Grand Cliff Top Walk: Leura to Katoomba

Join us again as we walk the last 8km section of the 19km Grand Cliff Top Walk.

Feb 20, 2025

Diana Marshall

by Diana Marshall

In Walking in Australia

Our second day started with the surprise cancellation of the train we planned to take. The next train was not for another hour, so we investigated bus options and luckily there was a bus leaving nearby that would get us there sooner than the original train. (Read Part One of this walk.)

An Easier Walk Than Day One

After our unexpected route diversion the previous day, we decided to check for any issues and found that the section between Gordon Falls and Olympia Rock Lookout was closed, so this meant we had a slightly shorter walk to get to the revised starting point.

This part of the walk was on the old Prince Henry Cliff Walk, which dates back to 1935, which is evident with the heavily eroded sandstone steps in places that can be a little tricky to negotiate. That said, and while the walk was still quite tough, the second day was much easier than day one.

Besides the expansive views across the Jamison Valley with the distinctive Mount Solitary in the distance, one highlight of the walk was alongside Cascade Falls, accompanied by the sounds of the water. Sadly, the best vantage point to see these falls was closed due to flood damage. Cascade Falls terminate at Bridal Veil Falls, with one of the viewing points only a short distance off the main trail.

Part Two:

Nominally an 8km walk, but we did an extra 2km at the start and finish. (There is a bus at the finish which we should have taken!)

Echo Point was an industrial area known for its shale and coal mining operations, with flying foxes and tramways for transporting workers and materials. In the 1920s the area emerged as a major tourist destination, and it continues to draw visitors from around the world who come to experience its spectacular views of the Jamison Valley and access popular walking trails like the Giant Stairway and Prince Henry Cliff Walk.

two people with a sign

What To Expect at Scenic World

Scenic World offers a diverse range of attractions. The centrepiece is the world’s steepest incline railway, a historic structure dating back to the 1880s that originally served the coal mining industry but now thrills tourists with its dramatic 52-degree descent into the Jamison Valley.

Complementing this are the Scenic Cableway and Skyway, which provide aerial perspectives of the valley and Three Sisters formation, with the Skyway featuring an exciting glass floor for unobstructed views below.

katoomba skyway cable car

Again, the walk was along the edge of the cliff, with steep drops in places. Most of the walk was well signposted, but after we reached Echo Point, there was limited specific signage for the final stretch and it felt a bit like the end of the Camino, with all the tourists on the trail doing very short hikes to the various viewing platforms.

Most visitors can park close to Echo Point and the viewpoint was fully accessible (a pleasant change from all the steps earlier in the walk), so it was a hive of activity with everyone taking huge numbers of photos and selfies with the Three Sisters. The visitor centre was crowded, but we took the opportunity to enjoy an icy treat to cool off because the weather was pretty hot.

After Echo Point, it was a relatively short walk to Katoomba Falls, with several viewing points along the way. Then, the last push to get to the official end point of the walk at Scenic World. 

Scenic World has a skyway cable car and scenic incline railway plus other attractions, but we felt that we’d had peak views at this stage, so decided we could forgo this experience.

When we were there, they also had a dinosaur display, with lots of different ones dotted about and some that moved and roared (sadly, this has now ended). 

There is a regular bus that circles between Scenic World, Echo Point and Katoomba, which would have been the best way to get back to our hotel, but we elected to do the 2km walk uphill instead. 

It was pretty exhausting after 430m of elevation change (equivalent to 42 flights of stairs). The walk took us 5.5 hours, including rest stops at Echo Point and Scenic World. Next time we will definitely take the bus!

The Three Sisters

The Three Sisters rock formation is perhaps the best-known, and most photographed site in the Blue Mountains.

The traditional owners of this area, the Gundungurra People, tell a sad story of three sisters, Meehni, Wimlah and Gunnedoo, that fell in love with three brothers from a neighbouring tribe, who kidnapped the sisters to marry them. This led to a battle between the two tribes.

To keep the sisters safe, a witch-doctor put a spell on the sisters, turning them into stone.

Unfortunately, the witch-doctor died in the battle, so was unable to reverse the spell and the Three Sisters remain standing in stone to this day

Lyrebird statue

For anyone who decides not to take on the full walk for the second day, there is the option to use the bus and just do the short cliff walk between Echo Point and Scenic World (approximately 3km), and perhaps spend a few hours at Scenic World with 2.5km of elevated boardwalk available.

Note that an entry ticket is required that gives unlimited rides on the two cable cars and incline railway. (Tickets are cheaper if booked online).

All-in-all, it was a challenging two days of walking with magnificent views along the way. Did I mention the steps? Lots and lots of them… my calves certainly got a workout! I found that using hiking poles and wearing hiking boots assisted me with stability, but they are not essential.

One of the good things about sandstone is that it does not tend to get slippery, but care still needs to be taken due to the uneven terrain. Regardless of the amount of walking you choose to do, a visit to the Blue Mountains is a treat, with incredible views and charming villages to explore.

(Read Part One of this walk)

Grand cliff top walk sign

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