As if the Blue Mountains wasn’t already epic enough, the stunning national park in Greater Sydney has just scored an incredible cliff top walkway that will form part of a next-level multi-day walk – taking adventurers along a spectacular escarpment from Wentworth Falls to Katoomba. Keen to test out the hiking boots? Us too.
Located on Gundungurra Country, the new 19km, two-day walk takes hikers along a route that hasn’t previously been safely accessible to the public. Winding its way along the escarpment from Wentworth to Katoomba, the route takes in views over the Jamison Valley towards Mount Solitary, with elevated views of the the Three Sisters, the Wentworth Falls and Katoomba Cascades, and unique access to hand-built historic and restored sandstone tracks and lookouts. Walkers can also expect to take in the diverse flora and fauna that call the dense rainforest area home, with possible sightings of lyrebirds and yellow-tailed black cockatoos.
With an estimated hike time of two days, NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) recommends taking on the walk in two parts; starting with the 11km stretch from Wentworth Falls to Gordon Falls at Leura. In Leura, you’ll find plenty of accommodation options and dinner options for a wholesome night, and you can refuel at one of the quaint cafés or restaurants in the area before setting off on the final 8km leg towards Katoomba.
If you’re not up for the whole two-day affair, you can choose to tackle shorter stretches of the walking track, with multiple entry points and guided tours available for those keen for a quick leg-stretch – before checking out the best eateries in the area.
This new walk – known as the Grand Cliff Top Walk – is part of a network of 13 'NSW Great Walks' being established in national parks across NSW; you can learn more about the progress of each of those over here.
With easy public transport access and an overnight accommodation stop half way along the route, the new hike is a perfect introduction to multi-day hiking; all the outdoorsy enrichment, without the rigmarole of having to haul a tent on your back for two days' straight.
You can learn more and plan your hike over here.
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