Tucked away in the lush rainforest of the Central Coast, Lower and Middle Somersby Falls is more than just a picturesque waterfall—it’s an adventure waiting to be explored. Beyond the popular cascades, hidden gems await those willing to venture off the beaten path. A secluded cave waterfall lies nestled beneath a rocky overhang, where water spills gently into a serene pool, creating a magical, almost otherworldly atmosphere. Further along the creek, a secret swimming hole offers the perfect spot to cool off, complete with a rope swing for those looking to add a little thrill to their dip. Whether you’re chasing waterfalls, seeking solitude, or diving into adventure, Somersby Falls is a must-visit oasis in the Australian bush.
Statistics:
Difficulty: Easy
Area: Brisbane Water National Park, Central Coast
Attractions: 2 Big Waterfalls, Small Cascades, Cave Waterfall, Rope Swing
Approximate Time: 1 Hour 15 Minute Return
Approximate Distance: 3.2 km Return
Popularity: Low
Accessible by Public Transport: No
Time from Sydney’s CBD: 75 km.1 hr
Parking at Somersby Falls:
There is a Somersby Falls Picnic area right next to the trail head which has plenty of parking but it does cost $8 for the whole day. Right outside of the picnic area about 50 metres up the road there is free roadside parking.
The Walk to Middle Somersby Falls:
The middle falls is a beautiful multiple tier waterfall that even with less water is stunning to look at. The Trail begins at the bottom of the picnic area where you’ll spot a sign that points the way to the middle and bottom falls.
The 5 minute walk to the middle falls is predominately steps downhill but also include a seperate cascade and a small lookout point 1 set of stairs from the middle falls. The middle falls empties out into a flat rocky area which is great for a picnic or even a dip.
The Walk to The Bottom Falls:
The walk to the bottom falls is 180 metres further on. If you continue back on the narrow dirt trail you will very soon reach another steep decline with a mixture of rock and wooden steps. when you reach the second to last set of stairs you will come across a sign that says ‘No Track Beyond This Point’ next to a stone staircase.
This stone staircase will take you to the bottom falls. The bottom falls in my opinion are the better out of the 2 in this walk with its wilder and taller look.
The Walk to The Real Treasure the Cave Falls:
Something to keep in mind is that there used to be a trail to the cave falls and the swimming hole but was discontinued a while back. This being said if you look closely you will be able to see the old trail and follow it. The cave falls from here is only roughly 300 metres ahead. If you turn around so that the bottom falls are directly behind you, you will be looking at a large dried up river full of rocks. From here there are 2 paths you can take, if you wish to stick the path along the right hand-side there is the old trail that you can follow.
If you are looking for something a bit more adventurous you can follow the dried up river and clamber over the rocks to the falls. If you do chose this path towards the end you will come to a big boulder where the dried river forks off into 2 paths which ever path you take it will join up at the same place. Whether you chose the river or the trail after about 15 – 20 minutes you will reach a flat rocky area which leads to the top of the cave falls.
At the top of the cave falls is a small beautiful infinity pool about a little over a metre deep. Because the water is constantly flowing the water is ice cold and makes the pool almost like a natural ice bath!
To get to the bottom of the cave falls on the right there trial continues down a couple of near vertical steps with a rope that you can use to help yourself down.
The cave falls is a beautiful cascade with a cool deep cave behind the falls. You can even go around to the cave side and have a wall of water in-front of you.
On To The Wild Swimming Hole:
The swimming hole is around 700 metres onwards from the cave falls but is definitely worth the hike. From here there are again 2 seperate paths you can chose to take either you can walk the old trail along the right hand side of the river or you could try your luck and walk straight through the middle of the river.
Walking the Old Trail:
If you choose to walk the old trail for almost the entire walk you should stick to the right side. Although there is a trail on the left side it is much less walked and therefore less maintained. The trail has lots of stone staircase that are hard to miss that take you up and over. As it is no longer an offical trail there are plenty of big fallen boulders and trees that sometimes get in the way but aren’t hard at all to clamber over. After about 15 – 20 minutes you will spot the inflow to the waterfall that cascades into the wild swimming hole.
Walking Through The River:
If you choose to walk through the river keep in mind that depending on the weather of the days prior the river might be too full to walk through. In saying that when I walked it had rained a few days before and we were able to walk the river almost the whole way and only taking the old trail for a few metres. I would recommend taking your shoes off and going barefoot if you don’t want your shoes getting wet. The river also opens up into plenty of flat rocky areas. Eventually you will reach the inflow of the waterfall that cascades into the wild swimming hole.
Continuing on to the Wild Swimming Hole:
From here whether you used the old trail or walked through the river cross over to the left side where you will see a narrow muddy overgrown old trail that weaves around and takes you to the side of the swimming hole. From here to reach the bank of the swimming hole clamber down the steep trail that will take you to the bottom.
Swimming at the Secret Wild Swimming Hole:
Swimming at the wild swimming hole is always good fun. The water is always refreshing and cool as it is constantly being fed by the river and the waterfall and is always amazing after a long hot hike. As well as a small waterfall there is also a rope swing if you want to add a bit of thrill to your swim.
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