Blackheath Overview

Blackheath’s location, sandwiched between two beautiful valleys, makes it a natural choice as a Blue Mountains gateway. However, its tiny town center has limited services and few adventure trips. Travelers without cars will probably prefer more-accessible Katoomba and Leura.

Transportation And Practical Information. The Great Western Hwy. snakes 11km from Katoomba to Blackheath en route to Mt. Victoria and Lithgow. Blue Mountains Buses (#698) runs from Katoomba to Mt. Victoria via Blackheath and comes as close as possible to the town’s major trailheads. (☎02 4782 4213. M-F 7:30am-6pm, Sa 6:30am-4:30pm.) CityRail train service connects Blackheath to: Glenbrook (1hr., 15-22 per day, $6.60); Katoomba (11min., 15-23 per day, $3.40); Lithgow (30min., 12 per day, $5.60); Parramatta (1½hr., 15-20 per day, $11); Penrith (1hr., 15-20 per day, $8.60); Sydney (2½hr., 15-20 per day, $13.60). Blackheath Station is 3km from the Govetts Leap trailhead.

Travelers can get regional tourist information from Blue Mountains Tourism, at Echo Point, Katoomba (☎1300 653 408). Questions about Blue Mountains National Park, Wollemi National Park, and Kanangra-Boyd National Park are best handled by the NPWS-run Blue Mountains Heritage Centre, at the roundabout near the end of Govetts Leap Rd. The center also has exhibits, detailed trail guides ($2-4), and refreshments. (☎02 4787 8877. Open daily 9am-4:30pm.)

Accommodations And Food.  The New Ivanhoe Hotel , at the corner of the Great Western Hwy. and Govetts Leap Rd., has clean, tasteful rooms.(☎02 4782 2652. Continental breakfast included; full breakfast $7. Reception at bar. Weekday single with shared bathroom $33; double $66; ensuite $44/$88. Weekend (F-Su) shared bathroom $66, ensuite $88.) Downstairs, the Bistro is a great place for a delectable meal, with pies and sandwiches ($6-9) and heartier main meals like lasagna ($14.50-17.50). Takeaway is also available. (☎02 4787 7507.) Blackheath Caravan Park , on Prince Edward St. off Govetts Leap Rd., opposite Memorial Park, has toilets, showers, and BBQ. (☎02 4787 8101. Key deposit $10. Reception 8am-8pm. Sites $11.60, powered $15.05; cabins $46.30, ensuite (min. 3-night stay) $62.40. No linens or towels.) There are two NPWS camping areas accessible from Blackheath: Perrys Lookdown, 8km from the Great Western Hwy. at the end of the mostly unpaved Hat Hill Rd. (5 walk-in sites; max. 1-night stay), and Acacia Flat, on the Grose Valley floor, a 4hr. hike from Govetts Leap and a 2-3hr. hike from Perrys Lookdown. Both sites are free and lack facilities beyond pit toilets. Campfires are not permitted. Water from Govetts Creek is available at Acacia Flat, but must be treated. There is no reliable water source at Perrys Lookdown.

Hikes And Lookouts. Walks in the Blackheath area vary widely in length and level of difficulty. The Fairfax Heritage Track (1hr., 2km) is wheelchair-accessible and leads to Govetts Leap, one of the most magnificent lookouts in Blue Mountains National Park. From Govetts Leap, the moderate Pulpit Rock Track (3hr., 5km circuit) follows the cliff line north for spectacular views along the way of Horseshoe Falls and a fantastic view of the Grose Valley from the Pulpit Rock lookout. The Cliff Top Walk travels the other direction to Evans Lookout (1hr. round-trip) past the wispy Govetts Leap Falls, a thin stream that takes nearly 10 seconds to tumble all the way into the valley below. The moderate Grand Canyon Walking Track (5km; 3-4hr. round-trip) is undoubtedly one of the most popular hikes in all the Blue Mountains. You can start at either Neates Glen or Evans Lookout, but if you need to park a car, leave it at the Grand Canyon Loop Carpark along the Evans Lookout Rd. The circuit passes through sandstone cliffs, wet rainforest, and exposed heathland. Archaeological evidence suggests that Aboriginals occupied the Grand Canyon at least 12,000 years ago and used the route to gather chert (a quartzite rock) at the base of Beauchamp Falls. Six kilometers north of Blackheath along the Great Western Hwy. is Hat Hill Rd., a mostly dirt route that bumps and bounces to an excellent lookout and a popular trailhead for the Blue Gum Forest (5½hr., 5km, expert-only). Near the end of the road, the turnoff leading to the parking area for Anvil Rock and the magical features of the misnamed Wind Eroded Cave (water was the culprit, actually) is well worth the side trip.

The scenic drive into the Megalong Valley begins on Shipley Rd., across the Great Western Hwy. from Govett’s Leap Rd. Cross the railroad tracks from the highway and take an immediate left onto Station St., following it until it turns right onto Shipley Rd. Megalong Rd. is a left turn from Shipley Rd., leading down to a picturesque farmland area that contrasts with the surrounding wilderness. In the valley, outfitters supply horses and conduct guided trail rides. Werriberri Trail Rides is 10km along Megalong Rd. near Werriberri Lodge. (☎02 4787 9171; www.australianbluehorserides.com.au. Open daily 9am-3:30pm. $48 per 1hr.; $65 per 1½hr.; $90 per 2hr. 2-9 day rides by request $190-230. Prices per person.) The Megalong Australian Heritage Centre, a bit farther south on Megalong Rd., is an aspiring cowboy’s dream. The sprawling country-western ranch features upscale accommodations, an affordable restaurant that serves modern Australian cuisine, a friendly staff, livestock-lassoing shows, guided horseback riding tours, and guided 4WD bush trips. It also rents horses and 4WD vehicles for self-guided tours on more than 2000 acres of land. Inquire about job offerings. (☎02 4787 8188; www.megalong.cc. Open daily 8am-5:30pm. Photo/4WD tours $125-195, depending on length. Horseback rides 30min. $30, 1hr. $45, 2hr. $80, ½-day to full day $100-195.)