Charles Darwin Walk
On a hot January day 182 years ago, one of the world’s great scientists and thinkers took a stroll along a little creek at what was then a sparcely-populated travellers’ stop in the Blue Mountains. It was the beginings of The Charles Darwin Walk.
That man – of course – was Charles Darwin – then just 26 – and it would be another 23 years before he would publish his ground breaking work On the Originin of the Species – still considered the foundation of studies into evolutionary biology.
Darwin had landed at Sydney aboard the HMS Beagle – one of many ports the vessel and its crew visited during their five-year round-the-world surveying voyage. Darwin almost immediately hired a guide and some horses and set off for the Central Western NSW town of Bathurst to see some of the country.
He eventually reached Wentworth Falls where he rested at the Weatherboard Inn and took that famous stroll beside Jamieson Creek until the point it plunges into the Jamieson Valley.
He could not have known that the jottings he made in his diary about this little walk would inform one of the Blue Mountains’ enduring tourist attractions – the aptly named the Charles Darwin Walk.
Did anything he saw on this walk – or during his Australian visit – contribute to his theories on natural selection? Some think so and we certainly wanted to believe it.
The truth is of course unknown, but you can still walk where he walked, see what he saw, and speculate to your heart’s content.
Find the walk
If you come by train then your journey will start at Wentworth Falls railway station. Head towards the Great Western Highway and cross at the traffic lights before turning right and heading up a slight hill toward Wilson Park. You’ll pass a brightly painted bush shelter just before the entry.
Watch for signs to the walk and then enter the park. There are more signs in the park directing you and you find the main entry to the walk near some tennis courts. There are some information boards there about Darwin and the track.
What to expect
This is a pretty easy walk which should take you between two and three hours there and back – a little over 6km return. The track is well formed and there are boardwalks and bridges in good condition all the way and the scenery is very pretty.
The sound of the little creek babbling along is never far away and it gains strength and momentum on its way to the falls. There is a confusing fork in the track at about the two kilometre mark.
To the right is a very inviting bridge crossing – ignore it and continue on, keeping left. We suggest downloading a more detailed map and directions from Wild Walks which will keep you headed in the right direction.
If you start early you will see plenty of birds and have the illusion that – like Darwin – you have the place to yourself. The track gets very busy later in the day.
What to take
As with all bushwalking, you need sturdy shoes, sun protection and plenty of water. It’s only a few hours but you may need a snack. There are some spectacular views so don’t forget your camera.
Where we ate
On the day of our visit we arrived early in Wentworth Falls to find a thick early summer mist hanging in the valley. We decided to grab some breakfast while we waited for it to burn off. W chose the also aptly named Blue Mist Cafe in Station Street where ricotta cakes with fruit and a cup of tea hit the spot. It’s not the only cafe in Wentworth Falls – there were many others. Consider popping in for lunch at one of these after your walk.
