Ever since moving to Sydney in 2016, the Blue Mountains has been on the bucket list. Unbelievably beautiful, cute little towns and views for days – it’s pretty obvious why.
Yet, despite only being two hours from Sydney, somehow life’s intervened and I’ve instead found myself in Hobart and the Hunter Valley, but not Hazelbrook. I nearly got there with my parents last year, but the silly train network foiled our plans.
It wasn’t until my galfriend Bel (the one from this post) spent an entire month in Sydney for work that she convinced me to haul myself up the mountain. The weekend we visited there was no surf, so husband Jude tagged along too. So, there we were, three clowns making the Aussie pilgrimage to Katoomba.
Just two regular explorers, Bel and I
The Three Sisters and Echo Point Lookout
The original plan was to meet at the Three Sisters lookout. But following that plan we didn’t really have a plan, so I told Bel to meet us at the Visitor Information Centre in Katoomba instead. Dumbo Big Ears here clearly didn’t realise they’re the same place. Right next door to the Three Sisters lookout IS the Visitor Information Centre.
So after getting advice on some IG-worthy Katoomba walking tracks, we walked the 10 metres to Echo Point Lookout. Perched on the edge of an escarpment, the lookout has 180-degree views across Jamison Valley and is prime viewing of the Three Sisters.
I won’t lie. I was pretty excited to see the national icon in person. It’s like the first time you come face-to-face with the Sydney Harbour Bridge, the Brighton Bathing Boxes or the Big Koala. You’ve seen the sight a dozen times over on postcards, in calendars or on desktop backgrounds, but nothing beats being there in person, bathing in the touristyness of it.
Speaking of tourists. The tourist crowd at Echo Point Lookout is hectic. Beware for lots of selfie sticks, cameras and cargo shorts.
At least we got 1.5 of the Three Sisters in the shot… FAIL!
The Giant Stairway
After getting our obligatory Three Sisters selfie (that was more selfie and less a shot of the Three Sisters), we headed on over to the Giant Stairway, where you can actually walk out onto the first sister.
Constructed in 1909, the steel and stone steps down are ultra narrow – Jude epically struggled with his size 130 feet – and it does feel like you’re walking across the face of Mother Nature. But, the views, my God, are spectacular!
If you had your Nutri-Grain for breakfast, you can continue taking all 800+ stairs down to the valley floor, and then walk over to Scenic World where you can ride the Scenic Railway back to the top (or climb more stairs if you’re brave – the Furber Steps).
We had Fruit Loops for breakfast, so after saying hi to sister #1, we climbed back to the top and continued on a different walking track, which was still quite strenuous…
Note: car parking around Echo Point Lookout and the Three Sisters is all metered and you pay by the hour. But, if you head north of Raymond Road, it’s unmetered and you can park all day for FREE!
Prince Henry Cliff walk
Technically the Prince Henry Cliff walk starts at Katoomba Falls, running seven kilometres to Leura Cascades, but we jumped on board at the mid-way point.
Walking along the cliff edge, the first 30 minutes offer some pretty spectacular views across the valley and bush canopy below – plus there’s plenty of designated lookouts where you can stop and take it all in.
We then ventured into the rainforest to chase some waterfalls, descending steeply until we reached Leura Cascades. At this point, my leech radar was off the chart, and as much as my lungs wanted a break, I refused to stand still and become leech lunch.
The rainforest and cascades are all incredibly beautiful, and worth the lung burn and leech terror (not that we actually came across any leeches). But, the highlight was when we finally made it and Bel ventured closer to the spray of the falls to cool down. Nek minute. She’s in the falls, having fallen. Yep, that moment was worth the lung burn.
Talk about laugh in your face
Lunch at Station Bar + Woodfired Pizza
With legs like custard after climbing back up to the top of the ridge, we were in definite need of a cold beverage and some food that involved carbs. We headed for The Carrington Hotel, of which we’d all heard good things. But we had unbeknownst walked into the epicentre of a ukulele festival on that weekend.
Not in the mood for ukulele madness, we took refuge in Station Bar instead, which was pleasingly playing different music, and serving up cold craft beer and delicious thin-based woodfired pizzas. Meanwhile our wild roquette salad with parmesan and pine nuts was big enough to be the fourth sister, and equally yummo.
Station Bar + Woodfired Pizza | 287 Bathurst Road, Katoomba, New South Wales
stationbar.com.au
Dinner at Leura Garage
Come dinnertime, we walked the kilometre from our adorable Airbnb – a Katoomba cottage so full of character and charm – to Leura, and checked out Leura Garage.
Once an actual mechanic’s garage, the automotive references are still here by the truck load, with plants potted in old tyres and a vintage car-hoist turned wine rack. But added to the industrial vibe is a quality restaurant menu using local produce.
I highly recommend the seafood paella, as well as the fresh seasonal salad with shaved fennel and spiced roasted carrot. I also recommend you make a booking.
There’s a lot of high-end dining experiences in the Blue Mountains, but Leura Garage offers something much more relaxed.
Image credit: Leura Garage / David Hill, Deep Hill Media
Leura Garage | 84 Railway Parade, Leura, New South Wales
leuragarage.com.au
The next morning, it was time to head back to Sydney, fully aware we’d barely scratched the surface of the Blue Mountains. I’m quietly confident it won’t take two years this time to get back.
