A hiking blog with pretty pictures.
Mount Solitary via Kedumba Valley is a good work out with varied scenery as you descend into the valley then climb to The Col for views.
My first time to climb Mount Solitary from Kings Tableland to the east. Although not quite as good as going via the Golden Stairs and Ruined Castle, variety is welcome, and it was a good workout. You cross Kedumba Creek at a nice spot, and with a good change in elevation there’s lots of variety of forest and vegetation generally.
Continue reading “Mount Solitary via Kedumba Valley, Blue Mountains NSW”
Five excellent lookouts over the Grose Valley on this shortish and lesser known walk over Wongarra Hill in the Blue Mountains.
I’m still discovering new and accessible lookouts in the Blue Mountains, especially on the edge of the Grose Valley. The five (!) vantage points on this relatively easy walk are all excellent, offering unique views of some impressive cliff and valley scenery. I thought views of Mt Banks would be the highlight, but the views west were, not only because they were enhanced by excellent light by time we reached those spots, but because of up close views of three chunky protruding sections of cliffs.
Continue reading “Wongarra Hill & Mirrorball Arch Lookouts, Blue Mountains NSW”
Erskine Creek in the Lower Blue Mountains near Glenbrook is very picturesque, and accessible from the plateau on the pleasant and easygoing Jack Evans Track. There are cliffs lining the creek, rock platforms, boulders big and small, sandy beaches, various big swimming holes, and in spring, lots of wildflowers. And you might have it all to yourself. There are also excellent views of Erskine Creek from the Jack Evans Track, and from Pisgah Rock, which is were I climbed out to.
Continue reading “Jack Evans Track – Erskine Creek – Pisgah Rock Circuit, Blue Mountains NSW”
An easygoing walk through spectacular rock pagodas & atmospheric canyons in the Lost City area of Gardens of Stone Conservation Area.
Over the years I’d seen photos of rock pagodas in Gardens of Stone National Park, but didn’t know much about how to access these areas. In 2022 NSW added Gardens of Stone State Conservation Area to the mix, and within this boundary is the amazing Lost City. This must be one of the most concentrated areas of pagodas, and a newly constructed track takes you on an easygoing 6km greatest-hits tour. Apart from the rock pagodas there is a very atmospheric canyon network to walk through.
Continue reading “Lost City walking track, Gardens of Stone State Conservation Area NSW”
A shortish and lesser known walk to Lions Head on the Kings Tableland, in the Blue Mountains, with great valley views for much of the way.
This walk on the western edge of the Kings Tableland south of Wentworth Falls Village follows an unmarked track to Lions Head, with good views of the Jamieson and Kedumba Valleys for much of the way. Views from Lions head include some pretty impressive cliffs seen through the trees. We walked in late autumn and saw heaps of very interesting mushrooms, so I recommend this timing.
Continue reading “Lions Head Track, Blue Mountains National Park NSW”
Follow a faint bush track along Burra Korain Ridge in the Blue Mountains, for excellent views of the Grose Valley from Burra Korain Head.
The sometimes indistinct track along Burra Korain Ridge takes you to Burra Korain Head for excellent views of the Grose Valley. There are roughly three vantage points to get views in all directions, so spend a bit of time exploring the head when you are there.
Continue reading “Burra Korain Ridge Track, Blue Mountains NSW”Discover an ancient landscape of large rock pagodas and hidden valleys on this walk to Goochs Crater on Newnes Plateau in the Blue Mountains.
Goochs Crater and surrounds on the Newnes Plateau is a very interesting area full of large rock pagodas and hidden valleys. It’s technically in the Blue Mountains but looks a lot like the typical terrain of neighbouring Gardens of Stone National Park. Depending on road conditions and whether you have a 4wd, some of the walk in will be on fire trails and perhaps less interesting. But the excellent and ancient looking landforms at the turnaround point will be worth it.
Continue reading “Goochs Crater Route, Newnes Plateau, Blue Mountains NSW”
Walking in Ngula Bulgarabang Regional Park is mostly on fire trails, with a foot track to excellent views of the Megalong Valley.
Ngula Bulgarabang Regional Park is a new conservation area (from 2019) on the edge of Katoomba. Views of the Megalong Valley from Megalong Head are very nice, and there are a few trails you can take to make a circuit route.
Continue reading “Ngula Bulgarabang Circuit, Blue Mountains NSW”
A straightforward walk to Ikara Head in the Blue Mountains, with excellent views of the Grose Valley, and nice wildflowers in season.
The walk to Ikara Head is a lesser known track in the Blue Mountains near Mt Victoria, with excellent views of the Grose Valley from the turnaround point, and open views for much of the way. There were also nice wildflowers when we walked in early summer.
Two very short walks in the Blue Mountains near Blackheath – one to Anvil Rock Lookout, and the other visits an impressive wind eroded cave.
Two very short walks here: one visiting Anvil Rock Lookout for excellent views up and down the Grose Valley. The other visits a ‘wind eroded cave’ as per the maps, which is a large and very pitted shallow cave, (but more like a rock wall). In early October there were many wildflowers out, including waratahs by the side of the road. Continue reading “Anvil Rock Lookout and Wind Eroded Cave, Blue Mountains NSW”
