Walter's Waterhole - Misty Mountains
January 2024
The waterfall that flows out of Walter’s Waterhole, January 2024.
Walter’s Waterhole has been on my list of places to visit for quite a few years now. My first attempt to get there was such an unpleasant failure and it was not until January 2024 that I attempted to get there again.
Not Walter’s Waterhole but a photo taken during my failed attempt to get there back in 2019.
In 2019 my wife and I attempted the trail into Walter’s Waterhole in the Misty Mountains near Ravenshoe. The leeches were so bad we had to abandon after many kilometres in.
It was just too much to bare even for me. As soon as you stopped walking they crawled up your shoes, they fell out of trees onto you….they were on our faces, arms…you get the picture!
The old logging bridge above Walter’s Waterhole, January 2024.
In January 2024 I was given permission by my wife to wander on my own and I planned to go to another location on this day. However as I drove past the trail head to the waterhole on my way to my intended destination I thought ….why not give Walter’s Waterhole another go and so glad I did :) I got there!
The gap between the two bridge ends…….you need to cross here.
The track I used arrives on the left and you need to cross the water above the bridge to get to the other side to make your way down to the waterhole.
I am used to swimming across rivers to get to where I want but you need to pick the right water flow to attempt this. If it is flooded…forget it! Go back and find a track that arrives on the right side.
I was lucky on this day as the water was not so strong. I could have even attempted to walk across the shallow section but it was very mossy and just above that waterfall. I went a bit further upstream to a wider and deeper section that had a slower current and swam across.
The view from the other side of the old logging bridge after crossing the water.
Once on the other side you can start making your way down to the waterhole. There is a lot to see both above and below the waterhole.
A side pool of the first tier of the waterfall above the waterhole.
As the water makes that initial drop down towards the waterhole some water flows into a side pool that became my favourite place to take a swim. I like to see the bottom and what is in the water……you cannot really do that at Walter’s Waterhole like you can here.
The side pool water flowing back into the waterfall.
The side pool then flows back into the much faster flowing body of water that continues to make it’s way down to the waterhole. I would not swim in this pool unless you want to get flushed over a waterfall.
The water hammers down into the pool below before funnelling at even greater force down a much narrower section of rock. I can only imagine how this waterfall rages after a big downfall.
The waterfall finally reaching the waterhole.
As the waterfall approaches the waterhole it flattens out. I was very lucky to get the water flow I did on the two days I visited this location. I think it suits the upper section very well. I was also glad to have no rain….because rain usually means leeches.
The Waterhole
The view looking back at Walter’s Waterhole from below it.
I never took a photo from the upper section looking down into the waterhole. I will do that on another visit. In the above photo taken from below the waterhole the upper waterfall is around the vegetation on the right. When the water reaches the waterhole it does a sharp left turn to create more stunning waterfalls.
The falls below the Waterhole
Flowing down to the next tier. Very pretty spot.
Top right of this photo was where I was standing to take the previous photo. Between the top section of those rocks at the top and the far tree line is Walter’s Waterhole. The waterfall that flows directly out of the waterhole is the biggest but there is still more to come :)
Below the waterhole are more opportunities to swim in the stunningly clear water. I have heard of people jumping of the large rock section into the water below but that is not for me.
You just never know what is under the water.
Around the edge of the waterhole you will see fallen trees partially submerged. You never know what has flown from there down the waterfall and is below the surface. That is why I do not jump off rocks into water streams. There is no-one coming to help you at this location.
The last section of the waterfall.
Above is the very last of the waterfall before turning back into a creek. This is the spot I spent the most time at because as you will see in a minute it has the most shade.
Back into the Rainforest
In the rainforest at the end of the waterfall.
Once the water flattens out you are now under the cover of large trees that provided shade to me during some very sunny periods. This is where I sat and ate lunch and enjoyed my hot chocolate on my two days there.
One annoyance during my 2 days there
A regular visitor to my general area and especially my jeans :(
The only downside to this trip was the abundance of March Flies. They tend to love the colour blue so my jeans were a favourite location. I get a nasty sore if these things bite me so I always carry repellant.
Final comments about the hike and location
Is it worth the long hike in, the leeches and march flies? Bloody oath! One of the prettiest spots I have visited.
There is a campsite about 1 klm away from the falls that enables you to stay nearby overnight. On my unplanned two days there I hiked all the way in and out each day carrying a 25kg backpack and my legs were very sore for days after.
On the second day I wanted to be there for sunrise so I was making my way in under darkness which tells you the track is not that hard. That said make sure you carry at least two torches.
You will see a lot of vegetation like this on the track in.
The tracks in can be patchy in places but in most cases you know where the next step should be taken. Markers are few and far between but major junctions are marked with signs. It is hot and humid but you get shade from the sun most of the time from the canopy.
A lot of fallen wait-a-while over the tracks and some Gympie Gympie (stinging plant) in places but if you are used to the rainforest then nothing more than the usual. If you can find a dry spell after some good rain like I did I think you are golden. 5 stars!