Rocky Crossing is a spectacular area of cascades and gorge pools, a true wild swimming paradise. The pools would be stunning whatever the setting, but the fact they’re backed by dense rainforest makes them all the more enchanting. We recently revisited having not been for around eight years, and we’d both forgotten just how jaw-dropping this area is.
You can choose to access the cascades via a short trail, or a much longer rainforest walk. We’ll cover what to expect from both options in this guide.
Here’s everything you need to know about Barrington Top’s Rocky Crossing Track.
Rocky Crossing short vs long track
The difference in walk length is quite sizeable, with the short track being 2.4km return and the longer track a whopping 15.5km return. The short track is predominantly downhill on the way and then a steep climb back up after your swim - though it’s all on a well maintained trail (which begins at the Williams Top car park and picnic area).
Despite it’s length the longer version is still easy, with little in the way of hills.
If you’re only really interested in the swimming holes I would recommend the short walk. I love the longer track, but you have to be really into forests as there are no views and the little track detours are to more swimming holes, which though lovely, are not quite as special as the ones at Rocky Crossing itself.
If you quite like forests, but don’t want to take on the full 15.5km, you could do the shorter 3.5 - 4km (depending on if you do the side trails) Blue Gum Loop and then drive over to the Williams Top car park and do the shorter version of the Rocky Creek Track. This would be around 6-6.5km in total and would give you an excellent taste of the forest and swimming holes.
Lovers of forest bathing should go all in on the 15.5km route, as you really get immersed in the forest and it’s so incredibly peaceful. It’s not often I’d describe a 15km walk as relaxing, but this one really is.
There is a third option: if you have two cars, you can do a car shuffle (that’s to park one car at either end of the trail). This would be the best of both worlds and keep the walk to under 9.5km.
The Rocky Crossing Track
We’re going to cover the full trail notes for the longer track, so if you want to do the shorter one, skip to the last section of the walk which covers descending to the creek and the cascades and swimming holes.
The stats for the long trail
Distance: 15.5km return, including all side trails
Elevation gain: 350m
Difficulty: Easy, but long
Summary: There are no steep climbs on the Rocky Crossing Track and much of the route is flat. The majority of the gentle elevation gain is on the way to the cascades, so the way back feels even more leisurely. Whilst the track conditions underfoot are generally very good, there are two spots with debris to climb around and many bridges that have been washed out.
The track is being worked on, so the bridges will be repaired in time, however, none of the creek crossings you have to take around the derelict bridges are challenging - in fact, there’s barely any water in any of them (unless in flood).
Getting to some of the swimming spots up and downstream of the main waterfall is trickier if water levels are high. The cascades were running very powerfully on our visit, and getting downstream didn’t feel safe, so full exploration is better if there hasn’t been too much recent heavy rainfall.
Starting the trail: to Crystal Pools
The trail begins at the Williams River Picnic Area and heads out of the car park, back down the road you drove in on.
After 100m you’ll see a path on the right, leading into the forest. The first 1.4km of the walk follow the Blue Gum Loop trail which is very scenic.
The magnificent blue gums are dotted amongst dense rainforest and the easy track conditions allow you to really soak up the atmosphere.
After a 500m flat stretch of track through the forest, you’ll see an un-signposted path on your right (it’s opposite a big Strangler fig, which will be on your left).
This is a quick 100m return detour and leads to a stunning swimming hole.
You’ll head right and quickly see a staircase with handrail leading down to the river and crystal clear pool.
It’s a beautiful gorge pool, though perhaps best enjoyed at the end of the walk or you may get waylaid and never make it to Rocky Crossing!
We covered what the swimming hole is like, plus an additional one a couple of minutes further along the trail in this guide.
To Lion Rock
From the Crystal Pools turn off (on the main track), you continue straight and reach a junction after 170m. It’s signposted and you keep straight before reaching another junction 280m later and head right. Again, it’s signposted, so you can’t really go wrong!
You’ll continue on the Blue Gum Loop Track for a further 500m before reaching a junction and heading straight on, which is when you are officially on the Rocky Crossing Track.
Just after the junction, you’ll reach the first of the washed out bridges, but it’s very easy to walk across the creek and as mentioned, most creeks were either dry or almost dry (we never got wet boots and we were walking after a lot of rain).
You’ll continue through the rainforest heading very gently uphill for almost a kilometre before reaching another broken bridge. Again walking around the bridge is straightforward.
The rainforest is absolutely beautiful and offers full shade if you’re walking on a hot sunny day like we were.
Less than 100m beyond bridge two, you’ll reach a signposted junction, where heading right will lead to Lion Rock. It’s only a couple of minutes diversion and the path is good.
I am not sure what Lion Rock actually is, but the cascades and gorge pool were fantastic.
It looks like you could scramble down into the pool with care, though the current was strong on our visit, so I personally didn’t.
I’d be interested in returning during drier times as the pool really was gorgeous, with sculpted rock walls and blueish green water.
To the Pool of Reflections
Once back on the main trail, you’ll continue heading through the rainforest with good track conditions for another 500m. At this point you’ll meet two sections of substantial debris, the only notable debris on the whole track.
The first is easy to cross, simply requiring climbing over a few skinny, though very bushy, trees. The second section of debris was just a few steps later and more significant.
It was easier to cut around the left of the debris rather than try and go through it. Clearly everyone does the same thing, so it was a touch muddy, but it only takes a minute or so to get round.
Roughly 300m later you’ll come to another washed out bridge and the trail around it is marked with a pink ribbon, it’s just before the bridge and again very easy.
Just 100m later you’ll come to another signposted junction, this time it’s for the Pool of Reflections.
This detour was slightly longer than the sign suggested, we measured it as 250m each way all up, including walking along the edge of the pool and having a little explore.
The track down to the water is well worn and easy enough. When you get to the signpost close to the water, head right along the beaten down track and it will take you to a stony riverbank.
Swimming at the Pool of Reflections
The Pool of Reflections is around 3.7km into the walk and a good halfway swim spot. It wasn’t so much a pool as a stretch of river hemmed in by cascades on either side.
We assume this was the Pool of Reflections, but we didn’t explore too far up and down the river knowing we still had a long walk ahead.
The river is glorious, with crystal clear water backed by dense rainforest. There’s a narrow stretch of river just deep enough to swim which leads into a small but wider pool, which is much deeper.
As with everywhere in this area, the water is cold, but on a hot day felt refreshing rather than freezing. In winter you’re looking at ice bath territory!
Entering the water is easy as it’s shallow at first. The little rocks are uncomfortable underfoot, but they aren’t slippery.
Reaching Rocky Crossing
After heading back onto the main track you’ll begin walking uphill for several kilometres, but it’s very gentle. We saw several lyrebirds and heard the unique cry of the Catbird, which genuinely does sometimes sound like a tortured cat! It makes for a very interesting soundtrack to the walk.
Epiphytes, hanging vines and twisted roots are abundant, giving the trail jungle vibes, but without the treacherous muddy paths!
You’ll pass three more broken bridges before the path flattens, just under 2km after you left the Pool of Reflections.
At around the 6km mark, just in front of yet another broken bridge, there are a couple of trees down over the path, however climbing over them is easy.
Roughly 400m after the bridge you’ll come to another signposted junction. This 30m return detour leads to an impressive Strangler fig.
There are many other Strangler figs along the track, but I still think it’s worth the detour to see this one.
One kilometre later you’ll reach another junction and this is where the shorter trail to Rocky Creek meets the longer one.
From here you have a 400m descent on a good track before you reach the rock platform at Rocky Crossing (for us this was just under 8km from the car park).
Rocky Crossing pool one
Rocky Crossing really does have the wow factor. The main waterfall is not impressive height-wise, but has five separate cascades that flow into a shimmering green pool.
However, for me it’s the ferns and dense rainforest backdrop that gives this spot the most incredible wild jungle vibe.
The pool at the base of the falls is only tiny - more of a plunge pool - but it would be hard to find a more picturesque place for a dip. Entering the water is easy as it’s small grippy stones rather than slippery rocks. The water is quite deep, though never above shoulder height.
I didn’t find this pool too cold either, cool, but perhaps a touch warmer than the earlier river pools - or maybe it was the fact it was in the direct sunlight!
The gorge waterfall pool
Roughly 150m upstream of the main cascade is a huge waterfall pool and it’s stunning. The downside for us was that the flow was really high and powerful - this would be a more serene experience with lower water levels.
To get to the pool you can head upstream on either side of the creek, just watch out for the wet rocks which were almost always slippery.
I went up the left side of the creek as you face upstream and would have crossed the cascades quite early on to reach the shallow waters (which are easily identifiable as you could see the pebbles clearly).
As the current was really strong I didn’t feel comfortable with this and instead hugged the left side of the creek all the way up.
This is a safe route when the current is strong as there is no current at all on the very far left side of the creek (you’re outside the flow of the cascades). It’s not the best route with calmer water though as it involves walking over some slippery rocks and then the final access point to the pool involves ducking under some scratchy debris.
Still it was well worth the five minutes of less than desirable terrain to access such a beautiful spot. Despite high water levels the pool was still emerald green and the waterfall was absolutely pumping.
You couldn’t really swim in the left side of the pool due to the current, but the right side was calm.
The water starts off shallow and then becomes very deep as you get closer to the waterfall. The gorge wall on the right of the pool was pure Indiana Jones vibes, with all manner of plants, including some huge hanging vines.
The gorge pools downstream
We had the most amazing day at Rocky Creek, but my one disappointment was the fast flowing current making exploring downstream a bit dodgy. We walked a little way along the dry rock to the water’s edge, but couldn’t really go any further.
We could see one narrow pool and then a second one when we looked down from above. They are beautiful deep green waterholes, with sculpted rock walls and a series of cascades.
We’ll definitely be back to explore one day when the water levels are lower.
Keep them wild
Please remember to take all rubbish with you and keep these places wild and pristine - as with anywhere in the outdoors. It’s important to leave them exactly as you found them so they will remain beautiful for generations to come.
Litter tends to breed litter, so if you do spot any and are able to pick it up and dispose of it outside the national park, it will go a long way to keeping the area clean.
Heading back
Your quickest route back is simply to retrace your steps, which is roughly 7.5km (it’s shorter as you’ve already made all the detours). If you still have time and energy, you could head back the same way for the majority of the route, but branch off and complete the rest of the Blue Gum Loop, which would add on an additional couple of kilometres.
We didn’t do this as we’d walked the circuit the day before, but it’s very pretty, so if you’re up for more walking then it’s worthwhile.
Getting to the Rocky Crossing trailhead
The Rocky Crossing Track via the long route begins at the Williams River Picnic Area in Barrington Tops National Park. The last 500m of the road into the car park is gravel, but well graded and suitable for any vehicles at time of writing.
If you’re doing the short route you need to park at Williams Top Car Park. This will add on approximately 8.3km to the distances mentioned below.
The picnic area is 40km and a 35 minute drive from Dungog, 100km and one hour 25 minutes from Gloucester and 107km and one hour 45 minutes from Pokolbin in the Hunter Valley.
There is a long drop toilet at the car park, but nowhere else along the trail.
Where to stay near the Rocky Crossing Track
Bluegum Cabins
We’ve stayed in the area a few times and our favourite for a proper weekend escape is the Bluegum Cabins. They’re in a gorgeous bush setting with a full kitchen including oven (good for this area which is sorely lacking in good eateries), a spa bath and fire place.
It’s a really peaceful place with lots of birdlife though the trade off is no phone signal so it will only work for you if you’re happy to be disconnected for a while.
It’s around a 40 minute drive from the Rocky Crossing Track, though closer to several other great trails like Problem Creek Falls.
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