Apsley Falls facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Apsley Falls |
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The second drop of the Apsley Falls
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 Location in New South Wales
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| Location | Northern Tablelands, New South Wales, Australia |
| Coordinates | 31°3′01″S 151°46′10″E / 31.05028°S 151.76944°E |
| Type | Cascade |
| Total height | 123 metres (404 ft) |
| Number of drops | 2 |
| Longest drop | 65 metres (213 ft) |
The Apsley Falls are two amazing waterfalls found on the Apsley River. They are located in the Northern Tablelands region of New South Wales, Australia. These falls are about 20 kilometres (12 miles) east of Walcha. You can find them just 1 kilometre (0.6 miles) off the Oxley Highway.
The Apsley Falls are in a deep gorge, which is part of the Oxley Wild Rivers National Park. They are the first of many impressive waterfalls in an area known for its beautiful scenery in Eastern Australia. The first part of the falls drops about 65 metres (213 feet). The second part is about 800 metres (2,625 feet) further along and plunges 58 metres (190 feet) to the bottom of the gorge.
Contents
History of Apsley Falls
How Indigenous People See the Falls
Aboriginal people have a special story about how the Rainbow Serpent created the gorge at Apsley Falls. This story is part of their Dreamtime. They believe the Rainbow Serpent travels underground from the bottom of the falls. It then reappears 20 kilometres (12 miles) upstream at the Mill Hole on the Apsley River in Walcha. Today, a colourful Rainbow Serpent mosaic marks this spot at the Mill Hole. Local Aboriginal people helped create this mosaic.
Early European Discovery
Besides its importance to Aboriginal people as a meeting place, the falls were also seen by John Oxley. He passed by on September 13, 1818, and named them the Bathurst Falls. He wrote in his journal that he was "lost in astonishment at the sight of this wonderful natural sublimity." Oxley also named the Apsley River.
Building the Stairways
In 1902, three men named Ted Baker, Jim McMillan, and "Wattie" Joiner built a wooden stairway. This stairway zigzagged from the top of the gorge down to the water's edge. They used axes and adzes to shape all the timber by hand. This was a very difficult and dangerous job! The original wooden stairway was used until 1932. It was then declared unsafe and partly taken down.
Later, parts of this old stairway rotted away. The Walcha Lions Club decided to take on a huge project. They built a new steel staircase and a viewing platform halfway down the gorge. Lindsay McMillan, whose father Jim McMillan helped build the first stairway, designed the new steel structure. The Walcha Shire Council provided all the materials. Lions Club members spent 1,745 hours working on the project during 1961. They were recognized around the world for their amazing effort. The new scenic stairway officially opened on October 14, 1961.
What You Can See at Apsley Falls
Geology of the Gorge
The walls of the upper Apsley Gorge are very steep. This is mostly because of the slate rock in the area, which tends to split straight up and down.
Plants and Animals
The edge of the gorge has forests and woodlands. There are not many small shrubs underneath the trees. You can find many types of wattles here, like boomerang wattle and silver wattle. There are also tea trees and different kinds of eucalyptus trees. Some interesting plants include hyacinth orchids and gorge hakea.
Keep an eye out for animals! You might see Wedge-tailed eagles flying high in the sky. Kangaroos, crimson rosellas (colourful birds), echidnas (also called "spiny anteaters"), and wallabies are often seen in the area.
Visitor Facilities at Apsley Falls
Lookouts and Walks
The National Parks and Wildlife Service now manages Apsley Falls. They have built more lookouts and walkways. These make it easier to see and photograph the beautiful gorge and both waterfalls. There are several short walks you can take from the car parks. Information about these walks is available at a shelter near the toilets.
You can easily see the main falls and gorge from several lookouts. These are reached by stairs from the car park.
The Oxley Walk
The Oxley Walk is a 2.7-kilometre (1.7-mile) walk that takes about 1.5 hours. It's on a paved path. The path crosses the river using a footbridge. It then continues around the northern side of the gorge. Another lookout gives great views of the main falls. The track then goes past three more lookouts. From these, you can see the second waterfall and the dramatic cliffs of the deep chasm. The original bridge was washed away in a flood in 2009, but a new one opened in 2012.
Camping and Other Amenities
Apsley Falls has good facilities for people who want to camp with caravans or tents. These include firewood, toilets, and information about the area. There are also hardened walking tracks and access for people with disabilities. You'll find ten viewing platforms, information about Aboriginal history, and details about the plants and animals. There is a small fee for camping. Please remember that dogs and other pets are not allowed.
See also
In Spanish: Cascadas Apsley para niños
