The Cascades Walk and Jump Rock | Macquarie Pass National Park

Explore a natural adventure playground at Macquarie Pass National Park located just 30 minutes from Wollongong.
Providing an abundant rainforest you’ll see amazing plant life, birds and native wildlife together with breathtaking views.
Conveniently close to both Robertson and the coastal town of Kiama, this is easily a fantastic one day road trip or a chance to spend a few days away with friends and family.

The Cascades Walk

Location: Base of Macquarie Pass
Distance: 2km return
Time: Allow approx. 45 – 90mins
Pace: Leisurely/family friendly
With a mostly flat terrain we enjoyed the Cascades Walk at a leisurely pace with a 5 and 8 year old in tow.
If coming from Albion Park, you will find a carpark on the right hand side at the base of Macquarie Pass. Simply cross the grass area in front of the carpark where you will find the beginning of the path.
Please note there are steps along the path but nothing that caused complaint. The kids happily ran ahead more excited about what they could discover.
With the sunshine magically peeking through the rainforest canopy, we stopped many times along the way to enjoy the scenery, climb rocks, test our balance skills across a fallen log  and spot native animals including lizards and birds.
Your prize at the end of the track is the beautiful waterfall and natural pool, a photographers dream.  A perfect spot to just stop and take it all in.
Just a word of warning – be careful of slippery surfaces at the waterfall. I may or may not admit to taking a slip waist dip into the refreshing water. That’s a story for another day!

Recommendations

• The track can include water and mud – don’t wear your best shoes.
• Don’t forget your water, hat, sunscreen and snacks.
• Take the insect repellent and some salt (leeches present).
• Pack a picnic and take advantage of the Cascades picnic area.
• Take your rubbish with you.

More Info

More info regarding the Cascades Walking Track can be found at nationalparks.com.au

Jump Rock

Location: Track commences base of Macquarie Pass.
Distance: Approx. 3.5km return
Time: This would depend on your level of experience and who you are travelling with. We had young children and it took us 3 hours return. Experienced or fit walkers may take approx. 1.5 hours.
Located on the left hand side (if coming from Albion Park) at the base of Macquarie Pass, this was our unexpected adventure!
There are no signs but the path commences from the small carpark and is fairly obvious.
As you progress along the initially flat walkway, the path begins to fork giving you the option of travelling closer to the water or ascending higher. We took the higher road where we navigated some tricky situations including steep slopes and muddy, slipper surfaces. At times we felt like mountain goats but  we were loving the challenge!
With a 5 and 8 year old in tow we really had to work as a team to ensure safety and we recommend you do some research prior if you plan on taking young ones (be smarter than we were!).
You will discover stunning scenery along this walk with views of water pools, plant life, birds, astounding rock formations plus massive tree roots along the way.
There are also plenty of places to stop along the way to have a rest or cool off in the creek water.
So what did we discover when we reached Jump Rock? Stunning natural pools of water cascading down over massive boulders creating a stunning landscape. It’s absolutely beautiful.
You will find beautiful pools of water which are brilliant for dipping your toes or taking a swim (it’s a bit chilly in that fresh water!) so pack some swimmers and a towel.
There are ropes tied in various places to help you climb the large rocks and people were climbing the rocks and jumping from various platforms 3-10 meters back into the water. We did not do this and cannot comment on the safety of doing so (do your research before participating!).
This walk took us 3 hours return but keep in mind we had young children in tow. I would recommend you do your research before heading off on this walk to determine if it is right for you and your company.

Recommendations

• Do your research – check out Bush Walk the Gong for more information.
• Wear old shoes, there’s plenty of water and mud.
• Take plenty of water, sunscreen, hat and snacks.
• Be prepared for leeches – take some salt.
• Safety first, let someone at home know when you are going and when you’ll return.
• Take your rubbish home.
• If planning to do this with young children, please ensure they are up for the challenge prior to departure. Our 5 and 8 year old, although champions along the way, were absolutely exhausted after this walk.
• We have heard that Jump Rock can be very popular in Summer months so plan accordingly.

More Info

More detailed information can be found at Bush Walk the Gong and Pioneer Walks.