The Transit of Venus walking track is located on the North side of Woodford in the Blue Mountains of NSW, it is roughly 3.5kms in length and will take you on a reasonable easy walking circuit taking in 3 pretty waterfalls, Hazel Falls, Edith Falls & Mabel Falls, there is some ups and downs along the way, but it is quite an easy walking track for all ages and fitness levels, though you might not think that on the way back to the car, but, really, the hill is not that bad.
The name for this walk was given to commemorate the observation of the Transit of Venus in Woodford in 1874 from an observatory at the nearby Woodford Academy.
To access the start of this track you should park at the end of Mount View Ave, Woodford, a big brown sign lets you know you are in the correct place, walk along the flat fire trail until you get to a T intersection under power lines, a sign is missing in front of you, turn left and down the hill till you arrive at another fire trail after a few minutes. Now stop and listen for a moment, can you hear the creek flowing in front of you? If you can, good chance all the 3 waterfalls on this track will be flowing well, you can look to the left where this fire trail crosses the creek as well, but if it sounds good, it is going to be good.
Now turn right and follow this new fire trail as it heads downhill gently, after a few minutes you will come to a couple of signs and the start of the actual walking track to the left, down you go! It descends into a small valley but it is not hard at all and shortly thereafter, you will arrive at a T intersection with a directional sign, go left to get to Hazel Falls, a few moments later you are walking around the back of the falls. Stop and site and admire the falls (If they are running), the serenity, oh, and the mosquitoes, there were just a few here the day I last visited. OK, enough serenity at this spot, retrace your steps to the sign and continue straight ahead.
On your way to Edit Falls, you will cross a small bridge and a walkway over a swampy section, it does not take too long and you reach another intersection, continue straight on to visit Edit Falls, go right to skip them (Why?) and start heading towards Mabel falls. No skipping Edit, go straight ahead and then down to the base of the falls, careful after rain, the last 10mtrs can be slippery getting down and up. These are only small falls, but oh so pretty when flowing! When you are ready, retrace your steps back to the last intersection and go left. A green mesh fence is keeping you safe on your left, did you spot the old fireplace on the right? This used to be an old Picnic ground here many years ago.
After a bit, you will cross a fire trail, continue on straight ahead and Mabel falls are only 275mtrs further on. A pretty set of falls with quite a pool at the base that in years gone by was much larger and deeper, notice the rectangular sandstone blocks, these were used to dam the creek and create a much deeper pool here. The boys from the Woodford Academy used to run down here daily for a swim as part of their daily routine. Another waterfall you can get behind with quite a large overhang which is cool and green.
You now have two choices on how to complete your walk, the quickest way is to head back to the fire trail you crossed, then turn left, a bit of a hill and a gate at the top, there, you can either go left or straight on. Go left and up a bit more hill and you arrive at the very first T intersection at the start of your walk, go left back to your car. If you go straight on, you will pass the start of the walking track down to Edith Falls, continue on, then turn left when you reach the intersection of the fire trail with the hill you walked down, at the top with the intersection, turn right and a few minutes later you are back at your car.
If you choose to not return to your car as described above, you can complete the rest of the walking track which eventually finishes up on Woodbury St, Woodford. Now you will need to walk back to your car a few KMs away by road.
All in all, an easy walk, seldom visited by crowds, great for some waterfall photography after rain, but even if they are not flowing, the walk is a nice walk in its own right.
