Glenbrook to Grey Hat Falls Walk – 24 January 2016

I was hoping before setting out on this walk, that the water levels in Kanuka Brook would be higher than on a previous visit to Grey Hat Falls so I could obtain some better photos. Also, it was an overcast day – much better for photographing waterfalls.

Grey Hat Falls and the Crayfish Pool

So I left from Glenbrook Station, and walked to the Blue Mountains National Park entrance and down to the Causeway. Glenbrook Creek was flowing nicely but it was still easy to cross.  I then proceeded up the track up Camp Fire Creek to Red Hands Cave.

On the way, I noticed some Bonnet Orchids in flower and also a fair bit of fungi out. While I was putting my pack down to photograph a fungus, I was lucky to spot some small blue fungi out – the Blue Entoloma. The walk to Red Hands Cave is easy and pleasant.

Once at the cave, I continued on up to the fire road, and then along it for another 15 minutes to the track that goes down to Kanuka Brook and Grey Hat Falls.

I noticed more interesting fungi out along the way. In particular, a cluster of stalked puff balls.

At Kanuka Brook, it is only a few minutes walk upstream to the falls. When I arrived I found the water level quite nice and grabbed a few photos. I then and a swim in the beautiful pool – called the Crayfish Pool. Even though the day was not that hot and rain was threatening, the water temperature was very nice. I had the whole place to myself.

As it was starting to sprinkle, very lightly, I walked up the track a bit to where their were some caves to have lunch. But the rain did not last long, so I continued on to the top and found a nice rock to sit on for my break.

I then walked back to the Red Hands Cave car park, and this time followed the link track to Camp Fire Creek. On the way, the wildflowers were particularly impressive and on the way down to the creek I heard the most astonishing lyre bird recital. The bird was imitating some incredible sounds that I had never heard before – a bit like boiling water. Then it proceeded to more conventional bird sounds.

Camp Fire Creek was pleasant walking. Early on there is a rock platform in the creek bed with a lot of Aboriginal sharpening grooves.

When I arrived back at Glenbrook Creek at the Causeway, it looked like I would just miss the next train, so I walked upstream, along the track to the Blue Pool to take a few photos of Glenbrook Creek in the higher than normal flow.

This was a really pleasant day out, with a lot of nature on offer. More photos of the walk are online here, and the fungi photos on a separate page here. For those who want to know how to get to Grey Hat Falls, then look at OpenStreetMap for the track.