To get to the Blackheath area of Blue Mountains National Park:

From Sydney:

• Head west on the Western Motorway (M4) and Great Western Highway.
• Blackheath is around 12.5km beyond Katoomba. Turn right onto Govetts Leap Road and follow to the end to reach Blue Mountains Heritage Centre.
• You can also take Bells Line of Road from Richmond, then turn south on the Darling Causeway which connects with the Great Western Highway at Mount Victoria.

From Lithgow:

• Head east on the Great Western Highway.
• Blackheath is around 28km from Lithgow.
• Mount Victoria is around 9km from Lithgow.

Parking Show more

• Blue Mountains Heritage Centre See on map
• Butterbox Canyon See on map
• Evans lookout See on map
• Fortress Canyon See on map
• Govetts Leap lookout See on map
• Jugglers Canyon See on map
• Perrys lookdown See on map
• Pulpit Rock lookout See on map
• Victoria Falls walking track See on map

By bike

Visit Transport for NSW for cycling and bike transport information.

By public transport

• Regular trains run from Sydney Central Station to Blackheath and Mount Victoria. The trip takes about 2 hours. Visit Transport for NSW to plan your trip.
• Daily buses run between Katoomba and Blackheath, including wheelchair-accessible services. Buses run Monday to Friday from Katoomba to Mount Victoria. Visit the Blue Mountains transit website for information.

Blackheath area spoils you with its diverse attractions all year. Here are some highlights.

Autumn

Autumn brings crisp mountain air and clear blue skies tempting you to get back to nature. Set out on a gentle stroll, heart-pumping hike, exhilarating mountain bike ride or trail run. The steep descents and challenging climbs to Grand Canyon or Blue Gum Forest will soon warm you up. Camp under the stars and fall asleep to the whispers of the wilderness. You’ll find it hard to believe Sydney is only 2hrs away.

Spring

Spring is prime time for wildflowers and birdwatching. Spot pink boronias, heath banksia and yellow conesticks that look like ice cream cones. In November the iconic waratah flowers along Fairfax Heritage track, while grass trees flower on the escarpment. Look out for king parrots and nectar-loving honeyeaters in the trees. This is also a great time to explore on 2 wheels. Ride along Mount Hay Road surrounded by flowering heathland. If you’re lucky you might even see a giant dragonfly as they emerge in late October.

Summer

Rediscover the great outdoors on a bushwalk or try something new like an introductory canyoning tour. After a summer rain shower the waterfalls are in full flow. Mossy hanging swamps drip crystal clear water, cooling you off along Govetts Leap descent. The fine weather is perfect for evening picnics and stunning sunsets from the lookouts. Need to keep the kids entertained? Check out the heritage centre’s tours and activities during school holidays.

Winter

You may catch a dusting of snow in the upper mountains at Blackheath and Mount Victoria. Winter-blooming sunshine wattle brings splashes of yellow alongside walking tracks. If you prefer to explore from the warmth of your car, Blackheath lookouts drive is an easy way to see the area’s world-class views. Detour to Wind Eroded Cave and Anvil Rock on your way to Perrys Lookdown, and don’t miss Pulpit Rock. Council-owned Hargreaves and Mount Blackheath lookouts offer sweeping views over the Megalong and Kanimbla Valleys.

Toilets Show more

• Acacia Flat campground
• Blue Mountains Heritage Centre
• Evans lookout
• Fairfax Heritage walking track
• Govetts Leap descent
• Govetts Leap lookout
• Jugglers Canyon

Picnic tables

• Evans lookout
• Fairfax Heritage walking track
• Govetts Leap descent
• Govetts Leap lookout

Cafe/kiosk

• Fairfax Heritage walking track

Drinking water

• Blue Mountains Heritage Centre
• Govetts Leap lookout

Wireless internet

• Blue Mountains Heritage Centre

Electric power

• Blue Mountains Heritage Centre

• Blackheath area factsheet
• Blackheath area map (7.5MB pdf)

Animals

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  Wedge-tailed eagle (Aquila audax)

  With a wingspan of up to 2.5m, the wedge-tailed eagle is Australia’s largest bird of prey. These Australian animals are found in woodlands across NSW, and have the ability to soar to heights of over 2km. If you’re bird watching, look out for the distinctive diamond-shaped tail of the eagle.

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  Long-nosed bandicoot (Perameles nasuta)

  A nocturnal marsupial and one of the smaller Australian native animals, the long-nosed bandicoot is found across eastern Australia. Populations in the Sydney region have dwindled since European settlement, leaving only endangered colonies in inner western Sydney and at North Head, near Manly. The long-nosed bandicoot has grey-brown fur and a pointed snout which it uses to forage for worms and insects.

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  Common brushtail possum (Trichosurus vulpecula)

  One of the most widespread of Australian tree-dwelling marsupials, the common brushtail possum is found across most of NSW in woodlands, rainforests and urban areas. With strong claws, a prehensile tail and opposable digits, these native Australian animals are well-adapted for life amongst the trees.

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  Yellow-tailed black cockatoo (Calyptorhynchus funereus)

  The yellow-tailed black cockatoo is one of the largest species of parrot. With dusty-black plumage, they have a yellow tail and cheek patch. They’re easily spotted while bird watching, as they feed on seeds in native forests and pine plantations.

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  Swamp wallaby (Wallabia bicolor)

  The swamp wallaby, also known as the black wallaby or black pademelon, lives in the dense understorey of rainforests, woodlands and dry sclerophyll forest along eastern Australia. This unique Australian macropod has a dark black-grey coat with a distinctive light-coloured cheek stripe.

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  Common ringtail possum (Pseudocheirus peregrinus)

  Commonly found in forests, woodlands and leafy gardens across eastern NSW, the Australian ringtail possum is a tree-dwelling marsupial. With a powerful tail perfectly adapted to grasp objects, it forages in trees for eucalypt leaves, flowers and fruit.

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  Eastern blue-tongue lizard (Tiliqua scinciodes)

  The eastern blue-tongue lizard, one of the largest skinks in Australia, is found throughout most of NSW. When threatened, the eastern blue-tongue lizard displays its blue tongue in a wide-mouthed intimidating show. Not an agile animal, they feed on slow-moving beetles and snails.

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  Eastern water dragon (Intellagama lesueurii lesueurii)

  The eastern water dragon is a subaquatic lizard found in healthy waterways along eastern NSW, from Nowra to halfway up the Cape York Pensinsula. It’s believed to be one of the oldest of Australian reptiles, remaining virtually unchanged for over 20 million years.

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  Sugar glider (Petaurus breviceps)

  The sugar glider is a tree-dwelling Australian native marsupial, found in tall eucalypt forests and woodlands along eastern NSW. The nocturnal sugar glider feeds on insects and birds, and satisfies its sweet tooth with nectar and pollens.

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  Superb lyrebird (Menura novaehollandiae)

  With a complex mimicking call and an elaborate courtship dance to match, the superb lyrebird is one of the most spectacular Australian animals. A bird watching must-see, the superb lyrebird can be found in rainforests and wet woodlands across eastern NSW and Victoria.

Plants

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  Wonga wonga vine (Pandorea pandorana)

  The wonga wonga vine is a widespread vigorous climber usually found along eastern Australia. A variation of the plant occurs in the central desert, where it resembles a sprawling shrub. One of the more common Australian native plants, the wonga wonga vine produces bell-shaped white or yellow flowers in the spring, followed by a large oblong-shaped seed pod.

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  Old man banksia (Banksia serrata)

  Hardy Australian native plants, old man banksias can be found along the coast, and in the dry sclerophyll forests and sandstone mountain ranges of NSW. With roughened bark and gnarled limbs, they produce a distinctive cylindrical yellow-green banksia flower which blossoms from summer to early autumn.

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  Blueberry ash (Elaeocarpus reticulatus)

  The blueberry ash is a rainforest shrub which produces blue olive-shaped berries and spectacular bell-shaped flowers, which often appear on the plant together. It is a tall slender shrub or small tree found in rainforest, tall eucalypt forest and coastal bushland in eastern NSW, south-east Queensland and Victoria.

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  Coachwood (Ceratopetalum apetalum)

  Coachwood trees are Australian native plants that grow in warm temperate rainforests along coastal NSW. Also known as scented satinwood, the mottled grey bark of the coachwood has horizontal markings and a delicate fragrance.

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  Coachwood (Ceratopetalum apetalum)

  Coachwood trees are Australian native plants that grow in warm temperate rainforests along coastal NSW. Also known as scented satinwood, the mottled grey bark of the coachwood has horizontal markings and a delicate fragrance.

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  Flannel flower (Actinotus helianthi)

  The delicate flannel flower is so named because of the soft woolly feel of the plant. Growing in the NSW south coast region, extending to Narrabri in the Central West and up to south-east Queensland, its white or pink flowers bloom all year long, with an extra burst of colour in the spring.

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  Grass tree (Xanthorrea spp.)

  An iconic part of the Australian landscape, the grass tree is widespread across eastern NSW. These Australian native plants have a thick fire-blackened trunk and long spiked leaves. They are found in heath and open forests across eastern NSW. The grass tree grows 1-5m in height and produces striking white-flowered spikes which grow up to 1m long.

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  Scribbly gum (Eucalyptus haemastoma)

  Easily identifiable Australian native plants, scribbly gum trees are found throughout NSW coastal plains and hills in the Sydney region. The most distinctive features of this eucalypt are the ‘scribbles’ made by moth larva as it tunnels between the layers of bark.

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  Smooth-barked apple (Angophora costata)

  Smooth-barked apple gums, also known as Sydney red gum or rusty gum trees, are Australian native plants found along the NSW coast, and in the Sydney basin and parts of Queensland. Growing to heights of 15-30m, the russet-coloured angophoras shed their bark in spring to reveal spectacular new salmon-coloured bark.

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  Waratah (Telopea speciosissima)

  The beautiful waratah is not only the NSW floral emblem, it's also one of the best-known Australian native plants. This iconic Australian bush flower can be found on sandstone ridges around Sydney, in nearby mountain ranges and on the NSW South Coast. The waratah has a vibrant crimson flowerhead, measuring up to 15cm across, and blossoms in spring.