Blue Mountain Traverse

Walk Overview

This three day itinerary involves using Katoomba as a base for day walks in three different areas of the Blue Mountains. The selection of the walks provides an experience that traverses the most spectacular locations in the Blue Mountains. Other central villages such as Leura and Blackheath work equally well as the base.

Katoomba is the bustling “capital” of the Blue Mountains and as such has some superb accommodation and dining options. It boasts the rock formations known as “The Three Sisters”, the best known of the area’s many geological features.

Day 1 of the itinerary involves undertaking the “National Pass” circuit track that starts at the edge of the village of Wentworth Falls located a short distance from Katoomba. The National Pass includes the historic Grand Stairway, a daring route built by hand into the cliff in the early 1900’s.     

Day 2 of the itinerary is an ‘out and back’ walk that commences in Katoomba. It involves a descent to the valley floor and then a three hour walk to a rocky outcrop known as Ruined Castle. The walk mainly follows the valley floor, except for the short steep climb to Ruined Castle.

Day 3 of the itinerary involves the tracks to the south-east of Blackheath, an attractive village located 15 minutes’ drive from Katoomba. A circuit that combines Neates Glen, the Grand Canyon, Evans Lookout, Govetts Leap, Horseshoe Falls and Popes Glen has to be one of Australia’s best day walks.

Further information:

• A three day itinerary is described below.

• For more information on walking in the Blue Mountains National Park, click the button below.

Itinerary

The walk takes 3 days to complete. An itinerary completing the entire track is shown below.

Day 2

Katoomba to Katoomba

Distance: 17.5km

Time: 6.5 hours

Accommodation: Hotels, motels, B&Bs, camping

Day 3

Blackheath to Blackheath

Distance: 15km

Time: 5 hours

Accommodation: Hotels, motels, B&Bs, camping

Walk Options

Guided

There are several tour operators offering fully guided day and multi-day walks in the Blue Mountains. Most of them include the walks shown in the itinerary above, or shorter or longer variations of them.

Some of the operators are recognised as specialists in the ecological and cultural interpretation of the region and offer guides with that specialist knowledge. 

Katoomba is the most popular base for the tour operators. There is some excellent boutique accommodation in the Blue Mountains and a few of the operators use that style of accommodation. Generally, the walk tour operators in the Blue Mountains use premium accommodation providers and have managed to secure favourable rates. 

Assisted self-guided

We are not aware of any tour operator providing self-guided assistance for walks in the Blue Mountains. We can provide advice and assistance with transport to and from the Blue Mountains, advice and bookings covering the accommodation options and information on the suggested walks.

Independent

An itinerary along the lines of the itinerary shown above can be undertaken on an independent basis with a bit of planning. Having your own car helps but is not essential.

Essential Information

Access

Katoomba is about 1.5 hours’ drive from Sydney and 2 hours by train. Taxis service the main towns and villages.

Park entry

Each of the suggested walks is in the Blue Mountains National Park, but no entry fees apply.

Best time

The Blue Mountains is an all year walking region. The winter months of June, July and August can be cool but with average maximum temperatures of 10-12 Celsius, walking is still quite feasible.

Accommodation

Katoomba offers a variety of accommodation, as do neighbouring Leura, Blackheath and Wentworth Falls. 

A small number of hotels and B&B’s occupy a privileged position atop cliffs overlooking a vast wilderness valley.

There are camping and caravan parks in Katoomba, some of which offer self-contained cabins.

We can assist walkers in choosing the accommodation options which best suit their needs.

Dining

Its proximity to Sydney and popularity means that the Blue Mountains has some excellent dining options. Katoomba, in particular, boasts award-winning restaurants, quality wholesome dining options and budget choices. A select few venues offer breathtaking views that have to be seen to be believed.

Other activities

As a popular tourism destination, the Blue Mountains offers many attractions in addition to the walks described here. Many walkers choose to add extra days to their trip so that they can further explore the region. The region is home to many galleries, museums, period homes, craft shops and antique shops.

Assistance

We can assist walkers with various aspects of their walking holidays.