Katoomba
Sunrise over the Three Sisters and Mount Solitary in the Blue Mountains National Park, Katoomba - Credit: Filippo Rivetti
Scattered over more than 260,000 hectares and part of the UNESCO-protected Greater Blue Mountains World Heritage Area, Blue Mountains National Park is the most visited national park in NSW.
Renowned for the Three Sisters rock formation, the Blue Mountains National Park incorporates many other spectacular landmarks and offers opportunities for exploration and immersion into nature. Enjoy exhilarating walks, discover Aboriginal history, hike to tumbling waterfalls and enjoy picnics in parks with stunning, far-reaching vistas of ancient escarpments and forest-clad valleys.
Begin your exploration of the Blue Mountains National Park at the Heritage Centre at Blackheath. Run by the National Parks and Wildlife Service, here you will find maps, information and local history and art displays; and if you’re heading off on a long hike, you should register your intentions here.
At the heart of the National Park is Echo Point at Katoomba, with incredible views of the Three Sisters and beyond to Mount Solitary and the vast Jamison Valley. Wander along the new boardwalk, stopping to contemplate the connection between the traditional indigenous owners – the Darug and Gundungurra people – at the new Gathering Place amphitheatre. You can also explore ancient rock art sites and shelters such as Red Hands Cave at Glenbrook or Walls Cave at Blackheath.
Lookouts offering incredible views of the World Heritage-listed wonders are dotted all over the park. In Katoomba, the spectacular Narrow Neck Lookout overlooks Narrow Neck Peninsula – a popular area with mountain bikers. Nearby, Scenic World offers breathtaking ways to view the surrounding scenery with a Scenic Skyway across the gorge, the world’s steepest railway, the Scenic Railway that descends into the valley, and Scenic Walkway through the rainforest.
In Blackheath Govetts Leap Lookout and Evans Lookout offer some of the most popular and photographed views in the park, along with the Wentworth Falls Lookout in Wentworth Falls and Gordon Falls Lookout in Leura.
The Blue Mountains National Park is also famous for thrilling adventure sports. A rope-assisted descent into a canyon or cave, canyoning gives access to a beautiful subterranean world. Bikes and horseriding adventures are also popular, with many trails through stunning wilderness.
You’ll find more information as well as downloadable maps on the NSW National Parks app.
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