A visit to Somersby Falls in Brisbane Water National Park makes for a great day trip from Sydney, offering beautiful scenery and excellent picnic facilities.
A short walking trail along Floods Creek starts at the picnic area and passes three sections of Somersby Falls: the Top, Middle, and Bottom Falls.
| Somersby Falls Walking Track | |
|---|---|
| Distance: | 500 m (return) |
| Duration: | 30-60 minutes (depending on stops) |
| Grade: | Easy (with many steps) |
| Wheel-friendly: | Picnic area and top falls viewing area |
| Dogs: | Not allowed |
| Location: | Google Maps |
Getting There
To reach Somersby Falls, take the Wisemans Ferry Road exit from the M1 Pacific Motorway and turn into Somersby Falls Road at the first roundabout.
Continue along this road until you arrive at the entrance to the Somersby Falls Picnic Area, where you’ll find a well-sized car park.
A parking fee of $8 per vehicle applies for the whole day and can be paid at one of the ticket machines in the car park. The picnic area is open from 7 am to 8 pm during daylight saving time, and from 7 am to 6 pm for the rest of the year.
Before heading out, check the NSW National Parks website for any park closures or weather warnings.
Track Notes
The 500-metre return walk through lush rainforest scenery takes in views of the top, middle, and bottom falls, with several viewpoints to stop at along the way.
While the trail is family-friendly, it includes many steps as it follows the creek downstream. The path is well-maintained from start to finish.
The walk begins at the eastern end of the picnic area, next to the large signpost.
Map
There are three parts to Somersby Falls:
- Top Falls
- Middle Falls
- Bottom Falls
Here is a map with the picnic area, the parking area, and the walking trail:
Top Falls
The first highlight, the Top Falls, is a fenced viewing area where you can see the creek flowing gently in front of you.
From this viewpoint, walk towards the information boards to begin the track to the next two highlights: the Middle and Bottom Falls.
The path enters the bush here and begins to descend, with various staircases closely following Floods Creek.
At the first junction, turn right to reach the first lookout on the trail, which offers scenic views of the creek and the top of Somersby Falls.
Middle Falls
From the lookout, continue along the main trail, and you’ll soon come across a side path veering to the left.
This short detour leads to a small waterfall on a tributary of Floods Creek, and it’s worth checking out while you’re there.
Although it’s a modest waterfall and not as impressive as the others, it’s a nice bonus along the way.
Back on the main trail, continue to the next highlight: the middle section of Somersby Falls. We think this is the most beautiful waterfall on the walk.
A large, rocky area in front of the falls allows you to get up close to the flowing water. The views here are especially impressive after rain, when the water is really moving.
Bottom Falls
From Middle Falls, continue along the trail, which soon leads to the bottom of the waterfall via a few boardwalks and staircases.
After rainfall, the final staircase near the falls can become flooded, so take care as it may be slippery.
Once there, you can stand right in front of the Bottom Falls and enjoy the view of the waterfall and its surrounding area.
For a smaller waterfall nearby, visit Strickland Falls, which is just a 20-minute drive away and can be reached via a short bushwalk.
