Catch Gap Creek Falls in the right conditions and you’ll find an incredible 40m waterfall that cascades into an impressive natural amphitheatre. In times of low rain fall, the cliff face will be entirely dry. Although the waterfall wasn’t flowing as well as we’d hoped given the recent rainfall (more on that below), I fell in love with this spot. The setting is magnificent and the dramatic nature of the surroundings really took me by surprise.
There’s just something about the feel, which is hard to explain, but you’ll get it when you see it for yourself! The walk to reach the falls is now on a well maintained track (it was previously heavily eroded) which though steep for a time, is very good terrain-wise.
Here’s everything you need to know about visiting Gap Creek Falls.
Gap Creek Falls
The stats
Distance: 2km return
Elevation gain: 135m
Difficulty: Easy - moderate
A note on conditions needed to see Gap Creek Falls
Before we get started on the walk, it’s important to note that Gap Creek Falls runs entirely dry or reduces to a mere trickle if there hasn’t been recent rain. And it needs to be more than a drizzle, it needs to be heavy rain. We visited the day after there was 55mm of rain and the flow of the falls was decent, but not pumping. A couple of heavy days of rain would be best for the most impressive flow.
Previously, access to Gap Creek Falls was via a dirt road and visiting after heavy rain could be dangerous. The road is now gravel and that combined with the new track - which is no longer eroded - means a visit after rain can be made more safely if you take the usual precautions.
If you visit during a dry spell, the walk is still gorgeous, but you will only see a dry cliff face - just don’t think of it as a waterfall walk and you won’t be disappointed!
Starting the trail: into the rainforest
From the parking area (details below) the trail heads right, uphill and into the bush. It is signposted and you can’t possibly go wrong. You’ll head up a few stairs and then the path will flatten.
The next 300m are spent walking on a flat tranquil track through the rainforest.
It’s an excellent dirt path and held up well after the rain, with barely any mud at all. It’s very lush with plenty of Cabbage palms and mossy boulders really setting the scene for what’s to come.
At the 350m mark you will reach a junction with the Gap Creek Forest Walk, which was sadly closed on our visit. To continue on the Gap Creek Falls track you’ll head left and again it’s signposted.
Descending through the rainforest
From the junction the path narrows and begins heading gently downhill. At the 500m mark it gets steeper, with a few intermittent stairs, but it’s mainly still a dirt track.
There are a couple of short sections where the soil felt a touch loose, but generally speaking the path was good.
It will steepen again at the 700m mark, but at this point there are more stairs, so you’re not heading down a steep dirt trail like you used to on the old track.
You’ll pass an impressive overhang and from here you’ll see a series of beautifully constructed stone steps leading steeply downhill.
You’ll round a corner to see a snaking stairway, which not only makes easy work of the descent, but is a gorgeous stretch of track to walk, completely surrounded by spectacular rainforest.
Everything was dripping on our visit which made the whole forest glisten.
After 200m on the staircase you will arrive at a small boulder field just before the base of the falls.
Gap Creek Falls
You can see the falls well from where the walking track ends, but for best results you can cross carefully over the boulders and sit or stand at the base of the waterfall.
The boulders can be a touch slippery, but there are often little dirt tracks inbetween to stand on instead, so for the most part you can cross over the boulders, rather than have to walk on top of them.
Many are huge and make for a great spot to sit and take it all in.
As mentioned the waterfall wasn’t what I’d call pumping on our visit, but was still a beautiful sight and reminded me a little of some of the more iconic cliff top waterfalls in the Southern Highlands.
There is a small pool at the base of the falls and I had wondered if it might be swimmable.
Unfortunately, even after all the rain it was quite shallow and the rain has disturbed a lot of soil on the bottom of the pool so it was quite muddy. It could perhaps be dippable at other times, but I wouldn’t call it a swimming spot.
For me, as impressive as the waterfall itself, was the amphitheatre setting. It’s utterly stunning, with high cliff walls, endless palms and even a few epiphytes. It’s the sort of scenery you can lose yourself in (not literally!) and in fact we did, spending over an hour taking it all in.
When you’re ready to leave the falls the climb is quite steep until you reach that last 350m flat stretch, but the scenery is great, so you can justifiably stop for breaks!
Facilities at Gap Creek
There are long drop toilets located close to the car park for the falls, as well as picnic benches at the car park (which are set slightly into the forest and rather lovely) as well as BBQ facilities. The campground is also a great spot and popular in the school holidays.
There are no facilities once you leave the car park and campsite. Please remember to take all rubbish with you.
Watch out for leeches!
As with most tracks in the Watagans National Park, leeches are present on the Gap Creek Falls trail. There will be more around after prolonged wet weather. We picked up three between us on this track, which isn’t anything compared to nearby Abbotts Falls, but it’s good to have some spray with you and check yourself from time to time. If you spot them before they latch they are easy to knock off. I despise leeches, but don’t be put off, just do a quick check every so often and spray yourself and your boots before heading out.
The road to Gap Creek Falls
Gap Creek Falls is located in the Watagans National Park around 137km and a two hour drive from Sydney. It’s around 54km and a one hour drive from Newcastle and a similar distance from Pokolbin in the Hunter Valley.
The last 5km of the road to the Gap Creek Falls car park is gravel. The road had been recently graded, so for us, it was in good condition, but as with all unsealed roads they can deteriorate over time, especially after rain. When we visited the road was not a 4WD road and suitable for any vehicle in dry weather.
It’s also a spectacular road with gorgeous forest on either side, so have you camera at the ready!
In terms of parking, there is a decent amount of space in the day use area and even when we visited in the school summer holidays there were several spots available.
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