The best family-friendly hikes and walks in Terrace Falls Reserve

The Grand Stairway is one of the most dramatic sections of track around Wentworth Falls, descending steeply down the cliff face beside the waterfall into the Jamison Valley below. Built by hand in the early 1900s using picks, shovels, and dynamite, the staircase forms part of the historic National Pass and still feels like an impressive piece of engineering more than a century later. From the top of the stairs, you get sweeping valley and waterfall views, while lower sections bring you right beside the middle tier of Wentworth Falls.

Hidden inside a narrow sandstone gully near Wentworth Falls, this small cascade feels completely tucked away from the busier lookouts and main walking tracks above. Water slides over layered rock shelves into shallow pools surrounded by ferns, overhangs, and dense rainforest-like vegetation, giving the area a cool canyon feel even on warmer days.

Upper Wentworth Falls is the first major section of the waterfall system, where Jamison Creek spills over broad sandstone shelves before plunging deeper into the Jamison Valley below. From the top of the falls, you get a mix of calm creek pools, exposed cliff edges, and sweeping valley views all in one spot, with the sound of rushing water carrying through the surrounding bushland after rain. The upper cascades are reached via the Wentworth Falls Track, which descends from the picnic area through a series of steep steps and lookouts.

Junction Falls are two closely spaced cascades that look like a staircase, created where Ridge Creek meets Lawson Creek. Easily accessible via a short detour, the falls tumble through a lush forest of blue gum trees and ferns. A charming footbridge and scattered rocks at its base add to its layered beauty. The split streams and the stepped drops offer a more intricate, multipart view compared to the nearby single-drop falls.

Cataract Falls is the largest and most intricate waterfall along the circuit, cascading in several tiers down Cataract Creek. A network of trails provides access to various viewpoints, including a lower plunge pool and a mid-level platform where the water flows over beautiful orange-stained rock slabs. The multiple layers and changing perspectives make this stop particularly captivating, as the water splits and reunites as it descends.

Federal Falls is a charming waterfall on Cataract Creek with a curtain-like flow and nestled within a narrow canyon lush with ferns. A short side trail leads to its base, where the water cascades over a low ledge into a sandy area bordered by rocks beside the creek. The surrounding overhangs and the intimate setting create a peaceful, secluded atmosphere, providing a nice contrast to the more open sections of the trail.

Adelina Falls is a small waterfall on Lawson Creek, dropping about 15 metres into a sheltered, gully lined with ferns. A short side track leads down to its base, where a footbridge crosses the creek, and the exposed clay beneath the falls gives the rock a distinctive orange tint. The setting feels enclosed and shaded, with water slipping over rock ledges into a quiet pool at the bottom.

Set along the cliff edge in Blue Mountains National Park, this lookout sits on a narrow, fenced ledge with a direct view of Wentworth Falls as it drops into the valley below. The position brings you close to the escarpment, with steep drop-offs and a more immediate perspective of the waterfall and surrounding rock walls. Space is limited at the lookout, and surfaces can be uneven or slippery, particularly after rain.