MADDENS FALLS

 

                                                  THE BEST OPENER

It’s a waterfall, which, in itself, is an attractant.  Most people find something good to say about waterfalls.  Over the years I’ve come to a conclusion that it’s moving water that is the attractant.  Be it surf, a rainstorm or just a cascade, you have to look at it and it plays with your senses.

So, I figured, we’ll go and have a peep at the drop before doing some of the other things on the list.  Up to Helensburgh and down the Princes Highway we rolled before turning into Dharawal Nature Reserve.  It’s right across the road from a cider distillery, which has relevance because there’s a weir somewhere in the bush and it retains water from which the apple orchard derives its moisture.

Once there was mining here, a revegetating quarry where ironstone aggregate was previously mined exists and, despite some of the poor soil of the shale capped ridges and sandstone, over 500 plant species can be found here.  Frankly, neither of us had seen such a variety in our lives.

I recall once talking to a Dutch lady who had emigrated, and she related how she was so disappointed with the wildflowers here, compared to large tulips and such back in Europe.  However, in time she came to love and understand them and was now their biggest fan.

Some of the specimens are barely visible, yet there’s no denying the variety of hues on show.  In my entire life I’ve never seen such a range of wildflowers.  And let’s not forget the shapes, all manner of geometrical designs are visible.  You can’t stop looking at them and it’s hard to believe we’ve come to view a waterfall because the pauses are constant on this easy trail.

We divert to go and check out the stream and come upon the weir before turning right and heading downriver.  The entire track is fractionally less than a kilometre, is entirely flat and has made boardwalk for the last 100 plus metres.

Maddens Falls are an attractive enough spill and, apparently, the adventurous can continue down the cliffs to other unnamed cascades; but that’s not going to happen today.  Besides, there’s all those wildflowers to view again. There’s also an unseen 24 frog species somewhere out in the waters, some of which can be heard in the background.

Recalling the Heraclitus quote, “The soul is dyed the colour of its thoughts”, was easy on a day such as this.  The opening walk had turned into something so special, the rest of the day had an awful lot to live up to.