THE ROUND WALK, KATOOMBA FALLS
BLUE MOUNTAINS NEW SOUTH WALES AUSTRALIA
This walk may be commenced from either Scenic World or Katoomba Falls Reserve and it matters little in which direction you
go. Parking and public transport is good at both places and refreshments are available
close by. Coupled with fantastic scenery and a wide variety of plants to be
seen along the way, this is an excellent walk, taking about an hour.
The Witches
Leap gap (often called the Witches Glen in older publications) provides an
easy descent from road level. It is quite likely that this gap in the upper
cliffs is a former course of Kedumba Creek, which now flows over the Katoomba
Falls. The upper course of the creek, coming down from the vicinity of the
Katoomba Aquatic Centre, lines up quite well with the gap and it’s possible
that there is a former course of the creek concealed beneath the playing fields
and the caravan park.
The 1894 historic map show a track descending into
the valley in much the same place as today’s steps (near Vaniman’s Lookout).
This would have been the beginning of the miner’s track down to the coal mines
below what is now Scenic World. This track passed between the Orphan Rock and
the upper cliff line before making a steep (and dangerous) descent to the level
of today’s lower Scenic Railway station.
There are three principal lookouts along the
track: Vaniman’s, Juliet’s Balcony and Rainforest Lookout, though the third is
a little below the track it is well worth including in the walk.
Chester Melvin Vaniman was a celebrated American photographer
and artist who visited the Blue Mountains in 1903. The lookout provides a great
view of the Falls and the Three Sisters. It is on that section of the Round
Walk which is actually part of the Prince Henry Cliff Walk, close to where the
track descends into the valley.
Juliet’s
Balcony is a well located lookout somewhat further down
and gives a full length view of both Upper and Lower Katoomba Falls.
Rainforest
Lookout is lower down again; unlike the upper lookouts
this one is surrounded by lush vegetation and also has a great view of the
falls.
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| View from Vaniman's Lookout 2011 |
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| View from Juliet's Balcony 2007 |
My Round Walk video is here .
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| Rainforest Lookout around 1905 |
https://johnsbluemountainsblog.blogspot.com/2013/12/links-to-all-blog-entries-and-relevant.html All Blue Mountains blogs and videos
All New England and other Geology blogs and videos
Limestone Caves of NSW
Song Studies. Bible studies based on hymns and songs
Shoalhaven District Geology
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