Maddens Falls
Illawarra, NSW
Easy 750m walk to a Dharawal waterfall near Darkes Forest — ferns, honeyeaters and a picnic table on the return.
About this place
Maddens Falls is the eastern Dharawal leftover, a short signed walk from a carpark on Darkes Forest Road opposite the Apple Shack at Glenbernie Orchard. NPWS: 750m along the track to a lookout over Maddens Creek dropping into pools below. Easy enough for kids, good for birdwatching (honeyeaters, red wattlebirds, golden whistlers) and frog calls. Best after rain and in April when the falls run; spring for acacias and the rare fern-leaf grevillea. Picnic table near the carpark. No toilets. Helensburgh is the nearest town.
Access & getting there
Old Princes Highway south from Helensburgh, right onto Darkes Forest Road for 2.5km to the carpark on the southern side. Sealed 2WD. Follow signs 750m to the falls. Park always open unless fire or weather closures.
Maddens Falls carpark, Darkes Forest Rd (southern side, opposite 259 Darkes Rd / Apple Shack Glenbernie Orchard), Darkes Forest NSW 2508
Safety notes
Stay on the lookout — waterfall edges are slippery. Limited mobile coverage. No swimming infrastructure at the lookout.
Gear notes
Drinking water, hat, sunscreen. Binoculars for birds.
On the map
Community photos
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Events nearby
Linked Hikezilla events coming soon.
Connected challenges
Tied to challenges — coming soon.