Walk to the five-tier Ryde Falls
Located in Oxford Forest Conservation Area in the Canterbury region
Ryde Falls is a hidden gem in the heart of Oxford forest. The falls can be accessed from a number of walking tracks in the area including, the Wharfedale Track, View Hill and Coopers Creek.
Track overview
Walking and tramping
4–6 hrEasy: Walking track
Dog access
Dogs on a leash only
Description
Coopers Creek car park to Ryde Falls (Ryde Falls Track)
Time: 3 hr one way
Distance: 7 km one way
This well-formed track initially crosses cleared private land with views of the plains and surrounding hills. It enters the beech forest and finally descends to Coopers Creek to view the five-tier Ryde Falls.
A panel by the, now closed, Ryde Tramway tells of the area’s rich saw milling history.
Getting there:
2 km south of Oxford, turn off SH72 (Inland Scenic Route) onto Woodside Road. Follow this for 7 km, then turn into Mountain Road and continue to Coopers Creek car park at the end.
View Hill car park to Ryde Falls
Time: 1–2 hr one way
Distance: 3 km one way
Leave the car park on Wharefedale Track. Turn off this track about 20 minutes into the forest and descend to Coopers Creek to view Ryde Falls.
Getting there:
4 km south of Oxford, turn off SH72 (Inland Scenic Route) onto Woodstock Road. Follow this for 10 km then turn into Ingrams Road, then into Limeworks Road, which becomes Perhams Road. An AA sign here indicates the turn-off to the start of the Wharfedale Track where the View Hill car park is located.
In times of heavy rain two fords on Perhams Road may become impassable.
Link Track
Use this track to make a circuit walk to Ryde Falls from either View Hill or Cooper Creek car park.
You can also walk between View Hill and Cooper Creek car parks on this track (3 hr, 7 km).
Getting there
These tracks are accessed from SH72 (Inland Scenic Route), just south of Oxford.
Know before you go
Wasp populations reach high numbers from January to March – wear light-coloured clothing and carry antihistamine cream/tablets as a precaution.