Phantom Falls Walk: Blanket Leaf to Allenvale Mill

The Phantom Falls Walk is an 8 km one-way point-to-point route from Blanket Leaf Picnic Area to Allenvale Mill, linking Cora Lynn Cascades and Phantom Falls. Allow about 3½ hours. It’s strenuous and best for experienced walkers; the repeated creek crossings and easy-to-miss arrows need more attention than the distance suggests. Arrange a pickup at Allenvale Mill Car Park. Walking back means about 16 km total. If you mainly want the waterfall, a separate 3.4 km return walk starts at Allenvale and skips Cora Lynn.

Between Cora Lynn Cascades and Cora Lynn Crossing, the track crosses the creek more than 20 times. Orange-red arrows mark the crossings, but they can be hard to spot, so take your time finding each marker. Don’t attempt the walk after heavy rain or when river levels are high; the water crossings are the main reason to choose another day.

At Phantom Falls, a lookout and seat face the fern-covered escarpment and the pool below. More than 270 steps lead down to a lookout at the base. The falls depend on rain and overflow from Allenvale Dam upstream, so the flow can be modest after a dry spell.

The lower part of the route follows the St George River through tall eucalypts and dense understorey, then passes orchard and farmland near Allenvale. The valley is a good place to listen for Superb Fairy-wrens, White-throated Treecreepers, Grey Shrike-thrush and honeyeaters.

Start at the Blanket Leaf Picnic Area car park and finish at Allenvale Mill Car Park. It’s a true point-to-point walk, so arrange transport between them or retrace the route on foot. Blanket Leaf has picnic tables and fireplaces. Dogs aren’t allowed on roads, tracks or trails in the Lorne area of the national park, including this walk.