Somersby Falls is located in the northern section of Brisbane Water National Park, about 10km west of Gosford and 5mins from the M1 Motorway.

From Newcastle and Sydney:

• Exit the M1 at the Central Coast Highway towards Gosford.

From Gosford:

• Take the Central Coast Highway past Kariong
• Turn onto Wisemans Ferry Road
• Take the second left onto Somersby Falls Road
• The picnic area is at the end of Somersby Falls Road.

Road quality

• Sealed roads

Vehicle access

• 2WD vehicles

Weather restrictions

• All weather

Parking

• Parking is available at Somersby Falls picnic area, including 4 accessible parking spaces, with accessible signage clearly displayed.
• The carpark opens at 7am every day and is locked at 8pm during daylight savings time and at 6pm at all other times.
• It can be a busy place on the weekend and during summer so parking might be limited.
• Small buses recommended. Drop off and pick up bay suited for small buses only. Bus parking off site. 
  
   

Amenities

• Separate facilities for males, females and people with reduced mobility
• There are accessible doorways at least 850mm wide with lever handles.

Toilets

There's an accessible toilet that can be reached via a paved stone pathway.

Picnic tables

The picnic tables are set on concrete slabs and are located along stone pathways or relatively flat grassy areas.

Barbecue facilities

• Gas/electric barbecues (free)

Carpark

Step-free access

• The picnic area is mostly flat
• There's step-free access from the carpark along paved stone pathways.
• At some points there are short, steep ramps and some slopes where people with reduced mobility may need assistance.
• The step-free outdoor pathways include a pathway from the carpark to the lookout.

• Step-free outdoor pathways

Seats and resting points

There are accessible seats for people with reduced mobility.

• Somersby Falls picnic area factsheet
• Somersby Falls picnic area map (1.5MB pdf)

Disability access level - medium

• The picnic area is mostly flat with step-free access from the carpark along paved stone pathways.
• At some points there are short, steep ramps and some grassy surfaces where people with reduced mobility may need assistance.
• There's an accessible toilet
• The picnic tables are accessible and located along stone pathways or relatively flat grassy areas.
• There's a stone pathway that leads to the edge of Floods Creek, just before it descends over the first waterfall with views of the creek.

• Brisbane Water Aboriginal cultural tour These school holidays, join an Aboriginal ranger on a family friendly guided tour in Brisbane Water National Park. Hear cultural stories as you walk along Doyles walking track, near Patonga.
• Girrakool loop track A lovely way to finish a barbecue, the Girrakool loop track is a short and easy walk through bushland, featuring an Aboriginal rock engraving site and scenic waterfalls.
• Somersby Falls picnic area A great place to picnic on the Central Coast, Somersby Falls picnic area is wheelchair accessible and offers barbecues and picnic tables in a lush rainforest setting, with waterfalls and a walking track.
• Somersby Falls walking track Somersby Falls walking track in Brisbane Water National Park runs through rainforest to the bottom of Somersby Falls. It starts at Somersby Falls picnic area, a popular Central Coast rest stop near Gosford.
• The Earth’s environment Join The Earth's environment Geography excursion for Stage 2 (Years 3-4) at Brisbane Water National Park, near Gosford. Students will discover how NSW National Parks safeguards over 10 per cent of land in NSW.
• Tommos loop and Rocky Ponds cycling loop Mountain biking enthusiasts will enjoy the challenging Tommos loop and Rocky Ponds cycling loop, a 20km bushland ride taking in scenic Central Coast views.

• Brisbane Water Aboriginal cultural tour These school holidays, join an Aboriginal ranger on a family friendly guided tour in Brisbane Water National Park. Hear cultural stories as you walk along Doyles walking track, near Patonga.
• Great North walk stage 10: Brisbane Water dreaming Complete the Great North walk challenge with the tenth and final leg of the series. You’ll walk 18km from Kariong to Somersby, exploring the serene waterways of Brisbane Water National Park.
• Warrah lookout Warrah lookout, offering scenic views of Broken Bay and the Hawkesbury River, is just a short walk from the carpark. It’s a great place to see Waratahs in season.

• Aboriginal culture Bring your students to this unique excursion in Brisbane Water National Park, near Gosford. They’ll experience the park through the eyes of an Aboriginal person on this Stage 2 (Years 3-4) Aboriginal culture Geography excursion.
• Brisbane Water Aboriginal cultural tour These school holidays, join an Aboriginal ranger on a family friendly guided tour in Brisbane Water National Park. Hear cultural stories as you walk along Doyles walking track, near Patonga.
• Girrakool loop track A lovely way to finish a barbecue, the Girrakool loop track is a short and easy walk through bushland, featuring an Aboriginal rock engraving site and scenic waterfalls.
• Somersby Falls picnic area A great place to picnic on the Central Coast, Somersby Falls picnic area is wheelchair accessible and offers barbecues and picnic tables in a lush rainforest setting, with waterfalls and a walking track.
• Somersby Falls walking track Somersby Falls walking track in Brisbane Water National Park runs through rainforest to the bottom of Somersby Falls. It starts at Somersby Falls picnic area, a popular Central Coast rest stop near Gosford.
• The Earth’s environment Join The Earth's environment Geography excursion for Stage 2 (Years 3-4) at Brisbane Water National Park, near Gosford. Students will discover how NSW National Parks safeguards over 10 per cent of land in NSW.

• Girrakool picnic area A great spot for a family picnic, Girrakool picnic area has barbecues, lots of green space to run around and a scenic walking track that features Aboriginal engravings.
• Great North walk - Brisbane Water National Park You’ll find the Wondabyne to Patonga and Patonga to Pearl Beach parts of the iconic Great North walk in Brisbane Water National Park. Take a short walk or overnight hike.

Animals

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  Australian pelican (Pelecanus conspicillatus)

  The curious pelican is Australia’s largest flying bird and has the longest bill of any bird in the world. These Australian birds are found throughout Australian waterways and the pelican uses its throat pouch to trawl for fish. Pelicans breed all year round, congregating in large colonies on secluded beaches and islands.

• 

  Koala (Phascolarctos cinereus)

  One of the most renowned Australian animals, the tree-dwelling marsupial koala can be found in gum tree forests and woodlands across eastern NSW, Victoria and Queensland, as well as in isolated regions in South Australia. With a vice-like grip, this perhaps most iconic but endangered Australian animal lives in tall eucalypts within a home range of several hectares.

• 

  Platypus (Ornithorhynchus anatinus)

  One of the most fascinating and unusual Australian animals, the duck-billed platypus, along with the echidna, are the only known monotremes, or egg-laying mammals, in existence. The platypus is generally found in permanent river systems and lakes in southern and eastern NSW and east and west of the Great Dividing Range.

Plants

• 

  Scribbly gum (Eucalyptus haemastoma)

  Easily identifiable Australian native plants, scribbly gum trees are found throughout NSW coastal plains and hills in the Sydney region. The most distinctive features of this eucalypt are the ‘scribbles’ made by moth larva as it tunnels between the layers of bark.

• 

  Waratah (Telopea speciosissima)

  The beautiful waratah is not only the NSW floral emblem, it's also one of the best-known Australian native plants. This iconic Australian bush flower can be found on sandstone ridges around Sydney, in nearby mountain ranges and on the NSW South Coast. The waratah has a vibrant crimson flowerhead, measuring up to 15cm across, and blossoms in spring.