I completed this walk in early May of 1997, on the supposed pretense it would be a "decent hike". I cannot remember every detail, but three things remain and stand outs and constants, experienced all around Cradle Mountain at the time: the weather and the enveloping gloom and in the specific instance of Reynolds, a powerful sense of isolation.Conditions were challenging about 2 hours into the walk to the point that myself and a more robust walking companion seriously considered turning back, with persistent light rain and descending fog setting in progressively colder emperatures. There is a section in that video of traversing a ledge to lower ground where we used a length of rope to ease down and back up. I cannot recall the creek crossing. Our packs were not overnight — small Berghaus packs and a Gitzo CF tripod each, plus water and food (we need not have bothered with water!). The falls themselves were midway between a low and moderate flow at the time, leaving both of us underwhelmed (even the changing of the fagus had come and gone), my companion very much so with his heavy Linhof Technorama 6x17 panorama camera (whatever happened to these photos, or him, I have no idea). Our total walk time was 10 hours, with an infuriating loss of direction somewhere near the creek crossing, arriving at the trackhead in darkness. Just writing that sentence I can recall a sign, or signs, plural with Reynolds Falls [arrow]; are these signs extant?
It wasn't until the next day we were able to report to the Ranger Station of our return. Today, GPS and mobile phones are prevalent. None of that back then. Just map and compass, some additional scribbles, wits and bravado. Numb legs and runny noses...
I would suggest you first
reccé the entire walk route to the falls with a day pack and full provisions only with a small camera (no tripod!). Take detailed notes and mark/notate specific points with a GPS. Armed with that knowledge, you then know what to take note of, what to plan for and what to take, rather than 'fly blind'. Twenty-four years on, and widely-travelled, I cannot see the benefit in returning, and even if I did with extra time to burn around that neck of the woods, it would definitely not be with anything other than a day pack and a smaller camera (again, no tripod!), plenty of energy food and GPS with spare batteries, and not solo. And that's all before I even consider what physical shape I am in now, compared to then!!
Reynolds Falls as a destination can be considered an adventurous, even rewarding walk, but not in weather where high rainfall would result in sharp rises. In terms of photography, waterfalls thundering away in flood conditions rarely make for an inspired photograph, and are all together just worth admiring their gusto from a distance (Iceland's being notable exceptions, so often upstaged by Middle Earth-like settings). I see nothing wrong with using a drone in an isolated place as a research/search-and-find tool. Those waterfalls that provide the most striking memory are in low to moderate flow that can be timed to reflect their beauty, and if aesthetics balance form and function, even a gossamer flow will be a memorable scene; I doubt Reynolds would turn into a trickle at any time. I do not know if I still have my record of Reynolds among a distant stash of many thousands of slides dating from 1977 to 2019 when I migrated to digital.