Blue Mountains

Defined by its towering ridges and plummeting valleys, the Blue Mountains is a visual treat that needs to be seen firsthand to be fully appreciated. So rugged is this region that in Australia’s colonial era, it took fifteen years before European explorers were shown a way to cross what is known as the Great Dividing Range, with the help of the Aboriginal Gundungurra tribe. Today, the arterial Great Western Highway follows this tortuous route across the ridgelines, weaving its way along the top of grand escarpments.

As far as facilities go, there’s something for everyone up here. From campsites to luxury accommodation, and everything in-between, there’s a unique style and character to the Blue Mountains which is quite unlike anywhere else. The townships of Katoomba, Leura, Blackheath and Wentworth Falls prove to be the most popular for newcomers to the area, with each offering many boutique shops and eateries in their respective main streets.

The fact is, there are so many tracks and trails in the Blue Mountains that narrowing down to a short list of must-see destinations could be quite daunting. To be honest, you could spend weeks up in the mountains — checking out the many great lookouts, waterfalls, tracks and trails that are on offer. Fortunately, we’ve spent the time up in the mountains to put together a list of what is arguably the Blue Mountains’ most captivating free experiences.

As one of the most widely recognised natural attractions in the country, the Three Sisters is a bucket-list destination for many a traveller. In a prime position to take in the best views of the Three Sisters, Echo Point is easily the Blue Mountains’ most popular destination, with approximately 1.5 million visitors to the lookout annually. Thankfully, the lookout would have to be one of Australia’s largest, with two gigantic viewing platforms to take in the incredible sights. From these platforms, busloads of tourists make their way out to the railings, taking in commanding views of the captivatingly beautiful Jamison Valley, with Mount Solitary (dubbed the Ruined Castle) adding to the impeccable view.

Depending on the time of day, the views from Echo Point can change dramatically. Early in the morning, the Jamison Valley can be filled with low-lying clouds, which is an unforgettable experience for early risers. Later in the day, as the sun makes its way to the west, the viewable side of The Three Sisters lights up with golden hues, adding to the overall impact. The upper escarpments of the Ruined Castle and the surrounding ranges also glow with the setting sun, which can be a real treat if the horizon is clear of cloud.

Adding to the experience, a short walk departs from Echo Point, which enables visitors to walk onto the first ‘sister’. Keep an eye out for the stone archway (pictured), which leads to Honeymoon Bridge via the Three Sisters Walk. Many tourists miss this one, but this is definitely worth the short stroll.

The trail is sealed and easy going before bringing visitors to Oreades Lookout, which provides another enthralling view of the Jamison Valley. From this point, a short but very steep set of stairs drops down to Honeymoon Bridge, which in turn extends across the gap to the first monolith of The Three Sisters. It’s a thrilling experience with views to match — and a worthy addition to the Echo Point experience. From here, you could descend the historic Giant Stairway (800-plus steel steps), but if time is short, head back to Echo Point the way you came.

Taking the Echo Point experience a step further, there’s yet another walk close to The Three Sisters that is most definitely worth your consideration. In much the same way that the Three Sisters Walk to Honeymoon Bridge takes you left from Echo Point, the Prince Henry Cliff Walk is a thrilling way to take in some awe-inspiring scenery, this time going right along the escarpment.

Via this walk, you’ll pass many stunning vantage points of the Jamison Valley, with each providing a slightly different perspective. You’ll also cross the Katoomba Cascades — a delightful waterfall that begs for a photo opportunity. Complete with hewn-rock steps to hop over, it’s a fun attraction and quite the charmer. If that wasn’t enough, the water of the cascades subsequently flows over the escarpment to form Katoomba Falls, which come into full view as you continue further along the Prince Henry Cliff Walk.

The best vantage point to witness Katoomba Falls is at Reids Lookout, which is a signposted short detour from the main trail. From this point, you’ll enjoy one of the Blue Mountains’ best views, with the Scenic World Skyway (a suspended cable car) and The Three Sisters adding to an incredible perspective of the Jamison Valley.

The cliff walk ends at Scenic World — a delightful tourist hub full of stunning (paid) attractions. Scenic World holds a unique place in Australian tourism and is the country’s most visited, privately owned tourist attraction. Be sure to enter the main building, as there is a magnificent lookout (Mary’s Lookout) on the top level of Scenic World, which is free to visit, with a café at the lookout, should you wish to relax before heading back the way you came.

If you’re travelling by car, it should be noted that the parking spaces in the streets that surround Echo Point require money and are timed. Depending on how busy the lookout is, you could spend a fair amount of time trying to find a spot, and you could also end up parking a fair distance away. A slightly different option would be to park in the multi-storey (free) carpark at Scenic World. You could then walk to Echo Point via the Prince Henry Cliff Walk.

Finally, also consider the Katoomba bus route 686, which runs between Scenic World and Echo Point every 10-15 minutes — should you wish to save your legs from the return walk. While not free, it’s inexpensive and could possibly work out cheaper than the metered parking surrounding Echo Point.

Note that currently, a significant section of the National Pass is closed due to a major rockslide. Check the parks and wildlife alerts page to see if the closure is still in place.

The Blue Mountains are blessed with many tracks and trails, each offering something unique. Most who have walked the astounding National Pass would agree that this is one of the best in the region, and perhaps up there with the best short walks in the country. The National Pass has a rich history, with its hiking track built with picks, shovels, crowbars and dynamite in the early 1900s.

Much of the trail was, relatively speaking, easy to create, with the early pioneers digging out a softer claystone layer sandwiched within the harder sandstone walls — midway up the towering cliff-face. The experience of walking mid-way up the cliff is quite a thrill, with the walk a testament to a bygone era of persistence, courage and determination.

Starting from the Wentworth Falls Picnic Area, the National Pass trail is well signposted. While the trail is graded as difficult, it isn’t difficult for most of the journey. It earns itself the difficult grade due to the Grand Stairs down to the National Pass trail. Thanks to the work of both the early pioneers and more recent additions, this staircase, while very steep, is well constructed with a handrail to hold onto.

Once at the bottom of the staircase, you are now midway down the cliff-face. From here, Wentworth Falls are sublime as water cascades over the bulkhead of rock at the top of the falls. Viewed from far below, it’s quite an experience, with a light spray of water droplets falling from the skies above and shifting with the wind.

Continuing, the National Pass comes into full effect as you traverse the etched claystone layer — with views to savour at every twist and turn.

At the end of the relatively flat trail of the National Pass, you’ll be faced with another set of stairs back up to the top of the escarpment. It’s a bit of a hike back up, but with a string of distractions to stop at during the ascent, you’ll hardly notice. The staircase follows a waterfall from the base of the valley to the very top of the escarpment, along a trail called the Waterfall Way. In all, you’ll have three amazing waterfall locations to savour, as you catch your breath within this multi-level masterpiece.

Once you’re back up on the plateau, head to the signposted Conservation Hut for refreshments, or take the Short Cut Track back to Wentworth Falls Picnic Area. The picnic area is quite picturesque with open lawns and barbeques, a well-deserved end to the walk.

The only optional addition we would recommend occurs after approximately 100 metres into the start of the walk. Shortly after leaving the Wentworth Falls Picnic Area, we suggest taking the detour to Princes Lookout — dropping from the upper plateau to the lower viewing platform, where excellent views of Wentworth Falls can be absorbed. From Princes Lookout, drop down again to the Undercliff Track and turn left to walk under the ledges of the escarpment, with water trickling over the ledges year-round. This alternate route then links back to the main trail, just before the Grand Stairs down to Wentworth Falls. A detailed, 3D map of the trail is at the start of the walk at the Wentworth Falls Picnic Area.

One of the Blue Mountains’ best-kept secrets would have to be Pulpit Rock. The lookout provides visitors to the area with spectacular views of the Grose Valley, which in many respects is similar to the epic Jamison Valley with sheer cliffs and sweeping valley views. Walking out onto the viewing platforms is quite the experience, with man-made bridges ushering visitors out onto the ‘pulpit’. Here you’ll be utterly captivated by the sense of scale, with uncompromising views in all directions.

Getting to Pulpit Rock can be a little tricky, but altogether not too difficult. From the town of Blackheath, turn off the highway onto Hat Hill Road and follow the winding road for approximately 3 kilometres, at which point you’ll see the right-hand turn for Pulpit Rock Road. The last section of road is unsealed with a few potholes, but generally, easily accessible by two-wheel drive vehicles.

Another great trail in the Blackheath region is the sensational Grand Canyon Walk. Similar to the National Pass, the Grand Canyon involves descending a flight of stairs, making your way through an expanse composed of flat terrain, with another set of stairs to climb out again.

Dropping into the canyon, visitors can experience one of the most luscious fern-lined stretches of natural beauty to be found in the state. Trekkers marvel at the natural wonderland that exists here, with creeks and waterfalls the only sounds within this remarkably silent and tranquil environment. To be sure, this is Mother Nature at her very best — that it is only a couple of hours from the centre of Sydney is astonishing in itself.

As this is a loop walk, you have the option to walk the trail in either direction. If you’re able to get an early start, we recommend dropping into the canyon from Evans Head Lookout. This way, the sun will be behind you, with the colours of the ferns and moss more intense, and the light working its magic through the narrow openings above. After midday, the sun has all but shifted out of the canyon. Overall, though it’s a minor point, if you can walk this 3-4 hour loop at any time of day, you’ll be rewarded with one of Australia’s best nature trails.

Rounding out a trio of major sights to be uncovered in the Blackheath region, Hargraves Lookout is a little-known vantage point that deserves more attention. Overlooking the pastoral lands of the Megalong Valley, adding this lookout to the itinerary will give you a well-rounded appreciation of this remarkable region. The most striking feature of Hargraves Lookout is its razor-thin ridgeline, which visitors are able to walk the entire length of. There are several lookouts and vantage points along the ridgeline — each offering up a unique perspective of the Megalong Valley.

Getting to Hargraves Lookout requires a little navigation, but it is not altogether hard if you pay attention to the signage. As you drive along the highway at Blackheath, you’ll see a railroad crossing (Bundarra Road). Cross the tracks and follow the signs to the Shipley Plateau and Hargraves Lookout.