Wednesday 14/10/2020 Norfolk Falls Walking Track – Norfolk Falls – Bald Creek Falls – Bracken’s Hut
Coolah Tops National Park, NSW
Kamilaroi country
Participants: Stephen Davies (Photos, Report), Sue Davies, Trish Law, Dave Whitelaw
Norfolk Falls Walking Track starts from the Norfolk Falls picnic area in the south-west corner of Coolah Tops National Park. It follows a well-defined track through woodland to the south of Coxs Creek before a descent close to the falls.
Max elevation: 1078 m
Total climbing: 39 m
Total descent: -39 m
Average speed: 3.40 km/h
Total time: 00:14:42
The top of Norfolk Falls (labelled as Coxs Creek Falls on OpenStreetMap) is an open area of solid bedrock. Today Coxs Creek was barely flowing at all and could only manage a maximum depth of about one centimetre deep. Consequently, there was barely a trickle of water making its way over the edge and dribbling the 35m to the bottom. During or after heavy rain, these falls would be spectacular.
Trish and Dave above Bald Creek Falls
After pausing for photos at the top of the falls we crossed Coxs Creek and followed the track up the hill on the other side. Not too much further along after at Bald Creek Falls. Again, an open area of bedrock at the top with a trickle of water flowing down the creek and over the falls. Below there was a sizeable plunge pool, evidence that there had been a good rainfall not too long ago.
From the falls we ascended along the track gaining about 40m before reaching Cox’s Creek Fire Trail. We backtracked from here and returned to the car at Norfolk Falls picnic area along the trail that tracks just to the north of the fire trail.
NSW National Parks signage along this track also states
Coolah Tops National Park
Coolah Tops National Park was declared in 1996 with the conversion of Warung and Bundella State Forests. Prior to this the area around the Norfolk Falls had been Flora Reserve since 1971.
Norfolk Falls Walking Track
Steep 1.1km return Grade 3 Time 45 minutes Bald Hill Creek Waterfall: 1.9 km one way
This short, steep walk from Norfolk Falls picnic area leads to lookouts over the spectacular Norfolk Falls. Continue another 1.4km to visit Bald Hill Creek waterfall.
Norfolk Falls has a drop of 35 metres from the top of the falls to the pool below. The water in all the creeks flowing from Coolah Tops has a cloudy or milky appearance which is due to very fine particles of clay released by the basalt soils. The amount of water flowing over the falls depends on how much rain has recently fallen.
The dominant tree species in the area are Silvertop Stringybark (Eucalyptus laevopinea), Forest Ribbon Gum (Eucalyptus nobilis) and Silver Wattle (Acacia dealbata). The big tree in the middle of the carpark to your left is a giant Forest Ribbon Gum. Keep your eyes open for some of the locals such as Red-necked Wallabies (Macropus rufogriseus), Eastern Grey Kangaroos (Macropus giganteus) and Crimson Rosellas (Platycercus elegans).
Note: The walking track to the Viewing Platform and the Top Of The Falls Lookout is downhill all the way there and up hill on the return. There are over 500 steps to negotiate on a return trip. Trackside seats are provided at two locations along the walk. Watch out for the wombat hole beside the track on the way down.
The Bald Hill Creek Waterfall Track also has some moderate to steep grades and numerous steps.
NSW National Parks signage along this track also states
A giant’s staircase
The numerous creeks that drop into deep narrow valleys to the south and west create waterfalls. Some of the waterfalls reveal amazing geological formations.
Giant hexagonal columns of basalt are visible at some locations scattered along the western escarpment of the plateau, including at Bald Hill Creek Falls.
When things cool they contract. When lava is of similar consistency, and cools quickly and evenly, its contraction centres are evenly spaced. In these conditions, stress fractures can form regular hexagonal columns of basalt. Horizontal lava flows form vertical basalt columns and vertical lava flows form horizontal columns!
‘Columnar basalt’ can be found at Norfolk Falls and Bald Hill Creek Falls. Further afield, Sawn Rocks, in Mt Kaputar National Park, is NSW’s finest example.
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