Self Drive
A$4995per person
The Blue Mountains in NSW is a magical location, famous for its dramatic escarpments, spectacular forests and stunning waterfalls, this region is a walker’s paradise. On this fantastic 3-day pack walk we traverse the great Blue Mountains from Blackheath to Wentworth Falls walking the most beautiful trails. Discover the lush fern gullies of the Grand Canyon, take in the stunning views from the rocky outcrop of Ruined Castle and be amazed by the Valley of Waterfalls at Wentworth Falls.
Carry as little as your water, camera and lunch
This is a Pack Free walk designed for those looking for a guided multi-day walking experience with everything done for you. Our guests won’t be asked to carry their clothes or overnight bags for the entire tour. This is a big advantage for our guests, in that you will avoid carrying a heavy rucksack on your back every day. With Life’s An Adventure, carry as little as your water bottle, camera and lunch.
Scenic Railway ride to the start of the trail
On day two we take a short cut to the valley floor on the Scenic Railway. Gliding through the rainforest and down the escarpment is a magical way to avoid the steep stairs and get to the start of the walking trail.
Please note as the Ruined Castle walk is being reapired after bushfires, we are currently not using the Scenic Railway, this will be reinstated when this walk is.
Art Deco manor close to shops and cafes
Our guests will stay at the iconic Carrington Hotel in the heart of Katoomba. This elegant heritage-listed hotel was a popular mountain retreat in the late 1800s. The hotel features charming art deco interiors including grand stunning chandeliers and relics of the past in its bar and restaurant. Guests rooms offer Queen or twin beds. The hotel is ideally situated in the heart of Katoomba with shops and cafes at its doorstep.
Maximum of 12 people
We keep our walking tours small and intimate so they can be more personalised. We have a maximum group size of 12 people on this walk.
accompanying a la carte dining
Indulge in sensational high-quality local produce that makes this region unique accompanied with local wines each evening. On night or we dine in the Carrington’s grand dining room with its art deco high ceilings. Whilst on night two we enjoy dinner in a charming local restaurant.
Typical Menu at the Carrington.
Mains:
Dessert:
Special dietary requirements can be catered for.
You won’t even pay for credit card fees!
When you travel on one of our walking holidays you won’t be asked to put your hand in your pocket for extras along the way. All restaurant meals, as well as local wines, are included in your walking tour with nothing more to pay. You won’t even pay extra for credit card fees.
Passionate and enthusiastic guides
We call our guides CEOs – Chief Experience Officers and it’s their job to ensure your walking holiday is everything you hoped it would be. Our guides are wonderful at bringing the group together as well as sharing their love of the environment in which you travel. Our CEO’s are locals who are passionate, well trained and enthusiastic with a wealth of information.
including Australia’s best Adventure Tourism Company
Life’s an Adventure have won 21 Tourism Awards of Excellence including the Qantas Australian Tourism Award for Australia’s Best Adventure Company. Awards are great, but our biggest accolade which we value even more, is that our clients come back and travel with us time and time again.
Breakfast, lunch, dinner and snacks on tour
Stay at the Blue Mountain’s historic art deco Carrington hotel
Professionally guided walking tours
Scenic Railway ride on the second day
Transfers from Sydney CBD or Blue Mountains pickups
Plenty of photo opportunities available
PRE-TOUR STAY: For those starting the walk in the Blue Mountains a pre-tour night at the historic Carrington Hotel can be organised when you book your tour including dinner, bed and breakfast. This art deco manor is in the heart of Katoomba with shops, cafes and restaurants at your doorstep.
MEETING TIME: 7.15am at the Sir Stamford Hotel Sydney or 9.15am at the Carrington Hotel Katoomba.
TRAIL NOTES: 5.8km, 4 hours walking with breaks. Ascents 298m. Grade 3. Medium to Hard Grade.
TERRAIN: The trail from Evans Lookout runs gently uphill for about 1.5km before dropping steeply for about 0.9km with steps. It then undulates through the canyon for about 2.3km on dirt and rock paths interspersed with sandstone steps, rock ledges and overhangs, small bridges and stepping stone creek crossings before ascending steeply to the top of the plateau, with steps, for 1.1km.
TRANSFERS: Complimentary transfers from the Sydney CBD to the Blue Mountains are available if required (2 hours drive), or option to meet in the Blue Mountains.
WALK ITINERARY: This morning we head to Blackheath for the beginning of our walking adventure of the Blue Mountain’s Grand Canyon. The Grand Canyon as a narrow chasm approximately 180m deep formed into the sandstone by the cascading waters of Greaves Creek. Our walk starts on the top of the escarpment near Evans Lookout taking us to the head of the Grand Canyon Track. Here where we descend into a magical wonderland of fern gullies and rainforest, dotted with pretty creek crossings and cascading waterfalls. The walk culminates in a climb up a series of sandstone steps through lush forest and ferns to Evans Lookout where guests will be awed by the panoramic views across the immense Grose Valley, surrounded by huge, vertical sandstone cliffs and impressive waterfalls. Afterwards, we head to our accommodation at the iconic Carrington Hotel, one of the Blue Mountain’s most historic and iconic hotels situated in the heart of Katoomba and close to shops and cafes. Tonight enjoy fine a la carte dining in a local restaurant accompanied by regional wines and great views
REVISED ITINERARY DUE TO BUSHFIRES:
Please note day one’s walk to Ruined Castle was affected by the January 2020 bushfires. When this walk is re-established we will add this back into our itinerary.
NEW Day 2: Scenic Railway – Federal Pass and Dardanelles Pass Loop
TRAIL NOTES: 9.8kms. 5-6 hours walking with breaks. Ascents: 623m. Medium Grade.
TERRAIN: From the Scenic Railway platform the walk follows a well-maintained path, with steps, undulating along the bottom of the cliff escarpment for 3.7km. It then climbs steeply for 1km with 230m elevation gain. The trail is interspersed with some steel stairs (with hand rails) and small bridges. Once the walk reaches the Prince Henry Cliff Walk the trail undulates along the top of the escarpment for 4.9km. Around Echo Point the paths are paved and easy walking while between Echo Point and Katoomba Falls there are some sections of steps and steel stairs with hand rails.
WALK ITINERARY: After a hearty breakfast, we set out for our day’s walking adventure. Today we have a unique way to get to the start of our walk. We head from our hotel to the Scenic Railway for a short cut to the valley floor on the Scenic Railway the world’s steepest railway. From here we begin our walk along the historic Federal Pass passing through dense forests and past pretty waterfalls and taking in views of the famous Three Sisters rock formations. Our trail takes us back up to the cliff top via Dardanelles Pass and the cascades and waterfalls of Linda Creek and then back along the cliff top past the Three Sisters with stunning views of the Jamieson Valley. We return to our superb accommodation, tonight we visit a local restaurant for a wonderful a la carte dinner including local wine and recount the day’s adventures with newfound friends.
ORIGINAL ITINERARY: Ruined Castle walk.7.9kms. 5.5 hours walking with breaks. Walk: Medium to Hard grade. Ascents 666m. 2.6km of this walk has gentle hills with occasional steps and another 1.2km is very steep. The remaining (210m) has short steep hills.
After a hearty breakfast, we set out for our day’s walking adventure. Today we have a unique way to get to the start of our walk. We head from our hotel to Katoomba. From here we take a short cut to the valley floor on the Scenic Railway the world’s steepest railway. We traverse the Jamieson Valley, the track was once a historic mining route with ruins of miner’s cottages and worksites. We then head into a world of lush rainforests of giant sassafrass and coachwood trees. As we reach Ruined Castle we enjoy some rock hopping to take up to the peak of Ruined Castle, one of the most visible and remarkable landmarks of the Blue Mountains. The 360-degree views from the rocky outcrop are simply breathtaking. We return to our superb accommodation for an enjoyable dining experience in the superb Eucalypt Restaurant including local wine and recount the day’s adventures with new found friends.
TRAIL NOTES: 6.2kms. 5 hours walking with breaks. Ascents: 489m. Medium Grade.
TERRAIN: The walk undulates easily along the top of the escarpment, over and under the cliffs for 2.5km to Wentworth Falls. From here there are a series of steep ascents and descents, for 1km, with steps, stairs and handrails before descending to the valley below the cliffs. The trail runs along the valley for 1.5km and is rough in sections but not difficult. It then climbs steeply for 1.1km to the Conservation Hut and includes short sections with steep rock steps and metal and wooden stairs with handrails.
WALK ITINERARY: After a relaxing breakfast, we head out on our day’s walking adventure, to one of the most beautiful hikes in the whole of the Blue Mountains. Descend into a valley of magnificent waterfalls through a stunning rainforest gorge. Explore ferny grottos, swimming holes and see a series of cascades including beautiful Empress Falls where water gushes from a narrow gorge. We’ll stop for a picnic lunch at the base of a waterfall where you can listen for the distinctive calls of the whip-birds and lyrebirds. Soak up the atmosphere as you jump across stepping stones to cross creeks and stand in awe taking in magnificent views of the falls and mountain scenery. Instead of just admiring the views from a lookout you’ll descend by steps down the cliffs into the wilderness to experience the true beauty of this region. We finish our walk early afternoon, for those returning to Sydney we offer complimentary transfers to the Sydney CDB, returning to the Sir Stamford Hotel.
FINISH TIME: Approximately 3.00pm in the Blue Mountains or 5.00pm in Sydney depending on the pace of the group and traffic into Sydney
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