length
4 Days
difficulty
Moderate - Challenging
trip cost
From $1325pp
Highlights
Get ready for
- Towering sandstone cliffs and escarpment views
- Wildlife of kangaroos, wallabies, wombats, echidnas
- Lush rainforest vegetation and varied birdlife
- Unique flora including the endangered Megalong Valley bottlebrush
- Learn about the land of the Darug and Gundungurra on a walk with a First Nations guide
- Walk through creeks, cliffs, forests and valleys to arrive at the Ruined Castle, a spectacular natural rock formation
- Walk the much-loved Grand Canyon walking track through a remarkably diverse ecosystem
- Walk past iconic sights like the Three Sisters, Wentworth Falls, Jamison Valley, the Grand Stairway and Empress Falls
Itinerary
Blue Mountains Walks
Welcome to the Blue Mountains! Your adventure begins in Sydney, your gateway to a land of rugged peaks, soaring waterfalls and dense eucalyptus forest. Here you’ll meet your fellow travellers and local leader for a 8.30am welcome meeting and to get your hiking packs ready to go, then it’s time to hit the road and drive to the town of Wentworth Falls.
Continue through to Conservation Hut where you’ll jump out the vehicle and begin your explorations on foot. Take in awe-inspiring views of the Jamison Valley and Mt Solitary as you follow the Valley of the Waters track towards the eponymous Wentworth Falls and watch as the cascade plunges through rainforest into a beautiful pool below. Climb down the sandstone-carved Grand Stairway to the bottom of the falls to admire it from a different perspective, and if you’re feeling particularly adventurous, take a quick dip in its cool waters. Step onto the Wentworth Pass and weave through spectacular forests broken up by meandering creeks and lovely little waterfalls, then climb up through the Valley of the Waters into lush rainforest.
Soak in some amazing views over an al fresco picnic lunch then loop back around to where your walk began, passing by more stunning falls including the magical and much-photographed Empress Falls. After your walk, drive to the town of Katoomba and settle into your accommodation, then perhaps get to know your group a little better over dinner at a local brewery.
Overnight: Katoomba Hotel
Meals: L
It’s very important that you attend the welcome meeting at 8.30am today as we will be collecting insurance and emergency contact details at this time and departing on the tour straight after.
Embrace an early start and an exciting day ahead. Today you’ll learn about the traditional owners of the land, the Darug and Gundungurra peoples, during a morning walk from Echo Point with a First Nations guide. Hear stories of one of the world’s oldest living cultures and see how it’s still present and celebrated today. Return to your accommodation to fuel up with breakfast, then lace up your boots for another fantastic walk. Kicking off from Leura Cascades, follow the Leura Creek through beautiful forest down into the impressive greenery of the Jamison Valley.
Arrive at the Leura Forest, alive with the song of lyrebirds, then continue beneath the iconic Three Sisters rock formation, along Federal pass and past the remains of shale mines that sit at the bottom of the Jamison Valley’s dramatic cliffs. Arrive at the Ruined Castle, an unusual rock formation that teeters above the valley, named for its castle-like appearance. Take a moment to appreciate epic views of the Southern Blue Mountains, then leave the valley via the Golden Stairs and relax during the minibus journey back to your accommodation. This evening you may like to check out a local award-winning restaurant with a delicious and sustainable menu.
Overnight: Katoomba Hotel
Meals: B, L
The Grand Canyon track is undoubtedly one of the most celebrated and beloved in the Blue Mountains region, and today you’ll find out why. Set off along this historic trail, walking through an ever-changing ecosystem of dry sclerophyll forest and dense green rainforest. Arrive in the heart of the Grand Canyon and hike beneath Coachwood and Sassafras trees, looking up at the huge sandstone walls that surround you. Your leader will let you in on local secrets and share insight on the fascinating flora and fauna within the canyon. Stop in a scenic spot for a picnic lunch then climb out of the canyon to the Evans Lookout for incredible views over the Grose Valley.
This afternoon, head to a local family run winery to sample a delicious range of vintages and drink in views as impressive as the wine. You may also like to pay a visit to the Blue Mountains Cultural Centre to learn more about the diverse landscapes of the region and the communities who live within them. This evening, why not round off your adventure with a group dinner at a local microbrewery – the perfect chance to look back on all you’ve seen and done over the last few days.
Overnight: Katoomba Hotel
Meals: B, L
It may be your final day but there’s still plenty of memorable sights to discover. Take a scenic drive to Pierces Pass before arriving at the little-visited and totally beautiful Grose Valley. Here you’ll set off on your last walk in the dazzling landscapes of the Blue Mountains. Wander beneath tree ferns and along cliff tops then make a gentle descent into a shady eucalyptus forest, followed by a steeper and at times challenging descent down to the river. Take some time to enjoy your peaceful surroundings and perhaps have a swim in the river before ascending from the valley.
Begin the drive back to Sydney, stopping off en route at a local cider farm to taste the delicious drink made from apples discovered in the Blue Mountains region. Arrive back in Sydney around 6.30pm, at which point your Blue Mountains adventure will come to an end.
Meals: B, L
Map
Explore the Blue Mountains
Length: 45km
Duration: 3 days
Grade: Hard
Route type: Linear trail, from A to B (can be walked in reverse)
Start: Explorers Tree, Katoomba
End: Caves House, Jenolan Caves
Location: Blue Mountains NSW
Closest Town: Katoomba
On the trail
The Experience
The terrain of the Blue Mountains is varied, with rocky descents down the escarpment through gorges with lush vegetation and tall rainforest, over creek beds, and rugged native bush landscapes. Paths can be narrow and steep in some places with plenty of rocks and tree roots which can be very slippery to negotiate. It can be especially treacherous during or after wet weather. Elsewhere the landscape opens up and the paths become wider and more even underfoot.
Inclusions
What's Included?
- Guided walks with a local leader
- Sunrise First Nations Cultural Walk
- 3 nights Hotel in Katoomba
- 3 breakfasts, 4 lunches
- Local winery and cider farm visits
- Private vehicle trailhead transfers
- Return transfers from Sydney
- Carbon offset for your trip
- 10% GST
- Dinner each evening
- Breakfast on day 1
The Essentials
Information Guides
Our essential information guides give you everything you need to know – and none of the information you don’t – to prepare well for one of these hikes. Although created for our Independent hikers they also contain useful background information for our guided walkers in this area. We cover off all transport and transfers with contacts, full equipment lists tailored to each walk, and safety factors to consider that can be unique to each track. We give you the information you need to know about water and where the best accommodation is before and after your trip, plus overviews of Aboriginal & European history and wildlife you can expect to encounter. It saves countless hours of trawling through websites, guidebooks and forums to get to the essential information you need to know, so you don’t forget to factor in anything for your adventure.
FAQ's
Need to Know
We classify this as a moderate to challenging walk that best suits hikers with a reasonable level of fitness and confidence. The walks may not be long on distance but the terrain underfoot still poses a challenge for even a seasoned walker, with rocky descents down the escarpment through gorges. The path varied, being open in some sections and is narrow and steep in other places with plenty of rocks and tree roots which can be very slippery to negotiate.
Spring and autumn are the recommended and most popular time to for Blue Mountains Walks, with milder weather conditions conducive to multi-day walking and overnight camping. In spring and autumn the daytime temperatures are usually quite comfortable and in the 20s, although days with higher temperatures into the 30s are also experienced especially in March and November.
The summer months from December through to early March are hotter and drier,`with more sunlight and longer days. The weather can be humid and water supplies scarce, with higher bushfire danger.
The winter months from June to late August/early September also require more caution and planning, with less daylight hours so shorter walking days are possible.
Positive impacts
Social and environmental
All our adventures are fully carbon offset so that you know your travel has minimal impacts. Hiking itself is a low impact activity but we offset the cost of all our office operations and food production as well, so you can be satisfied that you have chosen a form of travel that is both good for you and good for the planet. Each year we also plant trees on behalf of every customer who has travelled with us, aiming to build towards a carbon positive effect with our operations.
TRIP date selection
when would you like to travel?
Please select your preferred dates for on-demand trips or select a scheduled date for group departures. If you have booked a self-guided trip please understand that because your trip date is on demand and we must check availability of all properties on your chosen dates before it can be fully confirmed