Picture Perfect Preston Falls Cluster

Delaney Falls, Preston Falls and Upper Preston Falls were the destinations to be explored today with my youngest daughter by my side. A forty five minute drive from home, we set off with the music cranking. The low level cloud made for a foggy trip giving an eerie vibe. First fall we decided to walk is Delaney Falls (also known as Preston Falls). Delaney is an easy 200m stroll down a hill to the platform to view this pretty impressive fall. 

 

Upon leaving the platform I discover a track to the left of me which intrigues me. With further investigation I realise it is a muddy, slippery slope to the base of Delaneys Falls. Leaving my daughter chilling on the platform, I cautiously make my way down to the base to get a different perspective of the falls. 

Back up the slippery vertical slope I go, grabbing rocks and branches to keep my balance and pull myself up. Once on a flat, horizontal surface again I reach my daughter and we head to the next falls on the cluster. Foot traffic unfortunately has really done some damage to the natural environment following the track along the clear, flowing stream. Below our feet is a thick muddy track showing the way. Carefully taking each step we slowly move through the mud. My daughter starts singing ‘We can’t go over it, we can’t go under it, we have to go through it, squelch, squelch, squelch!’ Perfect tune for the current climate. My daughter then does a little squeal and I turn around to see her jumping out of the way. She nearly steps on a camouflaged frog. 

 

My daughter's brand new sand shoes that I brought her for netball were lathered in the thick, brown mud making them extremely slippery and then it happened...

She slipped over and grabbed the bank which was full of prickles and ended up with splinters lodged in her hand covered in the squelchy mud. Thick mud engulfed her shoes and spread along the length of her leg. She was a total champ however, forging on to make it to Preston Falls.  A few clicks of the camera and then back through the squelchy mud to safety.

Third and final fall of the cluster was on the list and the one I was really looking forward to. With just a quick drive up the road, I find a place to pull over and park. We have made it to the start of Upper Preston Falls. My daughter decides to sit this one out and hang in the car. For all of those looking for the start of these falls you need to head up the road about twenty metres and you will see the track meandering along the side of the hill. This is a very quick track winding down the hill towards the noise of the falling water. Popping out of the rocks stands Upper Preston Falls, looking perfect. 

This fall is pretty extraordinary because you can walk around a moss covered rock to the side of the Upper Preston Falls and slip through a little gap between boulders to get in behind the waterfall into a massive cave. Wow! This is spectacular and my images really don’t reflect how amazing this experience is. 

Such a majestical place to stand still with nature and take it all in. This does wonders for my soul. Today was a great adventure with my daughter through the squelchy, squelchy mud, but I would like to see less traffic off the beaten tracks to protect our natural environment (obviously I need to take my own advice). Highly recommend Delaney and Upper Preston Falls.