If you are looking for a reasonably easy walk, suitable for kids, not a lot of up and down and would like to see some spectacular waterfalls as well as be away from the crowds, then the Burgess Falls Walking Track located in the Hoirseshoe Falls Reserve at Hazelbrook is going to impress on all accounts! It is easy to get to, gets you at waterfalls and cascades within a couple of minutes of leaving your car (depending on where you start), is a pretty walk in its own right, with reasonable shade along the way, as well as being a very "musical" walk with the constant sound of water running and cascading over rocks, it really does not get a lot better than this in the mid-Blue Mountains.
On this walk, you will discover no less than 5-8 waterfalls, not to mention all the unnamed cascades along the way, there are opportunities to cool off under a couple of the walls as they plunge over the edge of cliffs to pools or rocks below, come back at night and you just may experience glow worms at Horseshoe Falls and Glow Worm Nook Falls. Both Horseshoe and Oakland Falls have a special feature that you will love and that is you can get in behind the waterfall itself in large, cool overhangs, great to get out of the sun, or the heat of summer.
All of the waterfalls are easy to get to on well-formed walking tracks (With the exception of the lower Glow Worm Nook Falls), are suitable for kids of all ages and the walk can be done by someone with a moderate fitness level, yes, there is some up and down, take your time and don't rush, there is no need to, plus, it can be done as a circuit and return to the start on a different track, or, as a one-way walk and come out at a different location. (Bit of a walk back to your car though if you do that) I'll describe the walk in the order assuming you park your car at the end of Alexander Avenue Hazelbrook, there is an old picnic ground here and places you can pull off the road to park. From here, you are just 2 minutes or so from the creek that feeds a lot of the waterfalls and cascades you are going to visit.
So, after parking your car at the end of Alexander Ave Hazelbrook, grab some water (You really don't want to be drinking the water in these creeks, no matter how good it looks), a hat, your camera and off you go. Walk into the park towards a picnic table and the track starts on the right, it descends down a few steps to join the main walking track at a pretty cascade, you turn right and start on your way. How good does the creek sound?!
Fairy Falls
Not too far along, you will come to a side track that will take your down to the first of the named falls - Fairy Falls, well, that is what most people refer to it as, a pretty little set of falls with a couple of levels that make for a nice view after some good rain. Just like any waterfall, the shape and size of the waterfall will change depending on how much water is flowing, it makes for a nice photographic subject at the very least. When you have soaked it all in, return back the way you just came to the main track to continue along.
Horseshoe Falls (Lyrebird Falls)
At this point, you will be above and away from the creek, the upper track will continue along, you should now go down and to the left and you will soon arrive at one of the more spectacular falls on this circuit - Horseshoe Falls, though, since the 1970's, they had their name changed to Lyrebird Falls). It can get a bit muddy through here but soon you arrive in a cool, shaded natural amphitheater and you will be in a large overhang with the falls flowing in front of you on the right.
You can stand under the falls and cool off, or just wander around enjoying the sounds and spectacle of these falls. They have a number of mini levels at the top before doing the final plunge down in front of the overhang making for a really nice subject to photograph. One of my favorite spots along this walk, you will too I hope after you spend some time here just sitting and taking it all in.
Glow Worm Nook Falls
This trio of falls are just a few minutes walk away from Horseshoe falls, again on a side track. Whilst looking at Horseshoe Falls, turn to your right and behind you, if you look at the slope of the ground, you will see some old stone steps heading up the hill, take these, a few more steps and you will arrive on a flat wide area, walk a little further and you will come to a set of steps cut into the rock on your left. Lets visit the top falls first, take the steps to the next level, then stay right when the track splits almost straight away, keep right, but do not turn straight towards the creek, the track will bring you to the base of the top falls after a minutes or two.
Retrace your path and descend the cut stone steps, now turn left and go straight ahead for a short distance, the middle falls are now on your left, but the best are yet to come. (In my opinion at least) Turn around and look back towards the flat path and the stone steps, on your left, you should see a ledge sloping down into the gully. From this point on, it is probably not suitable for small children as scrambling will be required and it can be slippery with leaf litter, so do this one at your own risk. Once this sloping ledge ends, turn left at a tree and scramble down towards the creek and left, once on the gully floor, go left to the falls. I think these are the nicest of the 3 falls here. Return the way you came back down to Horseshoe Falls and rejoin the track on the other side of the creek and follow the lower path next to the creek.
Lena Falls
You will hear these falls, more than see these falls, they are semi hidden in a sheer-sided gully, there is a track to the edge and you can peer in, but if you are not into scrambling and finding your way both in and out of the gully, best to just admire the photos below. Lena Falls are two very small falls, probably both just a metre in height, when in flow, they do look pretty and the lower fall is undercut and there is enough room to get in behind the falls, you will get wet doing so though. Also, if you choose to go down into here, as with any creek walking (Yes, you will be walking in the creek), the rocks will be slippery and you can end up base over apex without warning!
Oaklands Falls
Back to the track and continue down, here the track splits once again, take the rather high step down then the slippery track down to Oaklands Falls a short distance away. Very similar to Horseshoe Falls, a big undercut area behind the main falls, a lot of tree debris seem to always be at the base of these falls, so standing under these ones can be challenging, but still refreshing. Wander around, listening and enjoying the cool under the trees or ledge. When you are ready to head to the final falls on this circuit, head back the way you came and follow the walking track along the creek.
Burgess Falls
Burgess Falls are 400-500+ mtrs away, but an easy undulating walk along the musical creek, it does not take too long to get here at all. These are the highest falls on this circuit and quite a pretty area as well, you will need to negotiate a large sloping rock to get down to the sandy beach here, or, go around on the right, on the day I was last here, that track to the right went right through the stickiest, yellowest, nastiest looking mud I have seen in a long time, it took a lot to wash it off. A pretty spot that can get full sun from overhead and has a small pool at the bottom, not quite swimming depth though.
Retrace your steps back towards the track and take the left track that heads up the hill, you will go under an overhang, when you come out the other side, turn around and look up, you will then find out how Burgess Falls got their name. Keep going on this track and you will soon reach a T intersection. Go left to do the walk as a one way walk and come out on Winbourne Road, or, take the right track to head back at a higher elevation the way you came from, you will eventually reach the turn off and down to Oakland Falls so just keep going to return back to your car.
All up with lots of time at the many waterfalls, this walk should take a few hours and is well worth the little effort required.
