Turtle Falls is a gorgeous, yet little visited waterfall and plunge pool in the lower Blue Mountains. The waterfall sits inside a pretty glen that you can’t see from the walking trail above, which gives it a hidden away feel. It’s one of those completely unexpected spots where the track through dry bushland gives no indication of the lush ferny wonderland beneath.
If you’re looking for one of the most dramatic waterfalls in the Blue Mountains, this isn’t it. But if you’re looking for a picturesque and serene spot which you’re unlikely to share with anyone else, then head for Turtle Falls.
The walk to Turtle Falls
The stats
Distance: 4.4km return
Elevation gain: 190m
Difficulty: Easy - moderate
Summary: The walk to Turtle Falls is all on a good track, with the vast majority being on a fire trail (though it’s not one we’d recommend driving down).
Following the fire trail you’ll head onto a bush track and there’s a fairly significant descent, though only a short section is steep. The track is uneven and has some rocks, tree roots and leaf litter, but was not slippery when dry. There are no signposts for the walk, but we have included directions in the trail notes below.
It’s also worth noting that - as with most waterfalls in the Blue Mountains - Turtle Falls can run dry, or reduce to a trickle during dry spells. It’s best visited after a good bout of recent rain.
Starting the trail
The trail begins at the bottom of Shirlow Avenue (full parking details below) and heads right at the turning circle onto the fire trail. Though there is no gate or sign indicating not to drive along the fire trial, it is rough and overgrown (for vehicles, it’s easy for walkers).
People do drive down here, but it requires high clearance and some disregard for the underside of your car - you only need to go a few steps to see how overgrown the middle of the road is.
When it comes to walking, it’s pleasant and bushy and doesn’t really feel like a road.
The first 500m are a flat leisurely stroll and then depending on recent rainfall, you’ll come to a giant puddle taking up much of the road.
Luckily for walkers there is a perfectly dry side track to the left which completely bypasses the puddle.
Continuing along the fire trail
The flat track continues for another 380m when you’ll reach what almost feels like another turning circle and there are two paths here.
The quickest route to Turtle Falls is the fire trail to the right. From here you’ll begin descending.
At first there are some very short steeper sections, which then gives way to a gentle descent and even some flat patches, making it very easy going.
After 40m you’ll see the rusted old remains of a car to the left - we wondered if it couldn’t get back up the hill?!
There are small rough sections of track along the next stretch, but the majority is smooth sailing. Any rough patches are easy to walk on and not slippery when dry.
Roughly 470m after the junction where you turned right (approximately 1.35km into the track) you’ll reach the end of the fire trail.
The final descent to the falls
You’ll see a narrow path leading into the bush on your left. The track is narrower and a little rocky, but the steeper sections are balanced out with flat sections and more gentle gradients.
Track conditions are generally good underfoot until you reach the 1.8km mark when it gets a lot bushier.
From here the conditions aren’t bad, but you do have some rocks, leaves and bark covering the path. Around 100m later you will encounter a steeper section, but it only lasts for 150m.
After that the gradient slackens and the path gets a bit smoother before arriving at the top of the falls 100m later.
The trail to the base of the falls is to the left. It’s just 50m to the bottom, it’s mainly a steepish dirt path with one rock to climb down (not difficult, but a slight leg stretch required on the way back up).
You will then arrive at the small beach at the bottom of the falls, this is 2.2km from where you parked your car.
Swimming at Turtle Falls
Turtle Falls is a relatively small waterfall, but it’s incredibly pretty. It’s fully surrounded by ferns, gum trees and other foliage, which combined with the overhang, gives it that secluded feel.
The pool is a decent size, though much of it is shallow, which is why it’s more of a plunge pool than a swimming spot. The water is very clear and has a lovely green tint, which I imagine looks even prettier with a bit of sun on it.
It has a really serene vibe and we were both really taken with it. There’s a tiny little beach you can sit on, or a skinny but perfectly placed log.
In terms of swimming, entry to the pool is easy as you can walk straight in from the beach and the bottom of the pool is also sandy, so you don’t have to worry about slippery rocks.
There is some leaf litter on the bottom left of the pool, but the swimming was better to the right anyway.
Close to the falls the water is deep and perfect for a cool plunge. Temperature-wise I didn’t think it was that cold, we visited on a hot day and I dipped in and out of the water many times. If the air temperature is cool, then it will definitely be a proper cold plunge though!
When you’re ready to leave the falls, the initial climb is steep, but you’ll then reach the gentler sections, which feel quite flat after that first bit!
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 area, it will go a long way to keeping the area clean.
Getting to the trailhead for Turtle Falls
The trail to Turtle Falls begins at the end of Shirlow Avenue in Faulconbridge in the lower Blue Mountains. There’s a turning circle at the end of the road and you can park just up from this. It is a residential area, so please park respectfully. As mentioned you could drive further along the fire trail, but you’d need to be quite gung-ho.
It’s around 27km and a 30 minute drive from Katoomba and 75km and just over an hour’s drive from Sydney CBD.
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