The South Lawson Waterfall Circuit is a family-friendly bushwalk in South Lawson that passes several small but scenic waterfalls along Lawson Creek and Cataract Creek.
Officially, there are four waterfalls to discover on this picturesque walk. However, with two unnamed waterfalls and one featuring two separate drops, some might argue the walk includes as many as seven waterfalls.
| South Lawson Waterfall Circuit | |
|---|---|
| Distance: | 2.5 km (loop) |
| Time: | 1.5 hours |
| Grade: | Easy / moderate (steep sections) |
| Dogs: | On a lead |
| Wheel-friendly: | No |
| Maps: |  PDF map |
 Interactive map |
|
Getting There
The most convenient starting point for this walk is at the corner of Honour Avenue and Livingstone Street, about 1 km south of Lawson train station.
This entry point is signposted and has a small parking area next to it. If that area is full, try street parking nearby.
An alternative starting point is located about 600 metres further south on the same street, and also has a small parking area.
Dogs are welcome on this walk but must be kept on a lead. There is an off-leash dog park west of the circuit, as part of the South Lawson Parklands.
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Track Notes
The South Lawson Waterfall Circuit is fairly short and easy, though there are a few steep sections with steps, and the path can become quite muddy after rain.
On the map below, we’ve marked the four official waterfalls along the trail:
- Adelina Falls
- Junction Falls
- Federal Falls
- Cataract Falls
1. Adelina Falls
Look for the old signpost listing the four official waterfalls to begin your walk.
The trail starts with a steep descent down a series of steps, leading to the first junction, where you should continue straight ahead.
A few hundred metres later, a side trail leads to Adelina Falls, tucked away in a secluded gully.
Adelina Falls is a small but scenic waterfall, with a pool and a set of stone steps in front of it. Depending on recent rainfall, the water flow may be low, but it’s a lovely first stop along the track.
2. Junction Falls
From Adelina Falls, return to the main track and continue towards Junction Falls, located about 900 metres away.
This section follows a narrow bush path that closely traces Lawson Creek. The surroundings are very scenic here, but be aware that the path can become quite muddy after rain.
Along the way, the track passes the upper section of Junction Falls, which you can access via a short side trail if you’d like to visit it before heading to the main waterfall.
Junction Falls appears about 150 metres further along. It’s a lovely cascade waterfall with a reasonably flat, rocky platform at its base.
3. Federal Falls
From Junction Falls, cross the small wooden footbridge, signposted as the Junction Falls Footbridge, and you’ll soon come across another waterfall.
This is the first unnamed waterfall along the South Lawson Waterfall Circuit, and while small, it’s very pretty!
A few hundred metres further along, you’ll reach a junction with signs pointing to Cataract Falls and Federal Falls. Go straight ahead here to visit Federal Falls first.
The 250-metre walk to Federal Falls is actually a side trail, even though it looks and feels like the main track.
Federal Falls is similar to Junction Falls, with a spacious sandy area in front of the cascade and large rocks scattered around.
4. Cataract Falls
From Federal Falls, return to the junction and head up the stone steps to continue on the main track to Cataract Falls.
About 400 metres into this final section, you’ll see a side trail on the left. Follow it (optional), and you’ll reach another unnamed waterfall. It’s small but quite pretty, with a pool at its base.
Some sources refer to this waterfall as Leslie Falls, but we haven’t found any official documentation to confirm that name.
Back on the main track, you’ll soon arrive at the lower section of Cataract Falls after climbing a few more staircases.
Lower Cataract Falls has a pool and a sandy open area in front of it, making it easy to explore and take a few nice photos.
From here, continue on the trail to visit the upper section of Cataract Falls via a signposted detour.
While some people skip this last waterfall (or don’t realise it’s there), we highly recommend visiting it, as it’s one of the highlights of the walk.
Once you’ve finished exploring, head back to the starting point via an 800-metre fire trail that runs parallel to Honour Avenue.
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