And if you have time... 206 COLO RIVER, UPPER COLO RESERVE Facilities: Toilets, showers, car-based campground Walk-in: 2 mins, 100m, easy A popular, council-run campground, LL fronting a long, sandy stretch of river. There are spots just deep enough for adults to dip, but the shallow water is ideally suited for children to frolic a week away. Camping fees apply and booking required, see: Hawkesbury.nsw. gov.au Via end of Hulbert Rd, Upper Colo. ,, -33.4199, 150.7347 qd
Bridge, Putty Rd, Colo. -33.4324, 150.8285 208 GROSE RIVER AT NAVUA RESERVE Facilities: Toilets, picnic tables, BBQs Walk-in: 2 mins, 75m, easy Edged by the biggest sandy beach LL west of Narrabeen, this reserve sits at the junction of the Grose and Nepean Rivers. On sticky evenings the river is full of chattering children and adults, sitting neck-deep in the water – although towards the confluence there are deeper pools for swimming. Horses and dogs are allowed in the reserve, and many owners take a dip with their four-leggeds. Via end of Grose River Rd, Grose Wold. ,,
207 COLO RIVER BRIDGE Walk-in: 1 min, 50m, easy The Colo River here is deep and wide. LL With graffitied, concrete pylons and the hum of cars passing overhead, it’s not pretty – but if you’re heading back to Sydney it’s a super-convenient place to wash that mountain dirt away. Via car park on S side of Colo River ,,
211 Wollangambe River Canyon Two 232
Great Blue Mountains North
-33.6090, 150.6969 q 209 SHAWS CREEK POOL Navigation: Moderate Descent: 130m Walk-in: 35 mins, 1km, moderate Small cascades spill into this LL medium-sized, near-circular waterhole, with long, slumbering tree trunks and
stones scattered far below on its sandy floor. Bush extends right to the water, making it a very pretty, if shady, spot. From the end of Booker Rd, ,, Hawkesbury Heights, go through the bar gate and continue for 100m. Ignore the false path leading R at the turning area, and continue for another 30m to a fork. Bear R and continue for another 400m to a rock outcrop with views over the valley. A path descends steeply through a double-opening chimney to the R. Continue carefully downhill over a slippery leaf-littered path which leads directly to the pool. # 200m. -33.6531, 150.6414 210 VICTORIA FALLS Navigation: Easy Descent: 360m Walk-in: 60 mins, 2.2km, moderate Beneath tall, drizzling falls, a small, LL waist-deep pool of chilly water is dotted with the bright red of freshwater yabbies. You can’t really swim here, but it’s an impressive place for a plunge.