Started hiking from Wentworth falls to Vera falls and return.
Lots of stairs but worth it. Lots of water falls to enjoy.
Not many people, peaceful and quiet.
Enjoyed the walk very much.
Started hiking from Wentworth falls to Vera falls and return.
Lots of stairs but worth it. Lots of water falls to enjoy.
Not many people, peaceful and quiet.
Enjoyed the walk very much.
The national pass is a gorgeous hike. It is a carved out track along the cliffs with some amazing views. Start and finish have some steep climbs but all steps. Regulars hikers can do this track in about 1:45hrs. If you are looking for a bit more, also give the nature track a go with some amazing cliff side views and some beautiful little off track creeks and swimming holes. I highly recommend this hike if you are looking to experience the blue mountains as a traveller or as a local.
Mother Nature at her best.
10 (ages 5 - 70) of us walked this 4.6km circuit in just under 3 hours, in 25 degree heat. Simply phenomenal views!
It's a bit slippery in places, with steep climbs in places, but totally worth it.
Bring water (and a snack).
Having hiked all kinds of hikes from lowlands to highlands, this ranks in the top 5 for uniqueness, views, and fun features. Also very easily and quickly accessible from the city. Great Family Day.
Just a brilliant walk with stunning views.
We did it on a cool sunny day (16oC) and it was perfect. I rate it as best walk in NSW. Cliff above you and cliff below you for most of the walk.
Yes, there are lots of steps to get down and back up, but the walk mostly traverses the cliff. You will forget the steps when you see the views.
The yellow and orange colours of the cliff face backdropped against the green bush and brilliant blue sky was magnificent.
We took our 7 & 10 yr olds and although they are seasoned hikers, they did this walk easily.
It is in shade much of the day (at the time of year we went) so you might need to rug up on cold days and layer off for the final climb back up.
It can also be a little wet on the track. There are several tiny waterfalls you go under throughout the walk, depending on how much recent rain there has been, that will trickle down on you a little. But the path is very well constructed with stepping stones build through all the wet spots.
I get a little bit of vertigo, but on this track there are very sturdy railings at the steep bits and I felt very comfortable.
This should be your number 1 walk in the Blue Mountains, forget the 3 Sisters area as it is way too touristy and the walks aren't as good.
Note this walk is relatively short (5km) but you can combine it with other walks to make it as long as you like.
Good lunch spots in the sun on the East side of the walk if it is cold. If it is hot, there are plenty of spots all the way along.
Never! No, never have I experienced such a thrilling walk. Today 22 of us in our 50s, 60s and fit 70s embarked on what is labelled the 'hard' National Pass walk from the Wentworth Falls conservation hut in a circuit to the dramatic Falls and back via the Overcliff track.
Firstly down the cliff face on the Overcliff Track and that's what we did: Straight down, negotiating hundreds of near vertical stone and metal staircases to the bottom where we joined the National Pass to the truly spectacular Wentworth Falls.
We walked tracks and huge rock steps on a path constructed over 2 1/2 years by 4 mad Irishmen with a death wish and completed in 1908!!. Every step for me was a thrill and I felt so grateful to those men for their courage using canvas swings and ropes and chisels to cut paths into the cliff face!
The National Parks recently renovated sections of the track with helicopter airlift in of rock slabs weighing up to 600kg each.
The track is carved into the cliff along the Pass. The startling cliff faces soaring above and plunging below us sent our eyes spinning but oh the colours and textures all swirling at us out of the heavy mists. Every stair case opening us to new thrills.
And of course, what goes down must go back up. Thankfully with protective railings to heave ourselves up each near vertical step.
At the turn of the twentieth century Blue Mountains towns competed against each other to build the best walk.
Lucky us now.
'Dramatic' doesn't come close to describing many of the startling images. After heavy rain of previous weeks the waterfalls and creeks were at spectacular gushing best. Empress, Sophie, Lodore and of course the huge Wentworth Falls, left us gasping with wonder.
Perhaps the photos will take you there.
What a privilege it was.....,
but the walk did have 620 steps. 210 metres down and 210 up. A 4.8km circuit. We started from the Conservation Hut and the steps down are very steep to National Pass. We returned from Wentworth Falls via the Undercliff Track.
It took us about 3 hours. We're all reasonably fit regular walkers in our 50s to 70s and we wore hiking boots and carried water plus insect repellant and salt for leeches ( thankfully very few). I have heard that if you spray your boots with hair spray it helps prevent leeches from adhering to puts and climbing up. Yet to test that theory.
If you have reasonable knees, it's a walk you must do. There are plenty of rails so carrying poles becomes a burden.
It is a very popular track so I suggest you avoid weekends and school holidays if you can.
It's a photographers paradise.