NSW now has some of the world’s most spectacular scenery on show with the official opening of the Grand Cliff Top Walk in the Blue Mountains.
Blue Mountains National Park is the most visited national park in NSW with more than 6.4 million visits annually and is renowned for its sweeping escarpment and jaw dropping views.
The $10 million Grand Cliff Top Walk was funded by the NSW Government and delivered by the National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) in partnership with Blue Mountains City Council.
The walk was officially opened today (Sunday, 24 March) by NSW Environment Minister Penny Sharpe.
The spectacular walk is part of a network of 13 NSW Great Walks being established by NPWS across NSW to offer world-class bushwalking experiences for domestic and international visitors.
This 19-kilometre journey starts in Wentworth Falls and ends in Katoomba, offering visitors the opportunity to experience some of the world’s most spectacular mountain scenery on a multi-day adventure without the need for camping equipment or heavy backpacks.
The experience takes walkers from Darwins Walk at Wentworth Falls to Scenic World in Katoomba with visitors able to choose from a variety of overnight accommodation options in the nearby mountain villages of either Leura, Wentworth Falls or Katoomba.
The high-quality heritage sandstone walking tracks and lookouts guide visitors to spectacular mountain vistas and sparkling waterfalls, and through lush rainforests teeming with diverse flora and wildlife including black cockatoos and lyrebirds making it the ultimate experience for nature lovers.
Minister for Climate Change and the Environment Penny Sharpe said: “The Grand Cliff Top Walk is a scenic 19-kilometre journey traversing exhilarating cliff-edge walking tracks along the Blue Mountains escarpment with superb views high above the Jamison Valley, it’s stunning and both novice and experienced walkers will love it.
“This walk has everything a nature lover could wish for and those who would like to add a little extra adventure can choose to expand their walk by taking a variety of side tracks including the descents into the Jamison Valley down the beautiful Fern Bower stairs and ascending the amazing Furber steps.
“The latest NPWS research shows that visitors to Blue Mountains region national parks contribute more than $367 million to the Blue Mountains economy each year and help generate over 685 jobs for the region, it really is one of our national treasures.”
Member for Blue Mountains Trish Doyle said: “We’re fortunate to have this magnificent new walk in our Blue Mountains backyard. Locals will know the work that has gone into making it a world class attraction and I congratulate NPWS and Blue Mountains City Council teams for their vision.”
“We urge visitors and walkers who experience the Grand Cliff Top Walk, on a guided or self-guided walk, to explore our villages along the way with their unique art deco buildings, colourful boutique cafès, restaurants and shops.”
Blue Mountains Mayor, Councillor Mark Greenhill said: “Blue Mountains City Council has invested significantly in key locations along the Grand Cliff Top Walk – including Darwins Walk which was devastated by natural disaster and flooding in 2020, 2021 and 2022.
“Tourism and recreation areas along the southern escarpment attract significant visitation, but they are also much-loved by the local community as they provide spectacular views of the Greater Blue Mountains World Heritage Area.
“Council has worked closely with National Parks and Wildlife Service in recent years to renew and connect existing walking tracks and complete missing links, between Wentworth Falls and Katoomba. The Grand Cliff Top Walk will provide a more immersive experience and encourage visitors to stay overnight, which in turn will benefit our local economy and create employment.”
Get more information at National Parks – Grand Cliff Top Walk
