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Somersby Falls walking track

Brisbane Water National Park

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Overview

Somersby Falls area can be extremely busy on weekends and during school holidays. It can be difficult to find parking and maintain 1.5m physical distancing at the picnic areas or on the walking track.

Please visit before 10am or after 3pm to avoid crowds. You might like to visit nearby Girrakool picnic area and walking track which also has waterfalls, walking tracks, and a larger picnic area.

Somersby Falls walking track in Brisbane Water National Park runs to the bottom of Somersby Falls, with birdwatching opportunities and a nearby picnic area.

Where
Brisbane Water National Park in Sydney and surrounds
Distance
0.1km return
Time suggested
15 - 20min
Grade
Grade 3
Entry fees
Park entry fees apply
Opening times
The carpark opens at 9am daily and is locked at 8pm during daylight savings and at 5pm all other times. 
What to
bring
Drinking water, hat, sunscreen

Starting at one of the most spectacular and popular rest stops on the NSW Central Coast – Somersby Falls picnic area – Somersby Falls walking track winds down to the bottom of the falls along a graceful 100m path, with lookout stops along the way. This is a great walk at any time of year, but it really shines in the summer months, when the cool spray offers a respite from the heat, and after heavy rains, when the falls are particularly striking.

Be sure to bring your camera and keep an eye out for local wildlife, including water dragons, frogs and goannas. If you look up, you may even spot a kookaburra – birdwatching is terrific here, so don’t forget binoculars either. After visiting the bottom of the falls, return to the picnic area and pass the remainder of the day in the cool shade of a tree over a long lunch.

For directions, safety and practical information, see visitor info

Also see:

  • Somersby Falls picnic area, Brisbane Water National Park. Photo: John Yurasek © DPIE

    Somersby Falls picnic area

    A great place to picnic on the Central Coast, Somersby Falls offers barbecues and picnic tables in a lush rainforest complete with waterfalls and a walking track.

  • Girrakool loop track, Brisbane Water National Park. Photo: John Yurasek © OEH

    Girrakool loop track

    A lovely way to finish a barbecue, the Girrakool loop track is a short and easy walk through bushland, featuring an Aboriginal rock engraving site and scenic waterfalls.

  • Girrakool picnic area, Brisbane Water National Park. Photo: John Yurasek © OEH

    Girrakool picnic area

    A great spot for a family picnic, Girrakool picnic area has barbecues, lots of green space to run around and a scenic walking track that features Aboriginal engravings.

 

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A family walk a boardwalk section of Bouddi coastal walk, Bouddi National Park. Photo: John Spencer/OEH.

General enquiries

Operated by

Park info

  • in Brisbane Water National Park in the Sydney and surrounds region

  • Two picnic areas in Brisbane Water National Park close in the evening:

    • Girrakool picnic area is open 7am to 8pm during daylight savings and is open 7am to 6pm at other times
    • Somersby Falls picnic area is open 8am to 8pm during daylight savings and is open 8am to 5pm at other times

    Other areas of Brisbane Water National Park will be open at all times, however may have to close at times due to poor weather or fire danger.

     

     

  • Park entry fees:

    $8 per vehicle per day. The park has pay machines that accept both card and coins.

    Other fees:

    You will need a permit to hold a wedding or undertake commercial photography within the park.

    Buy annual pass
See more visitor info

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