Your Journey Into World Heritage Your Journey Into World Heritage  
 

Find out more about the features, attractions and landscapes of Blue Mountains, Lithgow and Oberon.

Aboriginal Heritage

Most of the major roads and many walking tracks in the central Blue Mountains follow more ancient pathways, first discovered by the Darug, the Wiradjuri and the Gundungurra people.

The landscape of the whole region is infused with Aboriginal heritage that is both physical - campsites, artefacts, rock shelters, grinding grooves, wells, engravings, paintings, stencils, the land itself, plants and animals - and spiritual - songs, stories, important places and features, creation, totems, ancestors, memories, feelings, attachments, family, rights and responsibilities.

This cultural richness is retained and restored by local Aboriginal communities today. For the visitor, only a small part of the region's indigenous heritage is readily available, including information on bush tucker and the intriguing Gundungurra creations stories of the Three Sisters and Jenolan Caves (Binoomea).

  • Blackfellows Hand Cave on the way from Lithgow to the Wolgan Valley displays a collection of stencil art - hands, boomerangs, axes and other figures. The stencils were made by holding the object against the rock and spraying liquid ochre from the mouth.

All Access Paths

Stepless bush paths suitable for wheelchairs, strollers and the elderly are available at Katoomba Falls, Govetts Leap (Fairfax Heritage Track) and Kanangra Walls.

Camping

Urban camping and caravan parks with full facilities are available at:

Low key bush camping sites in and around the Greater Blue Mountains World Heritage Area include:

Murphys Glen (Blue Mountains National Park)
Unsealed road access south of Woodford.
Facilities:
  • camping
  • toilets
Ingar (Blue Mountains National Park)
Unsealed road access from Wentworth Falls.
Facilities:
  • camping
  • toilets
Perrys Lookdown (Blue Mountains National Park)
Unsealed road access from Blackheath.
Facilities:
  • camping
  • toilets
  • walking
Blackheath Glen
On the Megalong Road south of Blackheath.
Facilities:
  • camping
  • toilets
Old Ford Reserve (Megalong Valley)
On the Megalong Road south of Blackheath.
Facilities:
  • camping
  • toilets
Dunphys Camping Area (Blue Mountains National Park)
Unsealed road access at the end of Megalong Road.
Facilities:
  • camping
  • toilets
Cathedral of Ferns
Mount Wilson, off Bells Line of Road.
Facilities:
  • camping
  • toilets
  • walking
Bungleboori (Newnes State Forest)
Unsealed road access from Lithgow.
Facilities:
  • camping
  • toilets
Newnes, Wolgan Valley (Wollemi National Park)
Unsealed road one hour from Lithgow.
Facilities:
  • camping
  • toilets
  • walking
  • historic
Glen Davis Park
Capertee Valley.
Facilities:
  • camping
  • toilets
  • shower
Coorongooba (Wollemi National Park)
Unsealed road access from Glen Davis.
Facilities:
  • camping
  • toilets
  • walking
Boyd River Camping Area (Kanangra-Boyd National Park)
A half-hour's drive from Jenolan Caves, unsealed road.
Facilities:
  • camping
  • toilets
  • walking
Bummeroo Ford (Abercrombie River National Park)
Beside the Abercrombie River, just off the Abercrombie Road between Oberon and Taralga.
Facilities:
  • camping
  • toilets
  • walking

Canoeing

Rivers in the mountains are generally too small or inaccessible for canoeing. But you can dip a paddle in several water supply lakes for some flatwater touring. They all have picnic facilities too.

Galleries, Museums and Collections

A smorgasbord awaits the 'culture vulture' in the Blue Mountains, Lithgow and Oberon, with dozens of galleries showing a rich variety of work from the vibrant local arts community and beyond.

The many unique museums and collections add another dimension to local culture.

  • Valley Heights Locomotive Depot Heritage Museum is open twice a month. Volunteers carry out restoration projects on historic railway equipment. Phone 02 4751 4638.
  • Selwood Science and Puzzles at Hazelbrook offers a unique collection with hands on fun for all the family. Phone 02 4758 6235.
  • NSW Toy and Railway Museum (Leura) displays children's toys and trains in a grand mountain estate. Phone 02 4784 1169.
  • See the world's largest collection of teapots at Bygone Beauties in Leura. Phone 02 4784 3117.
  • The Mount Victoria and District Historical Society maintains a museum in the village's stately sandstone railway station.
  • Lithgow offers the armaments collection of the Small Arms Factory Museum (phone 02 6351 4452) and - at the other end of the spectrum - a charming domestic museum at the historic residence of Eskbank House (phone 02 6351 3557).
  • The Blue Mountains Cultural Centre showcases innovative and diverse cultural programs for enjoyment of visitors to the Blue Mountains. The Centre features the Blue Mountains City Art Gallery and the World Heritage Interpretive Centre. Ph 02 4780 5410

Guided Activities

A huge range of other guided tours is available throughout the central Blue Mountains, catering for almost any activity. You can go on a bus tour, enjoy horse riding, take a guided walk, join a four-wheel-drive excursion, tour an historic site, ride a steam train, watch birds and go mountain biking, abseiling, rockclimbing or canyoning.

Historic Sites and Heritage

The area is rich in the heritage of white exploration, transport and industries like mining and forestry, as well as recreation.

  • Numerous historic guesthouses, public edifices and other buildings add to the charm of the many villages and the rural landscape of the region.
  • Many walking tracks in Greater Blue Mountains World Heritage Area and adjacent reserves date back into the 19th century and display superb craftsmanship and stonework. Some of those around Wentworth Falls, Katoomba and Blackheath are particularly illustrative.
  • At Mount York, near Mount Victoria, the Blue Mountains Crossings walking tracks follow some of the first roads to negotiate the western escarpment.
  • The Megalong Australian Heritage Centre in the Megalong Valley displays rural and pioneering heritage. Phone 02 4787 8188.
  • Hartley Historic Site is one of the best preserved 19th century villages, with a monumental courthouse dating from the 1830s and a number of other restored buildings. Phone 02 6355 2117.
  • The Zig Zag Railway at Clarence runs daily steam trains over the sandstone viaducts of the historic descent into the Lithgow Valley. Phone 02 6355 2955
  • Lithgow also has the 1886 Blast Furnace Park, scene of Australia's first iron and steel production, and the State Mine Heritage Park (02 6353 1513) which offers displays and tours of early coal-mining heritage.
  • Down the Wolgan Valley, protected in Wollemi National Park, are the remains of the massive Newnes industrial and railway complex dating from 1906, where oil shale was mined and refined into motor oil, paraffin and other products. The Newnes railway was a major engineering achievement of its day, and now the Glow Worm Tunnel is its most famous relic.
  • Jenolan Caves, cited as Australia's first tourist attraction, have been open to visitors for more than 150 years. Heritage includes the imposing Jenolan Caves House, historic underground infrastructure and one of the first hydroelectric schemes in the world.
  • Historic Yerranderie village once had a population of 2000. Now, tucked away in a remote part of Blue Mountains National Park and the Warragamba Catchment Area, it has many stories to tell of those bygone days of silver-lead-zinc mining in the early 1900s.

Mountain Bike Tours

Walking tracks are off limits for mountain biking, but many of the management tracks which are closed to vehicles and some public roads are good for riding. These are a few classic rides (all in Blue Mountains National Park and accessible by train), but seek local information:

  • Woodford-Oaks Trail: A solid ride from train to train, Woodford to Glenbrook, but through quite remote country.
  • Faulconbridge Point: Grose Road on the north side of Faulconbridge leads to an impressive lookout over the lower Grose River.
  • Narrow Neck: A spectacular ride from Katoomba with views off both sides of the peninsula.
  • Ridgewell Road: An enjoyable ride out of Blackheath to Burra Moko Lookout over the upper Grose Valley.

Nature Study

Overnight Bushwalks

Experienced bushwalkers with skill, care and minimal impact practices can explore the wilderness areas for a weekend or a week. Tracked overnight walks (seek detailed information) include:

  • Ruined Castle: A delightful forest track leads to campsites below an unusual rock formation. Water may need to be carried.
  • Blue Gum Forest: Six different ways in and out - all of them strenuous - lead to the fabled forest deep in the Grose Valley, Acacia Flat campsite is nearby. Fuel stove only (no fires) and all water should be treated.
  • Six Foot Track: The historic but energetic walk from Katoomba to Jenolan Caves usually takes three days.

Picnicking

You can take a packed lunch anywhere you like, but if you want some facilities, perhaps some grass and a peaceful ambience try these more formal picnic areas:

There are numerous other picnic areas in town parks and low-key sites at various trackheads.

Scenic Lookouts

Again, where to start? The central Blue Mountains' topography of cliffs above deep valleys is just perfect for lookouts. A huge collection of named viewpoints is on offer, both close to the car and along walking tracks. Those easily reached lookouts that should be on everyone's 'hit list' are described below.

  • McMahons Lookout: A long unsealed drive from Wentworth Falls but a unique view across Lake Burragorang to the sandstone crags of the Blue Breaks.
  • Wentworth Falls Lookout and Princes Rock: From Wentworth Falls Picnic Area the roadside lookouts are pretty good, but better still is the half-hour return walk to Princes Rock and its magnificent sweep of the falls and Mount Solitary.
  • Sublime Point: Another short walk, this one from Leura, leads to the classic Jamison Valley panorama.
  • Echo Point: No-one should visit the Blue Mountains without taking in the far-famed view of the Three Sisters at Katoomba.
  • Govetts Leap: Often compared favourably with its more popular cousin at Echo Point, this Blackheath vista takes in the highest waterfall in the Blue Mountains instead of three rock pinnacles, and a magnificent cliffed valley.
  • Hassans Walls: Just a short drive out of Lithgow reveals a sweeping cliff-edge view of gentle countryside leading to the distinctive peaks of the Wild Dog Mountains in Blue Mountains National Park. The highest lookout in the area.
  • Kanangra Walls: This is often claimed to be the best wilderness lookout in New South Wales and worth the pilgrimage deep into Kanangra-Boyd National Park. An 800-metre deep gorge leads the eye past golden cliffs to blue ridges overlapping into the distance.

Short Walks

There are so many! The central Blue Mountains has probably the greatest number and variety of short bush walks anywhere in New South Wales. They range from strolls of just a few minutes to a lookout, to full day hikes across rugged country and are located in the national parks of the Greater Blue Mountains World Heritage Areas as well as local reserves. Always seek more detailed information on particular walks from local brochures and information centres. Tracks may be closed for repair or because of storm or fire damage. The main walking centres are summarised below. Some tracks, especially at Wentworth Falls and Blackheath, are easily reached from the train.

  • Bells Line of Road: As well as the more formal paths of Mount Tomah Botanic Garden, there are many walking tracks spread through this area. Highlights include the Cathedral of Ferns at Mount Wilson (short and easy) and Walls Lookout (one hour return) and Mount Banks summit (2-3 hours return) on the rim of the Grose Valley.
  • Wentworth Falls: The main escarpment track network can be accessed from either Wentworth Falls Picnic Area or The Valley of the Waters Picnic Area. There are easy tracks to lookouts and along the cliff-tops, and longer circuits down waterfalls and through the valley. National Pass is a justly famous and historic 4-hour walk.
  • Leura: Leura Cascades Park is the main trackhead. The Leura Cascades and Round Walks are the shortest tracks. They link to the Prince Henry Cliff Walk and Fern Bower for longer excursions.
  • Katoomba: The main track system connects to the local roads at Narrow Neck, Scenic World, Katoomba Falls, Echo Point, Silver Mist Park and Fern Bower. Cliff-top tracks and long valley walks are linked by steep descents down rainforest glens with waterfalls. Down the Giant Stairway to Federal Pass is one of the most popular.
  • Blackheath: The Grose Valley tracks include plateau walks along creeks and cliff-tops and big walks through Govett Gorge. Access from Blackheath village, Pulpit Rock, Govetts Leap Lookout and Evans Lookout. The Grand Canyon circuit (3-4 hours) and Pulpit Rock track (3 hours return) are classics.
  • Mount Victoria: Victoria Falls is an energetic descent into the upper Grose Valley, while the Blue Mountains Crossings tracks around Mount York explore historic roads.
  • Newnes Plateau and Wolgan Valley: A series of walks explore the relics of the historic oil shale industry and Newnes Railway. The Glow Worm Tunnel can be reached from Newnes Plateau (1 hour return) or the valley (4 hours return), the Newnes Ruins Track takes 2 hours, and the rugged Pipeline Pass can be followed to Glen Davis (4 hours each way).
  • Jenolan Caves: A series of walks explore the limestone karst landscape. One even goes underground through the Devils Coachhouse!
  • Kanangra Walls: From the carpark, walks lead to the main lookout (easy, half hour return), Kalang Falls (1 hour return) and Kanangra Tops (2 hours return).