The Walk to Billy Brown Falls

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July 2020

Billy Browns Falls was a waterfall only 40km from Cygnet and something that had been on our bucket list to complete for some time by now. However this wasn’t the first time we’d tried to visit this particular waterfall. The first time we had tried to reach this waterfall had been back when we’d been borrowing a friends car and was a trip quickly aborted when we’d arrived at the bridge leading to the last section of the road. This was because the road beyond the bridge was full of pot holes and wash outs and so it didn’t take us long to realise that the last part of the track to the falls was meant for 4WD’s and not the little city car which we were driving. However with our new car, which had limited 4WD capabilities, we were keen to try the road again and finally make it to the waterfall. Although when we arrived it felt a little like history was repeating itself. The week leading up to our walk to to Billy Browns Falls we’d had a massive rainfall and it seemed that the last bit of road leading to the trail head had been washed our during the down pour.

After

Once again we were stopped at the bridge which had obviously had water over it during the recent rain. This was apparent by the huge logs on the road and deep washed out sections. The bridge was in such bad shape that even our car just wasn’t capable of driving over it. So with the bridge out of action it meant that we couldn’t access the rest of the track by car. However given that this was our second attempt at this walk we weren’t to be deterred so quickly. Instead we decided to park the car along with about half a dozen other cars and started, what we quickly realised, would be quite a long, uphill walk. Without a proper map of the area we weren’t quite sure how far away the trail head was but given that we were walking along the road we weren’t too concerned knowing that we’d reach it eventually. Along the way we were overtaken multiple times by other cars with proper 4WD capabilities but none stopped to offer us a lift so we just kept on walking and walking. All up the walk to the actual car park was only about three and half K’s but that didn’t mean we weren’t relieved when we eventually saw the sign to the start of the trail in the distance.

The next part of the walk was much more enjoyable as we were off the road and under the canopy of yet another beautiful rainforest. The walk to the waterfall from the start of the trail head was just over 1km via a well formed track. Either side of the track were towering trees, large ferns and fungi which grew underneath it all. However since the track was only 1km long it didn’t take us long at all to reach Billy Browns Falls and be amazed by what we saw.

Billy Browns Falls was a cascade of water over large boulders and an eroded rock face. The water on this waterfall had many routes to choose from as it tumbled down to the bottom which gave the impression of many little waterfalls as it wasn’t just a singular drop. Once again we were awed by the waterfall in front of us and spent some time admiring the view while enjoying our packed lunch next to the pool of water at the bottom. That day we were in no rush to leave however we knew that we still had a long walk ahead of us and so after our lunch and a few last pictures we readied ourselves for the journey back to the car.

When we’d arrived we’d started the trail at the top of a hill and had to descend into a valley which was where the waterfall was located. However it had been quite a steep descent and now on the return we had to go back up about 100m over 1km. Normally this wouldn’t be so bad but after the recent rains the track was muddy and quite slippery and so the going was a bit harder then normal. Although eventually we made it with only a couple of harmless slides and a little extra mud on our clothes then when we’d started. Thankfully the final part of our walk along the road was all down hill and so the last 3.5km went by in a flash and we were at the car and on our way back to Cygnet in no time. That day we had walked about 10km, eight more then we had been originally anticipating when we’d set our for our “short” walk that morning.

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