Wentworth Falls is one of our favourite areas in the Blue Mountains and there is so much to do beyond the more obvious viewpoints. From some of the best sunset spots in the mountains, to epic hikes, hidden caves and even a secret glow worm dell, Wentworth Falls is worth so much more than just a day trip.
If you’re looking for a weekend adventure that’s just 1.5 hours from Sydney, it really should be next on your list.
We’ve kept this list strictly to Wentworth Falls, if you’re looking for other things to do nearby, we have you covered in our guides to Leura and Katoomba.
Here are all the best things to do in Wentworth Falls.
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1: Fletchers Lookout
2: Rocket Point
3: Walk down to the base of the Upper Falls
4: Walk down the base of the entire waterfall
5: Catch a sunset
6: Marvel at the secret glow worm dell
7: Have a drink with a view at the Conservation Hut
8: Find the secret cave
9: Take on the Wentworth Pass - one of the best walks in the Mountains
10: Be dazzled by 7 waterfalls on 1 trail - the Valley of the Waters
11: Visit the oldest Aboriginal rock art site in the Blue Mountains
12: Relax with a picnic at the lake
13: Go canyoning!
13 Best things to do in Wentworth Falls
These are the 13 best things to do in Wentworth Falls:
Check out the best views of the falls
Everybody knows about the main lookout at Wentworth Falls, and whilst it’s a beautiful view of the Jamison Valley, it’s a terrible view of the falls!
If you are happy to walk a little further, there are several fantastic options which will really give you a taste of one of the best waterfalls in the Blue Mountains.
1. Fletchers Lookout - the shortest walk with a good view
If you don’t have much time to spare or don’t want to walk too far, Fletchers Lookout is your best bet. It offers a fabulous view over the upper falls and it’s only a 1.5km return walk.
It does involve climbing a few staircases on the way back, but it’s definitely worth it! It’s also a great spot to watch the Sulphur crested cockatoos as they swoop across the valley.
2. Rocket Point - our favourite view of the falls
If you walk just a little further, 2.4km return, you can reach an even better view of the falls than at Fletchers. You’ll also pass the pretty Queen’s Cascades and the top of Wentworth Falls along the way.
The final section of the walk can be a bit webby because not many people visit this lookout, grab a stick to wave them away and then delight when you reach the viewpoint with no one else around! Pretty incredible when it’s one of the best lookouts in the Blue Mountains.
3. The base of the upper falls - A fabulous view where you can feel the spray
If you don’t mind a slightly more strenuous walk, we recommend taking the beginning of the Wentworth Pass Track and heading down to the base of the upper falls. The walk is absolutely jaw dropping, with some of the best vistas in the whole national park. It does involve navigating some steep staircases which have uneven steps, but there is always a handrail to help.
Sitting on the rocks at the base of the upper falls and feeling the spray of the waterfall is so invigorating! The walk from the Wentworth Falls picnic area to this spot is 3.4km return.
4. The base of the whole waterfall - the adventurous option
The base of the falls is not the prettiest part of the waterfall, although it’s still lovely, but it is definitely the most fun to reach. You can even paddle in the pool at the bottom.
The walking track to take you here is the Wentworth Pass Trail, and as well as fabulous views you’ll also get to navigate steep staircases (which the parks service call ladders) and see 7 other waterfalls! If you don’t mind some decent elevation gain and a rough track, there is no better hike in the area.
You can read our detailed trail guide here.
5. Catch a spectacular sunset
When it comes to sunset spots in Wentworth Falls you are spoilt for choice. There are so many beautiful options.
One of the most beautiful is from Lincoln Rock. This long rocky plateau has uninterrupted mountain views, as well as that famous ledge that provides a great photo op (goes without saying to always be careful near any unfenced edges). The walk to get there is less than one minute from the car park!
Another great option is the Princes Rock Lookout, the view over the Jamison Valley is spectacular at any time of day, but at its most special when bathed in golden light.
The walk to get there is 900m return and does involve a few staircases.
For something a little bit different you could try the eastern end of Wentworth Falls Lake. It’s not necessarily what might spring to mind when you think of a Blue Mountains sunset spot, but it’s a lovely tranquil place and doesn’t require any walking to reach.
6. Marvel at the secret glow worm dell
Yes, that’s right, Wentworth Falls has its own secret glow worm dell and it is simply sensational. By day, Waters Nymphs Dell is a gorgeous secluded waterfall in a picturesque rainforest gully.
By night, it comes alive with thousands of glow worms! It’s an incredible sight and the memory of walking what we refer to as the ‘stairway to heaven’ will stay with you for a long time.
It is one of the more tricky glow worm dells in the mountains to access though, with parts of the trail being quite slippery - I would definitely recommend checking out this glorious spot by day beforehand to make sure you’re comfortable with the terrain.
That aside, the experience is magical, there is even a huge tree which has glow worms wrapped round it’s base like a string of the most exquisite fairy lights!
You can read exactly what to expect from the experience, as well as where the most dense glow worm colonies are located within the dell in this post.
7. Have a drink with a view
We’ve been visiting the Blue Mountains for years now and a drink on the terrace at the Conservation Hut never loses the wow factor.
The view of the mountains and huge tree ferns is just stunning and the prices at the cafe are not very much more expensive than an average cafe.
We don’t love their coffee though, so we’d recommend popping in for a cold drink, which is great as many hiking trails end here. You could even toast your hiking adventure with a beer or glass of wine!
It’s lovely in winter too, and if you don’t want to sit outside, the inside has a nice fireplace which gives it a cosy vibe.
The Conservation Hut is open every day but Christmas day, generally 9am to 4pm. On public holidays it doesn’t open until 10am. Parking there is tricky, as it has limited spots, but you can always get nearby street parking, which is free and unlimited.
8. Find the hidden cave
This little cave is located right by Lincoln’s Rock, so it is the perfect place to come at sunset too, especially if you’re a keen photographer. The view is incredible and there is plenty of room for several people to sit comfortably in the cave.
To get there, head to the far end of the rocky plateau and walk down the little dirt path that takes you round and underneath the rock shelf.
Within a minute you’ll see the entrance to the cave. You have a couple of metres to climb up, there are footholds, but they aren’t massive, so take it slowly if you don’t like scrambling.
Lincoln’s Rock is just over a five minute drive from the village and the last part is on an unsealed road - no 4WD required though.
9. Take on the adventurous Wentworth Pass
Most people will do at least one walk when visiting Wentworth Falls and you can’t really go wrong with your choice.
However, having done every trail multiple times, we can tell you that adventure lovers should definitely opt for the Wentworth Pass Track. The views, the rainforest and the waterfalls are out of this world and as it is rated as hard, few people do it. There are some very steep sections but it’s totally worth it.
10. ….or the outstanding Valley of the Waters
If that’s not for you, by far your second best choice is the Valley of the Waters (which you will cover as well if you do the Wentworth Pass). Unlike the pass though, the first four waterfalls along the Valley of the Waters Walk are on a good well maintained path.
The waterfalls are truly breathtaking, particularly after some good rainfall. If you are happy to walk a smidge along the rouger track (just 450m each way) you can visit a further three waterfalls, which includes one of our favourites.
You can read all the track details in our Valley of the Waters guide.
If you don’t want to take on a trail with steep climbs, check out the Overcliff Undercliff Track, which still has amazing views but is much easier.
11. Visit the oldest known Aboriginal site in the Blue Mountains
This is a more recent discovery for us and we’re glad that we did. It might not be the best preserved Aboriginal art site in the mountains, but it is thought to be the oldest. It’s a short walk (about 5 minutes) to reach the large overhang at the Kings Tableland which contains the engravings.
Although there are supposed to be kangaroo tracks, we could only find the emu prints. They are located very close to the beginning of the overhang, and quite well preserved.
You can then walk a few minutes back up the trail and off to the right to see the axe grinding grooves which are very easy to spot.
There are loads of them, one beside almost every hole that we saw and it’s hard to believe how pristine they look when they are thought to be many thousands of years old!
From the area where you park - Queen Elizabeth Drive - there is no signposting for the site at first. Walk beside the playground on the narrow bush track for a few minutes and then you will come to the signposts directing you to both sites.
As with any Aboriginal sites please don’t touch them so we can preserve them for generations to come.
12. Relax with a picnic by the lake
Wentworth Falls Lake is a great spot for a picnic, with loads of flat grassy area to lay down a blanket, or opt for the undercover benches. There are also BBQ’s if you want to go all out! The lake is gorgeous, surrounded by pretty bushland and lots of birdlife.
It’s a serene place to come and relax away from the hustle and bustle of some of the more well known spots. There’s also an easy walking trail beside the lake if you’d like to stretch your legs, but don’t want to take on one of the more hilly tracks. I wouldn’t recommend the full lake circuit as half of that is on road, but if you head anticlockwise you can walk as far as the road and then turn back.
If you want to make your picnic gourmet, we’d recommend visiting Carrington Cellars which have a fabulous range of locally made products which are perfect for treating yourself and supporting the local community.
13. Go canyoning at one the mountains most beautiful waterfalls
This is the only thing on this list which we haven’t done personally, but it’s such a popular activity we thought it should be included.
Joe is also planning to do it soon, so we’ll come back and update this post with firsthand details at some point.
Whilst the Blue Mountains have loads of canyons, one of the best for beginners is Empress Falls, which also happens to be one of the prettiest waterfalls too!
There are various guiding companies which will show you the ropes (sorry, had to!) and then you can head into the thick of things as you abseil down the waterfall into the pool at the base. This tour company has very good reviews if you’re keen to give it a go.
If you don’t fancy trying it yourself, you can always head to Empress Falls to watch, it’s good fun and there tends to be a steady stream of canyoners every weekend. Time it right (ie when the canyoners are not there!) and it’s also one of our favourite swimming spots!
Where to stay in Wentworth Falls
Apple blossom Cottage
We stayed at Apple blossom cottage and it’s really cute and cosy, and has a full kitchen so we could self cater. There are three bedrooms so if there are only a couple of you, check out our second recommend below.
You can check out the reviews and prices on Booking.com.
Mountainside B&B
This is the B&B that we could never get in to and believe me I tried many times!
I wanted to stay the moment I saw a photo of the bathtub with a view. Judging by the reviews from others if I ever get in there it will have been worth the wait.
You can check out the reviews and prices on Booking.com
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