Katoomba: Lookouts, walks and culture

The Three Sisters and walks for different abilities

The easy Three Sisters Walk leads to some of the best-known lookouts in Blue Mountains National Park and close to the famous Three Sisters. The Three Sisters Aboriginal Place is also a site of particular cultural significance to Indigenous people. This gives your visit a cultural dimension beyond the view of the rock formation.

A more challenging walking option is the Grand Cliff Top Walk: this 19 km hike runs from Wentworth Falls to Katoomba and connects lookouts, waterfalls, forests and characteristic Blue Mountains landscapes. It is rated Grade 3 and is suitable for most age groups and fitness levels. A moderate level of fitness and some bushwalking experience are recommended. This information can help you assess whether the walk is a good fit for your hiking experience.

The Prince Henry Cliff Walk runs between Katoomba and Leura via the Three Sisters and Echo Point. There are more than 20 lookouts and three waterfalls along the way. If you choose the Giant Stairway, keep in mind that it has 998 steps: it leads from Echo Point to Honeymoon Bridge, which is connected to the first sister. The different routes therefore offer different ways to experience the lookouts and the area’s terrain.

Waterfalls and nature in a different light

The Katoomba Falls Night-Lit Walk is 1.3 km long and lets you experience the landscape in a different light. You may spot owls, possums and microbats along the way, against the backdrop of the waterfalls. These animals are a possible sighting, not a guaranteed encounter. Another walking option is the Round Walk: it starts near Katoomba Falls, descends through a fern-lined gully and then climbs back up to the escarpment. The two experiences therefore differ both in lighting and in their route through the landscape.

Scenic World also combines landscape and history. It is home to the Scenic Railway; the site was originally a coal mine dating back to 1878. This historical connection adds another facet of local history to the lookouts and walks.

Culture and everyday life in the centre

In central Katoomba, the Blue Mountains Cultural Centre includes the Blue Mountains City Art Gallery, Katoomba Library and the interactive Into the Blue exhibition. It explores the history and natural landscape of the Blue Mountains. This means that art, a library and an exhibition about landscape and history are all found in one cultural centre. The Katoomba Street Art Walk passes murals on shopfronts and in laneways, offering a different perspective on art in public spaces.

For groceries, the town centre has the Blue Mountains Food Co-operative, a community-run, not-for-profit wholefoods store. Its range includes fresh, seasonal organic fruit and vegetables, bulk staples, dairy products, as well as gluten-free and vegan foods. If self-catering is important to your travel plans, this specific place to shop is a useful part of getting to know the area; however, it says nothing about the amenities of any particular holiday rental.

Getting around to lookouts and other places

Public buses in Katoomba run to Echo Point. The Blue Mountains Explorer Bus also operates as a hop-on hop-off service from Katoomba Station, on a loop connecting major attractions from Scenic World to Leura. You can take these connections into account when planning your journeys between the places mentioned.

For more travel ideas, you can also explore Leura, Wentworth Falls, Springwood, Medlow Bath and Blackheath.

For the broader travel overview: Blue Mountains City Council.