Blue Mountains Waterfalls - Frederica Falls : The Forgotten Falls

Total distance: 5km (Return) - The long way
Grade: Easy
Ascent / Descent: Not much

Route:

Not many people visit Frederica Falls now even though it is less than 1km from residential development. Why? Because the National Parks and Wildlife Authority in its wisdom has decided to not maintain a very short track from Hughes Ave (marked in blue). I have used this track but it is difficult to find and very overgrown. The walker has two options to see this beautiful waterfall - as part of a longer empress pass walk (discussed in a future blog) or to try and find a way through confusing fire trails accessed from San Jose Ave. Two junctions in particular can lead to confusion with many small trails leading in various directions (see satellite image). You can return the same way or you can tackle the shorter track which is easier to find near the falls.

Blue Mountains Waterfalls - Minniehaha Falls

Total distance: 2.7km (Return)
Grade: Easy (Medium descent/ascent at the end)
Ascent / Descent: 85 meters
Weather: Easy in all conditions
Route:

The track begins at the car park at the end of Minniehaha Rd (North Katoomba). The track turns sharply right before crossing Yosemite creek. The track then forks, keep going straight ignoring the track to the right. Soon there are some steps on the left leading to some cascading water. Back on track for a level walk over a footbridge to near the top of the falls. The track now drops sharply (steps/ladders) to the base of the falls. Return the way you came.

Blue Mountains Waterfalls - Lawson Waterfall Circuit

Introduction:

In this series of articles I will briefly describe some easy short walks in the blue mountains all with waterfalls. All images were taken by me using nothing more than a simple digital camera (not DSLR) either in full auto mode or using a slow shutter speed (about 1/20th second) with the aid of a mini (pocket) tripod. In other words most people should be able to get similar (or better) results.

Lawson Waterfall Circuit:

Total distance: 3km
Grade: Easy
Ascent / Descent: 100 meters
Weather: Easy in all conditions
Route:
Start at the junction of Honour Ave and Livingstone St. After 150 meters go across fire trail and down steps to a lookout of Adelina Falls. You can easily walk to the base of the falls. Back onto the track you go across Lawson creek and travel 600 meters until you cross Ridge creek and turn right (ignore the track to the left). As you approach the footbridge to go across Lawson creek look for tracks on either side leading to the base of Junction Falls. Travel another 200 meters to a sign posted (poorly) track to the right leading to Federal falls). Back on the main track and zigzag along Cataract creek (crossing it once) to a side track leading to the base of Cataract Falls (usually very light flow except after rain). The track then ascends up steps to join a fire trail. There are numerous exits from the fire trail to Honour Ave or you can continue back to your starting point.

Images below are as follows:

Federal Falls, Adeline Falls, Cataract Falls and Junction Falls.

Not sure if iPhone is the be all

I have had the pleasure of using the iTouch, iPhone and also have used a standard java enabled mobile. I agree that the interface for the iTouch and iPhone are better but with respect to being useful the java mobile (non touch small screen) wins out for me.

There are numerous java apps for mobiles, most free, and most more useful than the apple apps. Somebody sent me a text file as an email attachment just yesterday and I could not actually save it onto my iTouch for later editing (I did find a work around using the starred folder in gmail but editing was still cumbersome). Using the java mobile it was simple task of installing a text editor and saving the attachment to the memory card.

Apart from the web browser (Opera Mini), the most useful java apps I use are a pdf viewer, text editor and Snaptu - an all in social network, news and weather applet. Snaptu also has an iPhone like layout.

Apart from games the only really useful iTouch app I have is called "consume" which lets me keep track of my mobile and internet usuage and iPharmacy as a reference.