SUNDAY BLUE MOUNTAINS WALK - Katoomba Falls - 7km moderate or 8km harder option

Come and wonder at the huge Katoomba Falls, the biggest waterfall in the Sydney region, while we follow the famous Prince Henry Cliff Walk with endless jaw-dropping views of the Blue Mountains wilderness, lush rainforest with roaming lyrebirds, and a close-up visit to touch the iconic Three Sisters crags. And if you think walking the mountains is unavoidably hard work, we've designed this route with optional detours if you want to avoid the sections with steep steps while still seeing the good stuff, and the organiser will give everyone a car ride from the trail end back to Katoomba station at the finish of the day. Epic views, amazing rock pinnacles, huge water falls, crisp clean mountain air, and beautiful moderate walking to see it all ... it doesn't get nicer than that!

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THE PLAN

Optional pre-walk gathering:
If you like, join us from 9.30am for coffee / brunch at the Savoy Cafe (on the left in Katoomba Street, just 30 metres from the train station).

Formal start:
Meet at 10.30am at subway entrance to Katoomba station on Bathurst Street (on the footpath in front of CafeXpresso and the Blue Mountains Explorer shopfront).

The walk:
- We'll follow quiet back trails along the headwaters of the Kedumba River, descending to where Katoomba Falls plunges over the cliffs with jaw-dropping views into the immense valley.

- We then follow the steep 1km loop trail plunging 150 metres down through the dark rainforests around Katoomba Falls, stopping at a couple of plateaus to see the falls up close. This has amazing photography potential and is really worth the 30 minutes of puffing to walk back up to the cliff line.

- Easy walk option: If you want to miss the 1km loop with the steep descent and ascent below the falls, we'll drop you off temporarily at the beautiful picnic area (with a cafe and toilets) at the top of the cliff line to relax for an hour while we go down to the falls. The group then comes together again at this picnic area for lunch.

- After the falls we follow the gentler undulations of the beautiful Prince Henry cliff track around to Echo Point, get right up close and personal to actually touch the Three Sisters, and continue for another 2km through gorgeous forests on the cliff walk.

- Finally we exit in the back streets of Katoomba - a total of 8km walking for the day. And guess what ... we will have a car here so you won't need to walk up the last 2km of steep residential streets back to our origin at Katoomba station, luxury yay!

After-party:
You can head straight home after the walk, or better still join us at the italian place next to Katoomba station for fantastic food and stylish decor with pics of Sophia Loren.

If there is interest after dinner, we'll drive down to Echo Point to catch the sandstone faces of the Three Sisters lit up in the dusk.

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IS THIS ACTIVITY OK FOR ME?
This walk is graded moderate, with an optional hard 1km loop for close up views down around the water falls.

The total loop back to Katoomba station is 8km, most of it on easy well-constructed dirt trails or carved stone steps with gentle undulations.

If you choose to miss the 150 metre ascent (and 150 metre ascent) at Katoomba Falls, then that is 1km less distance to walk.

It is not flat but is ok for beginner walkers, with at least basic fitness, who have done at least one or two 5km walks on gently undulating trails.

The pace will be relaxed, we will pause frequently to take in the many epic lookouts, so you should feel confident to complete the course and have a really great time too.

As there are many steps along the route (both on the long steep descent into the falls and along the gentler sections of the Prince Henry cliff walk), it is NOT a good route for people with significant knee joint problems.

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TRANSPORT

By train:

• At Central station platform 5 take the Blue Mountains (BMT) service departing at 8.24am then passing Strathfield at 8.37am, Parramatta at 8.49am, Blacktown at 8.58am, Penrith at 9.14am, and arriving at Katoomba station at 10.25am.
• See the trip planner at www.transportnsw.info for all connections and times.
• Note that train timetables are currently being reviewed and the above times may change in the period before this walk. We'll review the published times in the final week and update the info on this event page then.

By car:

• Katoomba is about a 100km drive (1 hour 50 minutes) from central Sydney - take the M4 Motorway to Emu Plains, and then the Great Western Highway through the mountais to Katoomba.
• At Katoomba, turn left at the traffic lights from the highway onto Parke St and Bathurst St.
• Look for free untimed street parking in Bathurst Rd or Cascade Street adjacent to the station, or in Station Street on the other side of the highway.

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GRATUITY
Please contribute $10 to help offset the group's operating costs.
You can either

• bring cash on the day, or
• make a PayID bank transfer to the organiser's phone number 0411600717 in the morning before you arrive to the event.

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BRING

• Your lunch and snacks for the day (there are no shops along the trail, and the cafe at the picnic area for the lunch stop may or may not be open)
• Drink bottle (at least 1 litres, refill at Katoomba picnic area and Echo Point lookout)
• Warm jacket, pants, hat (days in the mountains tend to be sunny, but the air temperature can be quite low so dress in layers, and carry a good warm outer jacket and long pants for the end of the day)
• Sturdy walking shoes
• Walking pole (not mandatory, but really helps to cushion your knees when traversing steps, and on steep ascents/descents)
• Towel or pad to sit on at lunch time
• Insect repellent (the water-based Off or Aeroguard sprays from the supermarket work very well)

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LIABILITY DISCLAIMER
By your RSVP to this event you agree to the conditions of membership and participation which you can read in the "WHAT WE'RE ABOUT" section HERE.