🌸 🌼 Rhododendron Festival & (optional) Mermaids Falls & Caves 🌈 🧜‍♀️ 🐦‍⬛

🌸🌼 Blackheath Rhododendron Festival 🌸🌼
This is a once a year event from this group, so don’t miss out!

⚠️ FOR YOUR SAFETY & ENJOYMENT, PLEASE READ BELOW DESCRIPTION FULLY BEFORE YOU CLICK ‘Attend’!

🗓 DATE: Saturday, 7 November 2026.
⏰ MEETING TIME: 10.10am.
🚆 MEETING POINT: (start & finish) Blackheath station at the entry/exit, Great Western Highway.

🥾 DISTANCE: 9km return.
🥾 GRADE: Easy/Moderate on a relaxing pace, not snail pace!
💪🏽 Reasonable fitness recommended for the walk to/from Mermaids Cave and Mermaid Falls with uneven rocky surfaces, steep stairs, ups and downs hills, creek crossings and a bit of rocks scrambling.
🧜‍♀️ We will have to use the rope to get down the trail to Mermaid Cave.
💪🏽Tracks expected to be wet and muddy at few sections.

📝 NOTE - you may opt to join us for Rhododendron Gardens walk only.

ℹ️ Refer website & photo no. 2 for further info:
https://rhodofestival.org/rhodo-festival/

🌸 The Blackheath Rhododendron Festival’s highlight is the parade on the Saturday of the first full weekend in November and involves a procession of floats ornately decorated by local organisations and by pupils of the local school. The procession is usually headed by a marching band and by a fleet of vintage cars, trucks and fire engines, and is capped off by a float honouring the Festival Queen.

📸 WHAT TO EXPECT:
🚶🏼‍♀️This is a social leisure walk suitable for nature lovers, bird watchers and amateur photographers.
🚆Upon arrival at Blackheath station and after a safety briefing, we’ll walk across the road browsing the market stalls and watching the parade at 11am.
🚶‍♂️After the parade, we’ll head to Campbell Rhododendron Gardens, about 20 minutes walk from/to Blackheath station.
🌸 This unique garden is Blue Mountains native bushland underplanted with exotic species such as Azaleas, Mollis Azealas, Rhododendrons, Camelias, Kalmias, Pieris, Forsythia, as well as other cold climate deciduous trees.
🌺 The Rhododendrons are blooming this time a year and the garden looks Oh! So Beautiful! 🌼 🌸 🌻 🌸
🚶‍♂️After spending time taking photos and selfies in the garden and walking on a short trails with optional Aussie Cream Tea (own expense) we’ll meet at the front main entrance and head towards Blackheath station for optional Mermaids Cave and Mermaids Falls walk.
🚶🏼‍♀️It’s about 6km return from/to Blackheath station.
🌈 This is a hidden gems in Blackheath, the waterfalls will look amazing after rainfalls. We will continue the walk into the forests and the scenery is just beautiful.
🎥 Scenes from Mad Max Beyond Thunderdome were also shot here.
🚶🏻After exploring the cave and waterfalls with loads of photos, we’ll head back to Blackheath station after fun day out. 😊

💵 GRATUITY/CONTRIBUTION:
💰$5 CASH per person to your organiser.
💰$5 CASH per person for entry donation to the Rhododendron Gardens.

🌸 The Campbell Rhododendron Gardens are managed by the volunteers of the Blue Mountains Rhododendron Society of NSW Inc.
✅ Please bring correct change on the day to speed up the meet and greet.

⚠️ IMPORTANT INFORMATION ⚠️
📝 TERMS & DISCLAIMER:
ℹ️ Attending this event is voluntarily at your own risk. Organiser/s accepts no liability of any kind including injuries, accidents, misadventure etc during and after this event.
ℹ️ For full disclosure on Public Waiver, please refer to Meetup Terms and Conditions and the front page of this group on ‘About Us’.
✅ You are responsible for looking after your own health, safety and belongings.
✅ You must also take care not to put other people at risk.
✅ Keep well back from cliff edges at all times, especially when taking photos.
✅ If you do not wish to be photographed (randomly or group photos), please DO NOT join this event.
✅ N0 facilities on the Mermaids Cave and Falls trails, so please come well prepared.
✅ Please be mindful and respectful to members from diverse backgrounds. This is not a dating event.
✅ If something’s come up, please Edit your RSVP to ‘Not Going’ asap at least by 7pm the day before. It’s only take a second!
❎ Late cancellation or No Shows would not be tolerated. You will forfeit the opportunity to join my future events!

🎒WHAT TO BRING:
👕 Comfortable outfit for the weather preferably hiking gear. Jeans or cotton t-shirt may not be suitable for this event.
🥾 Waterproof hiking boots or good grip walking shoes/trail runners highly recommended.
💦 At least 1.8L of water, Hydralyte or sports energy drinks.
🥪 Snacks and packed lunch.
🧢 Hat, sunscreen and insect repellent ie. Bushman or Aerogard.
⛑ Basic First Aid Kit ie. BandAids, bandages, antibacterial wipes etc.
🧥Light raincoat or a poncho just in case of wet weather.
🤩 Great sense of fun and adventure!

🚊 Check Opal Trip Planner for public transport services, weekend trackwork etc.
https://transportnsw.info/

🚗 Commuter parking on Station Street entry/exit or side streets near Blackheath station.

🏃‍♂️Please leave home with plenty of travel time and arrive promptly. It’s rude and disrespectful for turning up late!

✍️ I will update further information during mid week on weather forecast, train schedule from Central etc. So relax! 😉

📲 Any questions, please send me a TEXT message well before meeting time to avoid any confusion with unnecessary updates on comments section.

🌈 Let’s explore and enjoy the great outdoors! 🌿

Norra 😎
📱0405038557 (TEXT only)