THE PULPIT ROCK LOOKOUTS, BLACKHEATH BLUE MOUNTAINS NEW SOUTH WALES AUSTRALIA

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Pulpit Rock is a prominent landmark in the Grose Valley, near Blackheath in the Blue Mountains of NSW, Australia. It is best seen from Govett’s Leap Lookout and appears in tens of thousands of photographs taken of the view of the valley from this place.

The Grose Valley from Govett's Leap Lookout 1958

What few visitors realise is that the view from the other side of the valley, looking back from near Pulpit Rock, is equally spectacular. The two are linked by a cliff top track, which we will describe in another blog entry.

To access the lookouts at Pulpit Rock by road, turn right along Hat Hill Road, Blackheath, which is the second road after the traffic lights at the Great Western Highway/Govett’s Leap Road corner, coming from the direction of Sydney. 5km along this road, Pulpit Rock Road branches off to the right. Follow it down to the parking area at the end of a one way loop.

The Pulpit Rock Lookouts from Govett's Leap Lookout 2011

There are bush toilets and a rustic shelter shed near the parking area. Allow 15-20 minutes each way to follow the track to the lookouts. A good map with directions and lots of information can be found on the Wild Walks website here.This is a wild, wind swept place with a great wildflower display in spring in particular.

There are three levels of lookouts and, if you are game, make sure you go right to the last one. I don’t think there is another Blue Mountains lookout quite like it.

Pulpit Rock itself can’t be seen from here but you can see Govett’s Leap (right) and the Grose Valley.

                                                                                                                                    Mt Hay and Mt Banks stand out on your left. I haven’t been able to find any reference which uses the name “Pulpit Rock” earlier than 1875, but such a prominent feature would have been named quite early. The Grose Valley, as seen from the present Govett’s Leap Lookout, was first recorded by surveyor William Romaine Govett in 1831.

The Pulpit Rock Lookouts were officially  opened to the public in December 1935. There were numerous tracks, lookouts and improvements made in the Blue Mountains at this time as part of government relief programmes during the depression and the Pulpit Rock Lookouts are among the best of them.

You will find my You Tube video on this walk here . My Blue Mountains You Tube playlist will be found here. I have three other playlists - gem hunting/mining, Glen Innes, and New Zealand.. Please comment and subscribe!