Tag: Best attractions in the Blue Mountains

Grand Canyon Track

Children walking under the waterfall along Grand Canyon Track

Grand Canyon track is a popular and very beautiful hiking trail in the Blue Mountains National Park. The track is more than 100 years old. It follows the canyon down through the wet green rain forest, under rock overhangs and waterfalls. You can see many tall and dense trees with twisted roots.

Children among tall dense trees along Grand Canyon Track
Overhanging rocks and waterfall along Grand Canyon Track in the Blue Mountains

The track is well maintained with beautiful stepping steps which in combination with moss and ferns create an appealing picture. There is even a small but completely dark cave that you would need to go through.

Stepping stones at Grand Canyon Track
Cave at Grand Canyon Track

The Grand Canyon track is 6km long loop trail and it takes about 4 hours to finish. It is challenging because you must navigate many steps. You climb down to the floor of the canyon and then back up. It is definitely not for those with knee problems. But many people hike this track. It is definitely a worth while experience and one of the best places in the Blue Mountains.

How to get to Grand Canyon Track

This hiking track is in Blackheath. It is part of the Blue Mountains National Park. The park is roughly 2 hours drive west of Sydney, NSW. You can start the track from the Evans Lookout. This is part of the track. Alternatively, you can start from the Grand Canyon car park.

Evans Lookout at Grand Canyon Track, Blue Mountains National Park, NSW

Evans Lookout (above)

Wind-eroded cave, Blackheath

Wind eroded cave is an interesting and beautiful geological formation in Blackheath area of the Blue Mountains National Park. Not sure why it is called a cave though. It is a massive overhanging cliff with a small cave in front of it. Nevertheless, this wind carved cave would delight children and adults alike. Our kids definitely had a great time exploring it.

Wind-eroded cave in Blackheath, Blue Mountains, NSW

You can easily access the wind-eroded cave by a 2WD. It is a short drive from Blackheath town via Hat Hill Road. It takes only a minutes to walk towards it from the car park.

Nearby is a Perrys Lookdown, which has excellent and very new (in 2024) picnic facilities.

Perrys Lookdown near wind-eroded cave in Blackheath, Blue Mountains

While it was not a wildflower season, we managed to see some of these wildflowers blooming there. Below are some of the examples.

Firstly, it is Lambertia formosa. Common name for Lambertia formosa is mountain devil. It is a pretty plant that is easy to notice due to its bright red coloured petals. Looking closer you can see how the ends of the petals curl. This plant occurs naturally only in NSW.

Lambertia formosa growing near wind-eroded cave in Blackheath

Lambertia formosa (above)

Secondly, it is Flannel flower, Actinotus helianthin. It is a delicate and very pretty flower with soft wool like feel. The flowers are mostly white. But if you look closer, you can see greenish at the end of the petals an middle of the flower. Flannel flower is native to the areas around Sydney. We found a few of these flowers in Blackheath area of the Blue Mountains National Park.

Flannel flower growing near wind-eroded cave in Blackheath

Flannel flower (above)

Thirdly, it is Petrophile pulchella, commonly known as conesticks. It is a shrub with cream-yellow coloured flowers. It is restricted to eastern parts of Australia.

Petrophile pulchella growing near wind-eroded cave in Blackheath