The Belmore Falls is a plunge waterfall with three drops on the Barrengarry Creek in the Southern Highlands,located approximately 6.5 kilometres south of the town of Robertson, the falls descend from the Illawarra escarpment at an elevation of 552 metres (1,811 ft) above sea level into the northern end of Kangaroo Valley within the Morton National Park. Descending over the three levels,the waterfalls range in height between 77–130 metres (253–427 ft) and are best viewed from the posted coordinates at Hindmarsh Lookout, accessible via a short walk from the car park.
FROM the 1870s Belmore Falls, once the traditional territory of the Dharawal people, became a popular destination for visitors to the district and its wild beauty was often written about. One particular description titled "The Primitive Beauty of Belmore Falls" (by CSH) appeared in the Sydney Morning Herald on May 16, 1931, and is worth reproducing here:
"Situated at the extreme northern end of the Kangaroo Valley, Belmore Falls drop over a series of sheer walls that must total a depth of 1000 feet. Seldom seen by the thousands who yearly visit the nearby Fitzroy Falls, they waste their beauty, peacefully isolated by a few miles of primitive Australian bush. To those who enjoy Australian scenery, their seclusion adds inestimably to the beautiful surroundings of the falls, which have no peer in this State."
Contrasting with the worn appearance of the Blue Mountain beauty spots, the vegetation grows in unspoilt luxuriance, betokening the richness of the soil and the moisture which is continuously in the air about the falls, even in comparatively dry weather.
The panorama from the cliff tops embraces the whole of Kangaroo Valley, and bears some resemblance to the Burragorang Valley outlook; miles of rugged walls overshadowing the peaceful valley farms as they recede into the horizon.
The rough track which gives easy access to the foot of the first falls reaches the lower slopes through a luxuriance of fern growth, which intensifies as the moisture from the falls increases. Here every leaf drops moisture, and forces a growth which is only paralleled in a tropical forest. The contrast between this shaded and sheltered portion of the chasm and the sun-swept heights of the cliffs opposite is remarkable.
The first fall is a sheer drop of about 300 feet into a rock-strewn pool of tortured water, which rushes down in a cascade of foam to the second fall across an immense body of rock. From the foot of the second fall the water cascades again down a rocky defile, tearing over and round great, roughly-squared boulders for half a mile to reach the third fall. Here the water hurls itself over the rock-rim in a welter of foam 50 feet wide, to drop 100 feet below into another large pool, then descending steeply down a series of smaller falls to meet another fall, which is fed by a tributary stream.
Thereafter, the increased volume of water reaches the Kangaroo River down a rough, rocky bed, through an impenetrable mass of trees, ferns, creepers, and huge stones. The exotic beauty and thickness of this vegetation forms a delightful contrast to the orthodox Australian bush above the cliffs." The SMH again reported on Belmore Falls in September 1932, stating that it had become a favourite destination for hikers:
"More than 200 hikers journeyed by train to Robertson on Saturday, travelling via the recently opened Port Kembla-Moss Vale railway. On arrival at Robertson they were accommodated at the Hotel Ranelagh, and were entertained in the ballroom of the hotel on Saturday evening. Yesterday morning the party set out for Belmore Falls, about six miles distant, the weather, which had threatened to be bad, eventually proving to be ideal for such an outing. The falls, after the recent heavy rain, were seen to advantage. The party returned to Sydney by special train."
Nowadays visitors at Belmore Falls are directed to various lookouts and walking tracks along a loop drive that spans the escarpment and to safety-fenced lookouts near the rim of the top falls. A causeway on the road that winds through from Robertson or Wildes Meadow crosses the creek a short way back from the rim. Further upstream along the creek may be found a series of pools; one, where water cascades over stepped rocks, may be accessed by a remnant walking track. Adjacent to the Falls and along the creeks are found shrubs such as Drumstick, Tea-tree and Persoonia together with swamp grasses, ferns and bryophytes. Boronia is abundant in the area; eucalypts such as mess-mate and scribbly gum, together with banksias and wattles, make up the forest canopy.
In 1969 the Belmore Park Reserve was amalgamated into Morton National Park as part of that Park's progressive expansion under the control of the National Parks and Wildlife Service. Belmore and Fitzroy Falls are key scenic attractions of the National Park that now encompasses parts of Kangaroo Valley, the Shoalhaven Gorge and much beyond.
Access to Belmore Falls has been recently upgraded and is most worthy of a visit.
The falls are named after Somerset Lowry-Corry, 4th Earl Belmore the then-Governor of New South Wales.
Earthlesson Questions
1-Observing from the lookout,at what compass direction do you see Belmore Falls?
2-How many drops/levels in the falls can you see from here?
3-Explain how you think Belmore Falls were formed?
4-The Falls have been formed by what type of rock?
5-Take a photo of yourself or your device at GZ(optional)
To log this earthcache you will need to email or message me you answers for approval via Geocaching .com before logging your find.
Enjoy your visit to Belmore Falls,no pets or camping are allowed and please be sure only leave footprints behind
Well done to Throsbyonchurch with the**FTF**