Springwood to Faulconbridge
Download & Print Map and Notes
5 hrs
11.5 km One way
633 m
Hard track
Springwood
Springwood, along the Great Western Highway, is the second largest town in the Blue Mountains. Springwood also takes the title for the oldest railway station in the Blue Mountains. There are a variety of shops in Springwood, with quite a few cafes, bakeries and two historic hotels. Springwood was named by Governor Macquarie, when his wife and he stopped for water from a deep glen spring, in 1815. It seems aptly named, with many springs and creeks leading away from the ridge at Springwood, including Sassafras Gully, Magdala Creek and Glenbrook Creek. More info.
(0km) Springwood Station → Int. Springwood Ave and Fairy Dell Reserve
270 m
5 mins
4m
-11m
Very easy
From Springwood Station, the walk crosses the road at the pedestrian crossing and turns left. The walk continues past the shop front for about 150 metres before turning right at a quadrangle, which leads the walk down through a car park. The walk passes through the car park and crosses Macquarie Rd, to the ‘Fariy Dell’ sign[4].
(0.27km) Int. Springwood Ave and Fairy Dell Reserve → Fairy Dell Reserve picnic area
150 m
3 mins
0m
-21m
Easy track
Continue straight: From the ‘Fairy Dell, 49 Springwood Ave’ sign[5], the walk heads downhill into the reserve (along the smaller road), past the signs. The walk winds down past the units (on the left) to the bottom of the road. The walk continues on the left side of the cul-de-sac, to a grassy area with picnic tables.
Fairy Dell Reserve picnic area
Fairy Dell Reserve picnic area is a quiet and shady terraced garden at the head of the Magdala Gully. Fairy Dell is situated just south of Springwood in the Lower Blue Mountains. The picnic area has numerous tables, parking and a grassy area for the kids to play. The Fairy Dell Reserve Picnic area is also the starting point for a number of walks down to Magdala Creek, Picnic Point and nearby Lawson Lookout.
(0.41km) Fairy Dell Reserve picnic area → Int. Fairy Dell and Picnic Point Tracks
390 m
9 mins
5m
-44m
Hard track
Veer left: From the picnic area, the walk follows the ‘Sassafras Gully’ sign down the stairs. The walk quickly passes the vandalised building (which has since been reported as demolished by another walker), then a map sign before meeting a creek. The walk keeps the creek on the right and soon comes to a bridge with direction signs.
(0.8km) Int. Fairy Dell and Picnic Point Tracks → Picnic Point
160 m
6 mins
33m
-2m
Hard track
Turn right: From the intersection, the walk crosses the bridge, following the ‘Picnic Point’ signs[6]. The walk immediately climbs many stairs which wind up to a the picnic shelter and grass area of Picnic Point. At the end of this side trip, retrace your steps back to the main walk then Turn right.
Picnic Point
Picnic Point, in Springwood, Blue Mountains, is a quiet, grassy clearing tucked behind the houses above Magdala Creek. The area has a gazebo, picnic table and water tank (water needs to be treated). The clearing has a track leading down to many popular walks, with Lawson’s Lookout and Fairy Dell Reserves nearby.
(0.8km) Int. Fairy Dell and Picnic Point Tracks → Int. Lawsons Lookout Trk and Fairy Dell Trk
140 m
3 mins
1m
-13m
Moderate track
Continue straight: From the intersection at the bridge, the walk heads in the direction of the ‘Perch Ponds’ arrow[7], keeping the creek on the right of the track. The walk soon comes to a ‘Lawson’s Lookout’ sign[ref img=146352, above a cascade in the creek.
(0.94km) Int. Lawsons Lookout Trk and Fairy Dell Trk → Lawsons Lookout
410 m
11 mins
39m
-11m
Hard track
Turn left: From the intersection, the walk follows the direction of the ‘Lawsons Lookout’ signs[8], up the hill. The track heads up to a rocky outcrop, where the track turns back on itself and steps through some bushes to the rocky surface of the lookout. At the end of this side trip, retrace your steps back to the main walk then Turn left.
Lawsons Lookout
Lawsons Lookout, in Springwood, Blue Mountains, is an unfenced rockshelf overlooking the wonderful Magdala Creek valley. The lookout is most easily accessed from Raymond Rd.
(0.94km) Int. Lawsons Lookout Trk and Fairy Dell Trk → Int. Magdala Ck and Magdala Falls trks
3.2 km
1 hr 7 mins
92m
-181m
Hard track
Continue straight: From the intersection, the walk follows the direction of the ‘Perch Ponds’ sign, keeping the creek on the right. The track crosses the creek many times, passing a number of caves. The track passes a burnt ‘Perch Ponds’ sign[9] as it crosses a creek to immediately come to an intersection (with arrows engraved in the rocks[10]).
Turn right: From the intersection, the walk follows the arrows engraved in the rock, keeping the creek to the right. The walk winds down the hillside then crosses the creek, continuing to follow the creek (now on the left) to a ‘Magdala Falls’ sign.
Turn right: From the intersection, the walk follows the arrows engraved in the rock, keeping the creek to the right. The walk winds down the hillside then crosses the creek, continuing to follow the creek (now on the left) to a ‘Magdala Falls’ sign.
Magdala Falls
Magdala Falls is a disappointing set of falls. The view from the steep hillside doesn’t show any of the falls, but instead lets you hear the water cascade into the pool below. A red-stained rock above the pool can be seen through the dense foliage of the trees.
(4.18km) Int. Magdala Ck and Magdala Falls trks → Int. Martins Falls and Magdala Ck trks
300 m
7 mins
13m
-25m
Hard track
Continue straight: From the intersection, the walk keeps the creek on the left as it heads down the gully. The walk winds down the hill, passing a few rock overhangs as it leads to a ‘Martins Lookout’ sign.
(4.47km) Int. Martins Falls and Magdala Ck trks → Behind Martins Falls
30 m
1 mins
1m
-2m
Hard track
Turn left : From the intersection, the walk heads to the left of the ‘Martins Falls’ sign (towards the falls). The walk skirts around the edge of the valley, coming under the rock overhang of the falls, and then arriving behind the falls. At the end of this side trip, retrace your steps back to the main walk then Turn left.
Martins Falls
Martins Falls are at a rock overhang on Magdala Creek, near Springwood, almost 400m upstream from the Glenbrook Creek junction. The water falls off a rock platform, over the overhang into a large pond. There is a faint track leading behind the falls, giving a different perspective of the pond and falls – extra care is required. This is a lovely area to enjoy the cool temperatures on warmer days, and is more spectacular after recent rain.
(4.47km) Int. Martins Falls and Magdala Ck trks → Perch Ponds camping area
380 m
10 mins
14m
-63m
Hard track
Perch Ponds Campsite
Perch Ponds is a lovely waterhole, with a clearing suitable to pitch a tent, located at the junction of Magdala Creek and Glenbrook Creeks. The meeting of the two creek provides a relaxing sound of rushing water and a cool spot to rest on warmer days. The campsite is a flat area above the pool marked with a fire scar. A great shady and quiet area for a camp. There are no facilities and water from the creek needs to be treated.
(4.86km) Perch Ponds camping area → Victory Trk pool
3.4 km
1 hr 11 mins
165m
-85m
Hard track
Turn right: From the intersection, the walk follows the ‘Sassafras Gully Rd’ sign, keeping the creek on the left. The walk leads up the hill, passing a track (on the left, which leads to an overhang). The walk continues up the hill, then down across a junction of two creeks, immediately entering a clearing with a fireplace in the middle.
Continue straight: From the campground clearing, the walk exits the clearing, keeping the creek on the right. The track follows the creek, undulating and meandering for some time, and passing through a steeply banked creek junction. The walk tends left and slightly uphill to a ‘Perch Ponds’ sign[13] (pointing back the way you came).
Veer left: From the intersection, the track heads across the hillside in the opposite direction to the ‘Perch Ponds’ sign[14] . The track winds for some time, crossing a creek and passing a blue track marker[15] on the other side. The track follows the creek, now on the left, up to a ‘To Wiggins Track’ sign[16] (pointing back the way you came).
Turn left: From the intersection, the walk follows the ‘Faulconbridge Station’ sign[17] across a gully. The track winds and undulates above the creek (keeping the creek to the left) and soon drops down and crosses the creek. The walk continues, now with the creek on the right, to an intersection with a faint track (which leads to a pool in the creek).
Continue straight: From the campground clearing, the walk exits the clearing, keeping the creek on the right. The track follows the creek, undulating and meandering for some time, and passing through a steeply banked creek junction. The walk tends left and slightly uphill to a ‘Perch Ponds’ sign[13] (pointing back the way you came).
Veer left: From the intersection, the track heads across the hillside in the opposite direction to the ‘Perch Ponds’ sign[14] . The track winds for some time, crossing a creek and passing a blue track marker[15] on the other side. The track follows the creek, now on the left, up to a ‘To Wiggins Track’ sign[16] (pointing back the way you came).
Turn left: From the intersection, the walk follows the ‘Faulconbridge Station’ sign[17] across a gully. The track winds and undulates above the creek (keeping the creek to the left) and soon drops down and crosses the creek. The walk continues, now with the creek on the right, to an intersection with a faint track (which leads to a pool in the creek).
Victory Track pool
The Victory Track pool is an unofficially-named pond in Sassafras Creek. The pond is deep in parts but not adequate for a swim. It does, however, offer a chance to rest and gaze over the water. There is a small sandy beach, some moss-covered rocks and a lovely grove of Sassafras trees around the pool. This is a nice spot to stop, catch your breath and soak up your surroundings.
(8.23km) Victory Trk pool → Victory Trk camping area
880 m
24 mins
78m
-61m
Moderate track
Continue straight: From the intersection, the walk heads up the hill, keeping the creek on the right. The track winds up and away from the creek and back down to the creek a few times before arriving at a campground clearing (directly under power lines).
Victory Track camping area
Victory Track camping area is a fairly large, informal camping place at the junction of Sassafras and Numantia Creeks. The clearing is in a moist section of forest with plenty of shade. Water from the creek should be treated before use.
(9.11km) Victory Trk camping area → Int. Victory Trk and Clarinda Falls
630 m
18 mins
72m
-23m
Hard track
Continue straight: From the clearing, the walk crosses the creek junction. The walk then leads up the hill away from the creek for a short time, before dropping to the creek again and crossing it at a junction. The walk leads up the valley, keeping the creek on the right, arriving at a ‘Clarinda Falls’ sign[18].
(9.74km) Int. Victory Trk and Clarinda Falls → Clarinda Falls
30 m
1 mins
1m
-4m
Moderate track
Continue straight: From the intersection, the track follows the ‘Clarinda Falls’ sign[19] towards the log fallen on the rock. The track tends left around the hillside, coming to Clarinda Falls. At the end of this side trip, retrace your steps back to the main walk then Turn right.
Clarinda Falls
Clarinda Falls is a charming waterfall on Sassafras Creek. The water cascades over a near-vertical wall, into a sandy pool below. The falls are signposted from the main track and provide a nice cool detour, especially on warmer days. The falls are named for the first wife of Sir Henry Parkes, ‘Father of Australian Federation’.
(9.74km) Int. Victory Trk and Clarinda Falls → No. 10 Sir Henrys Pde
1.3 km
38 mins
173m
-15m
Hard track
Turn left: From the intersection, the walk follows the ‘Faulconbridge Station’ sign[21] up the hill. The walk steeply climbs up the hill and passes a smaller track (on the right, which leads to the top of the falls), and then crosses the creek and leads under a few rock overhangs. The walk comes up the hill beside No. 10 Sir Henrys Pde (marked with a ‘Victory Track’ sign).
Victory Track
The Victory Track is more formally know as the ‘Sir Henry Parkes Victory Track’[22] and is called the ‘Victoria Track’ in many guide books. The track starts near Sir Henry Parkes’ grave in Faulconbridge and leads to Sassafrass Gully Creek. Sir Henry Parks (1815-1896) was a politician and journalist, born in England. He is considered to be the ‘Father of Federation’ for Australia, although he died of natural causes 5 years before Australia’s federation. Parkes was the premier of New South Wales five times. The town Parkes was named in his honour. Parkes would sometime write under the pseudonym ‘Faulconbridge’ (his mothers maiden name) for the Sydney Morning Herald and other papers and Faulconbridge (the township) was named after his mother when Parkes purchased 600 acres in 1877. More info.
(11.06km) No. 10 Sir Henrys Pde → Faulconbridge Station
410 m
8 mins
16m
-10m
Moderate track
Turn left: From the intersection, the walk heads towards the power pole (if you come to a rail line, you have taken the wrong road). The walk continues along the road, keeping the rail line above on the right for some time to where the road turns left. The walk then continues along the management trail, with Faulconbridge Station in sight. Soon, the walk arrives at the entry to train station.
Faulconbridge
Faulconbridge, in the Blue Mountains, New South Wales, was named after the maiden name of Sir Henry Parkes’ mother. Faulconbridge sits on the Great Western Highway and is surrounded by valleys of lush bushland. This picturesque town was a home, and final resting place, for Sir Henry Parkes’, heralded as the ‘Father of Federation’. Faulconbridge was originally explored by non-indigenous Australians in 1813, by Blaxland, Wentworth and Lawson who were searching for a route over the Blue Mountains .
Maps for the Springwood to Faulconbridge walk
You can download the PDF for this walk to print a map.These maps below cover the walk and the wider area around the walk, they are worth carrying for safety reasons.
| Springwood | 1:25 000 Map Series | 90304S SPRINGWOOD | NSW-90304S |
| Penrith | 1:100 000 Map Series | 9030 PENRITH | 9030 |
Cross sectional view of the Springwood to Faulconbridge bushwalking track
Analysis and summary of the altitude variation on the Springwood to Faulconbridge
Overview of this walks grade – based on the AS 2156.1 – 2001
Under this standard, a walk is graded based on the most difficult section of the walk.
| Length | 11.5 km | ||
| Time | 5 hrs | ||
| . | |||
| Grade 4/6 Hard track |
AS 2156.1 | Gradient | Very steep (4/6) |
| Quality of track | Rough track, where fallen trees and other obstacles are likely (4/6) | ||
| Signs | Minimal directional signs (4/6) | ||
| Experience Required | No experience required (1/6) | ||
| Weather | Weather generally has little impact on safety (1/6) | ||
| Infrastructure | Limited facilities (such as cliffs not fenced, significant creeks not bridged) (4/6) |
Some more details of this walks Grading
Here is a bit more details explaining grading looking at sections of the walk
Gradient
6km of this walk is very steep and another 4.6km has short steep hills. Whilst another 270m is flat with no steps and the remaining 150m has gentle hills with occasional steps.
Quality of track
7km of this walk follows a rough track, where fallen trees and other obstacles are likely and another 4.1km follows a formed track, with some branches and other obstacles. The remaining (830m) follows a smooth and hardened path.
Signs
5km of this walk has directional signs at most intersection and another 4.2km has minimal directional signs. The remaining (2.1km) is clearly signposted.
Experience Required
This whole walk, 11km requires no previous bushwalking experience.
weather
This whole walk, 11km is not usually affected by severe weather events (that would unexpectedly impact safety and navigation).
Infrastructure
6km of this walk has limited facilities (such as cliffs not fenced, significant creeks not bridged) and another 2.8km has limited facilities (such as not all cliffs fenced). The remaining (2.5km) is close to useful facilities (such as fenced cliffs and seats).
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Plan your trip to and from the walk here
The Springwood to Faulconbridge walk starts at the Springwood Station (gps: -33.699102, 150.5638)Your transport options to Springwood Station are by;
Train. (get details)
Bus. (get details)
Car. There is free parking available.(get details)
Train. (get details)The Springwood to Faulconbridge ends at the Faulconbridge Station (gps: -33.69662, 150.53487)
Your transport options to Faulconbridge Station are by;
Bus. (get details) Car. There is free parking available.(get details)
Short URL = http://wild.tl/stf
Gallery images
There are other downloads I am still working on.
You will probably need to login to access these — still all free.
* KML (google earth file)
* GPX (GPS file)
Special Maps/ brochures
* A3 topo maps
* PDF with Lands Topo map base
* PDF with arial image (and map overlay)
I wanted to get the main site live first, this extra stuff will come in time.
Happy walking
Matt 🙂
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