Masons Falls is located in the Kinglake National Park on National Park Road in Kinglake West (near Pheasant Creek), Victoria and is only 65km North of Melbourne.
Directions
If you turn off Whittlesea – Kinglake Rd onto National Park Rd (opposite the Pheasant Creek General Store) and continue on for a few kilometres (through a little town) you will drive into the National Park. Easy! Follow the signs and turn right at the first road (Masons Falls Rd) and you will find yourself at the car park!
Opening times – Sugarloaf Block
The Sugarloaf Block which includes Masons Falls is open daily.
31 January – 10 March 2015
9.00am – 6.00pm Monday to Friday
9.30am – 6.00pm Weekends & Public Holidays
11 March –5 April 2015
9.00am – 5.00pm Monday to Friday
9.30am – 6.00pm Weekends & Public Holidays
A Hidden Gem
Masons Falls is a great spot to enjoy a bushwalk, have a picnic or dip your toes into Running Creek!
We arrived at the car park and had a look through the interpretive display in the Visitor Centre where we planned our route. There are many tracks throughout the area that allow you to plan a variety of short and long walks ranging from 1.4km to 13 km. We decided on the Lyrebird Track near the Masons Falls Picnic Area as it was the shortest walk and suitable for prams and people with limited mobility.
The Masons Falls Picnic Area is set among towering gums (many of which were burnt in the Black Saturday Bushfires in 2009) and has large shelters, lots of tables, free gas barbecues and toilets which makes this the perfect place for a social gathering. When we visited there would have been at least 5 different groups all having a fantastic time! You can also bring your own portable gas barbecue however solid fuel barbecues are not permitted.
TOP TIP: There is a sign that says the tap water is not suitable for drinking. Bring enough water with you for your visit!
We walked through the picnic area and followed the signs to Masons Falls. After about 200 metres we noticed a clearing where people were sitting on rocks and paddling in the water. This is known as Running Creek. We decided that we would go there on the return journey back from the lookout!
The path to Masons Falls is extremely well maintained and easy to navigate with a pram (which we are glad we had otherwise it would have been a long walk carrying two children!!) and goes up and down hills. It’s a short walk but it is tiring for little legs, especially in the heat.
On our walk we came across a mother and son. The mother took one look at us with the kids and said “It is worth it” (Did we really look that disheveled?!) to which her son replied “No, it’s not!” I love children’s honesty!
We made it to the lookout and as we visited in summer the Falls were not as spectacular as they would be in winter. We had a look and talked about the fossils that have been found in the area (this peaked Alegría’s interest!) and turned around and walked back.
Georgina Says
Was it worth it? It’s pretty and I am glad we have seen it. Would we return? To the picnic area and Running Creek – yes, definitely! To the Falls themselves, perhaps in winter but once you have seen it then that’s it. There is not much for kids to do at the lookout.
As promised, after walking the 500m back towards the picnic area we found the little clearing again and pushed the pram into the bush off to the side of the path and walked down to the water. Running Creek is a beautiful little spot to explore and cool off hot feet. It was not very deep and if you stayed away from the end (it’s a long drop off!) then it was a safe place for kids to play. The rocks with the water on them were a little slippery though!
Alegría Says
Can we come back here? I don’t want to do the big walk again but I REALLY want to come back and swim! (Mumma’s Note: I think it would be a bit cold when there is enough water to swim!!)
We will definitely visit again and bring a picnic! Hey, we may even go camping! There are camping sites in the Kinglake National Park with sites costing up to $28.80 per night for up to 6 people (some sites are big enough for caravans) and bookings are essential.
Campsite Information
The Gums camping area is situated close to a meandering mountain stream and is nestled amongst tall eucalypts and ferns. This tranquil area is a popular base for relaxing or exploring the northern section of the park.
The Gums is ideal for families and small groups, with 18 camp sites of which five are suitable for caravans up to 20ft in length. Each campsite is surrounded by vegetation providing a delightful bush setting.
Camp sites are provided with shared facilities including picnic tables and fireplaces. The campground also has one free communal gas barbeque.
Camping fees apply throughout the year and all sites must be pre-booked. Fees are charged per campsite per night, and camping is only permitted on numbered sites with the necessary permit. Each campsite may be booked for a maximum of 6 people and one vehicle.
There is no drinking water at this campsite, visitors must bring in their own drinking water.
More Information
The Kinglake National Park and Masons Falls is managed and maintained by Parks Victoria.
Here are some helpful links!
http://parkweb.vic.gov.au/explore/parks/kinglake-national-park
http://parkweb.vic.gov.au/explore/parks/kinglake-national-park/things-to-do/masons-falls-picnic-area
http://parkweb.vic.gov.au/explore/parks/kinglake-national-park/things-to-do/the-gums-camp
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