The Great Blue Mountains Traverse walk

PLEASE NOTE: The below itinerary and prices are for October 2021 to April 2022 departures. This itinerary includes the pre- tour night in Katoomba. Note if you are a rescheduled booking or have booked prior to 19 August 2021, your tour will be a 3 day / 2 night walk and you will not receive an extra night in Katoomba at the start of your tour or breakfast on day 1.

Your 3 day / 3 night walking holiday includes:

• Pack Free Walk – carry as little as your water and camera
• 3 nights at the Blue Mountain’s historic art deco Carrington hotel
• 3 x a la carte dinners in local Blue Mountains restaurants
• Superb regional wines to enjoy with dinner
• Scenic Railway journey to get tot he start of our walk
• 3 x Hot and Cold breakfasts
• 3 lunches to enjoy whilst walking
• Fresh fruit and trail mix to enjoy during your walk
• Professionally guided – Our guides are locals who are passionate, well trained and enthusiastic with the ability to bring to life a depth of information.
• Transfers to and from Sydney
• National Park Fees

• 9.5km

TRAIL NOTES: 5.8km, 4 hours walking with breaks. Ascents 298m. Grade 3. Medium to Hard Grade.

TERRAIN: The trail from Evans Lookout runs gently uphill for about 1.5km before dropping steeply for about 0.9km with steps. It then undulates through the canyon for about 2.3km on dirt and rock paths interspersed with sandstone steps, rock ledges and overhangs, small bridges and stepping stone creek crossings before ascending steeply to the top of the plateau, with steps, for 1.1km.

WALK ITINERARY: This morning after a hearty breakfast meet your guides in the foyer of the Carrington Hotel at 9:15am. Today we head to Blackheath for the beginning of our walking adventure of the Blue Mountain’s Grand Canyon. The Grand Canyon as a narrow chasm approximately 180m deep formed into the sandstone by the cascading waters of Greaves Creek. Our walk starts on the top of the escarpment near Evans Lookout taking us to the head of the Grand Canyon Track. Here where we descend into a magical wonderland of fern gullies and rainforest, dotted with pretty creek crossings and cascading waterfalls. The walk culminates in a climb up a series of sandstone steps through lush forest and ferns to Evans Lookout where guests will be awed by the panoramic views across the immense Grose Valley, surrounded by huge, vertical sandstone cliffs and impressive waterfalls. Afterwards, we head to our accommodation at the iconic Carrington Hotel, one of the Blue Mountain’s most historic and iconic hotels situated in the heart of Katoomba and close to shops and cafes. Tonight enjoy fine a la carte dining in a local restaurant accompanied by regional wines and great views

TRAIL NOTES: 6.2kms. 5 hours walking with breaks. Ascents: 489m. Medium Grade.

TERRAIN: The walk undulates easily along the top of the escarpment, over and under the cliffs for 2.5km to Wentworth Falls. From here there are a series of steep ascents and descents, for 1km, with steps, stairs and handrails before descending to the valley below the cliffs. The trail runs along the valley for 1.5km and is rough in sections but not difficult. It then climbs steeply for 1.1km to the Conservation Hut and includes short sections with steep rock steps and metal and wooden stairs with handrails.

WALK ITINERARY: After a relaxing breakfast, we head out on our day’s walking adventure, to one of the most beautiful hikes in the whole of the Blue Mountains. Descend into a valley of magnificent waterfalls through a stunning rainforest gorge. Explore ferny grottos, swimming holes and see a series of cascades including beautiful Empress Falls where water gushes from a narrow gorge. We’ll stop for a picnic lunch at the base of a waterfall where you can listen for the distinctive calls of the whip-birds and lyrebirds. Soak up the atmosphere as you jump across stepping stones to cross creeks and stand in awe taking in magnificent views of the falls and mountain scenery. Instead of just admiring the views from a lookout you’ll descend by steps down the cliffs into the wilderness to experience the true beauty of this region.  We finish our walk early afternoon, for those returning to Sydney we offer complimentary transfers to the Sydney CDB, returning to the Sir Stamford Hotel.

FINISH TIME: Approximately 3.00pm in the Blue Mountains or 5.00pm in Sydney depending on the pace of the group and traffic into Sydney