Lima Falls Walk

Previously I had written about the Rocky Ned Lookout and what the walk to and from was like, however after we had ticked that walk off of our to do list we made our way to the Lima Falls Walk.

Lima Falls Walk.

Snaking our way through the bushland and pine plantations, of the Strathbogie Ranges, in a westerly direction from Rocky Ned, we soon arrived at a small car park at the beginning of the Lima Falls Walk. We had even managed to avoid our two little adventurers from drifting off to sleep during transit.

Having  been pre-warned that this walk was a much more difficult and longer walk than the previous Rocky Ned Bushwalk, I was both keen and apprehensive to check this trail out, even with two young kids and a couple of old dogs with selective hearing in tow. I was, however, very eager to visit the water falls that sit at the end of the walking track.

Setting out from the car park, the walk starts off very easy, with no real challenges along the way. Feeling confident that our two old stubborn flea bags, I really do love and care about them, would be too worn out to take off down the track without me, I let them off the lead. To my amazement the had decided that they were going to listen to me, well at least for now.

A little over half way along the Lima Falls walk, the track comes to a fork, left takes you to the top of the falls, which isn’t too far from the main track, and right continues along to the base of the falls. We ventured left towards the top of the falls. It was at this point the point the penny dropped, water falls have water, and Rosie, my 13 year old Golden Retriever cross Border Collie, loves water, time to put her back on the lead so she doesn’t go sliding down the water falls. Time To que the Benny Hill music. It was too late, straight to the water near the top of the falls, here we go, you had better go and stop her from taking the short cut to the bottom of the falls.

The top of the slippery Lima Falls.

Straight across the slippery, wet, rocky face of the water falls went Rosie, so I followed, mumbling expletive after expletive, carefully trying to cross the water course to retrieve the retriever. Luckily it was in the middle of a hot and dry summer so the water falls were definitely not in full flight. With only about 1 – 1 & 1/2 metres wide of water to cross I thought, this shouldn’t be too bad, WRONG DOPEY, I slipped and started sliding feet first down the rock face. At the same time as my good mate, David, called out to “Grab a Branch” I spotted an overhanging branch and grabbed hold of it, stopping me in my tracks.

I should note that over the years I may or may not have been known to be, well lets just say a “little bit awkward” when it comes to climbing and such things, so I was definitely not out of the water yet, pun intended. After regaining control I somehow got across the water without too much hassle only to find Rosie standing there all but laughing at me, bloody dog!!! I was then able to take in and admire the natural beauty that is the Lima Falls.

Carefully walking down the dry side of the rock face, old twinkle toes here slipped and landed flat on his backside. I said dry side, I never said it had any grip. Like a boxer who doesn’t know when to stay down I got up again and walked further down the falls only to again hit the deck,. This time I was laughing as I fell and somehow avoided cracking my head on the rock face. While down and laughing my head off, I could hear some feverish scratching heading my way, I turned only to see Jack, Steph and Davids’ Border Collie, sliding tail first down the rock face. The look on Jacks’ faceas he slid past me was priceless, it was one of sheer terror and HELP! he was perfectly safe and well of course.

Once all the tom foolery was done and dusted, we all made our way back to the main track to continue down to the base of the water falls. The second half of the trail, whilst a lot steeper than the first half, was still a reasonably easy walk which concludes at the very base of the Lima Falls. It is down here at the foot of the falls that the pure size and potential of these falls becomes really evident.

Nestled in the White Gum Gully, along Parkes Creek, the Lima Falls themselves are about 10-15 metres wide when in full flight, judging by the water marks, and has a fall of a similar amount. The potential of these falls in wet weather is apparent even during the drier months.

After taking time out for a break, the bottom of the falls, kids, adults and dogs were ready to make our way back to the car park. The return trip is a far more difficult walk due to it mainly being up hill for the entire way.

The view from the foot of the Lima Falls.

As a whole the Lima Falls Walk is not too difficult and anyone with a moderate level of fitness would have no troubles completing, not only the Lima Falls Walk but also the Rocky Ned Walk in an afternoon. The simple fact that this is a longer walk, not exactly sure of the distance, than that of Rocky Ned, is really the only factor that make the Lima Falls Walk the slightly more difficult trail of the two. Add some young kids, and some old dogs tagging along and you have yourself a fun little adventure for an afternoon in the bush.