hill, Cooper Park covers 15 Ha of bushland in the centre of Sydney’s eastern suburbs. Donated to the Woollahra Council as a park in 1913 by Sir William Cooper the park covers a gully from Victoria Road, Bellevue Hill to Manning Road, Double Bay. With tennis courts and cricket nets at one end and native parkland at the other it’s a wonderful place to visit.

How to Get There

We took the train to Bondi Junction and walked the 15 minutes to the park’s entrance. However, if you want to drive, carparking is available in Bunna Place. Because of the park’s location, there are many entrances off surrounding streets. These have steps leading down to the valley floor where they join the walking track.

The Park

Starting behind the tennis courts, a track winds through the valley floor following a small creek. An information board details the wildlife living in the park as well as the plant species. Scattered along the path are weather shelters, so if it rains there is somewhere to stop for a while.

We followed the well maintained track which wound through eucalypt trees with a fern understory. The creek has many small waterfalls and cascades which are easily accessible from the track.

The damp shady environment has led to most structures being covered in moss. We really liked the arch bridge and a bench seat because they were covered in it.

At the far end of the park, a large set of steps lead up and out to Victoria Road. Of course, you can also enter this way.

What Did We Think?

This is an amazing park, hidden away in Sydney’s suburbia. The walk through native bush, while following the creek was very relaxing and enjoyable.

information board Cooper Park
Useful information board of the park
a creek Cooper Park
The creek running through the park
Small waterfall
Small waterfall on the creek running through the park
Waterfall
Waterfall running down stone steps
Stone arch bridge
Stone arch bridge crossing the creek
Moss covered stone bench seat Cooper Park
Moss covered stone bench seat
A pond with ferns
A pond on the creek with ferns
A pond Cooper Park
A pond on the creek
Steps
Steps leading out of Cooper Park
Stone wall covered in lichen
Stone wall covered in lichen
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Ironbark Falls Mangrove Mountain

Pool at the Base of Ironbark Falls

Ironbark Falls Mangrove Mountain

An overgrown sign marks the start of the walking track to Ironbark Falls at Mangrove Mountain (New South Wales Australia). Very easy to miss, the small parking area is 1.2km along Ironbark Road from the Wisemans Ferry Road intersection.

Not far from the parking area, a small track leads off to the left, where you will find an information board. If you miss the track turn off, you will come across a small creek. This means you have gone too far, so turn around and go back.

Ironbark Reserve Walking Trail Sign
Ironbark Reserve Walking Trail Sign

The Track Down to the Waterfall

From the information board the track narrows and becomes more overgrown. This provides a really nice atmosphere because you are surrounded by vegetation. Along the way, different plants have name plates, but many are badly weathered and illegible.

Information Board
Information Board
Faded Information Sign
Faded Information Sign
Start of the Track
Start of the Track

Lower Section of the Track

As you descend through the valley, the track has areas constructed of uneven rocks, so be careful here. In several areas, where the path is steep, or has uneven surfaces, signs warn you to be careful.

The moss-covered rocks and ferny understory create a quiet, shady environment that is very peaceful to walk through.

Helpful Sign
Helpful Sign
Step Section of the Track Over Rocks
Step Section of the Track Over Rocks

Things to See Along The Way

Toward the bottom of the valley, near the falls, a fallen tree, now overgrown with moss lies next to the track. Nearby a raised platform with a chair on it sits over another fallen tree. Although too faded to read, there is a plaque on the platform.

Overgrown Fallen Tree
Overgrown Fallen Tree
Old Rest Spot Ironbark Falls
Old Rest Spot

Ironbark Falls

At the end of the track, you reach the five-tiered Ironbark Falls. During our visit, no one else was around, so we had the whole area to ourselves. Recent rainfall meant that there was plenty of water flowing and the falls put on a great display for us.

The fern covered banks of the creek surrounding the falls were beautiful giving the whole area a wonderful feeling of tranquillity.

Ironbark Falls
Ironbark Falls
Pool at the Base of Ironbark Falls
Pool at the Base of the Falls

What Did We Think?

The entire walk from the car park to the falls only took around 15 minutes, making it a quick but fun hike. The narrow and overgrown trail adds a great feeling to the area, giving it a lovely atmosphere. The falls themselves are really nice, because the look great being surrounded by ferns and shrubs.

To see what else there is to do in New South Wales, please see some of our other stories.

Our photos are available for purchase on