Leura to Katoomba via Dardanelles Pass
Download & Print Map and Notes4 hrs
697 m
Hard track
(0km) Corner of Olympian Parade and Lone Pine Ave → Int of Prince Henry Cliff Walk and Gordon Falls Lookout Track
40 m
1 mins
0m
-7m
Easy track
(0.04km) Int of Prince Henry Cliff Walk and Gordon Falls Lookout Track → Gordon Falls Lookout
90 m
3 mins
0m
-28m
Moderate track
Gordon Falls Lookout
(0.04km) Int of Prince Henry Cliff Walk and Gordon Falls Lookout Track → Elysian Lookout
230 m
7 mins
19m
-30m
Moderate track
Elysian Rock
(0.27km) Elysian Lookout → Olympian Lookout
230 m
13 mins
50m
-75m
Moderate track
Olympian Lookout
(0.5km) Olympian Lookout → Int of Prince Henry Cliff Walk Tarpeian Rock Track
520 m
15 mins
62m
-44m
Moderate track
(1.02km) Int of Prince Henry Cliff Walk Tarpeian Rock Track → Tarpeian Rock
50 m
1 mins
1m
-7m
Easy track
Tarpeian Rock
(1.02km) Int of Prince Henry Cliff Walk and Tarpeian Rock Track → The Rock
220 m
7 mins
13m
-23m
Moderate track
Turn right: From the intersection, the track follows the Leura Cascades sign down the long rocky hill until it flattens out and continues under a large rock overhang to ‘The Rock’ lookout.
The Rock
(1.24km) The Rock → Leura Cascades
530 m
11 mins
10m
-30m
Moderate track
Veer left: From the intersection, the walk follows the bush track winding around the side of the hill, keeping the valley down to the left as it winds along to the intersection of the Cliff Drive track.
Continue straight: Keeping the valley down the hill to the left, this walk follows the bush track heading around the side of the hill, steadily winding down the gentle slope to the top of a short set of wooden steps. The walk then follows the stairs down to the signposted intersection with the ‘Leura Cascades’ track, just before the footbridge.
Turn sharp left: From the intersection, this walk follows the ‘Leura Cascades’ sign down the steps, keeping the handrail and creek to the right. After a short while, the walk heads along a timber platform and down some stairs to a rock platform, with great views of some cascades. From these cascades, the walk heads down more stairs, coming to an intersection just before two bridges, with great views of Leura Cascades.
Leura Cascades
(1.77km) Leura Cascades → Int of Leura Cascades Round Walk and Fern Bower Track
110 m
5 mins
19m
-30m
Moderate track
Continue straight: From the lookout, the walk heads up the metal staircases then along the fenced cliff ledge, with more great valley views. Soon the track heads down a few steps to come to a a four-way intersection, with a sign pointing back to ‘Leura Cascades’ (and the short left-hand track leading to a fenced (unnamed) lookout.
(1.87km) Int of Leura Cascades Round Walk and Fern Bower Track → Int of Prince Henry Cliff Walk and Bridal Veil Lookout Track
300 m
7 mins
46m
-5m
Moderate track
Veer left: From the intersection, this walk follows the ‘Echo Point’ sign along the ‘Prince Henrey Walk’, winding around the side of the hill, passing two picnic seats under a rock overhang and continuing up the side of the hill. The walk climbs up the steep slope via metal and wooden steps, until it flattens out at a fenced boardwalk, which it crosses, continuing up another metal staircase to a bush track, which it follows around the side of the hill to the signposted intersection of the Bridal Veil Lookout track.
(2.17km) Int of Prince Henry Cliff Walk and Bridal Veil Lookout Track → Bridal Veil Lookout
40 m
1 mins
0m
-14m
Easy track
Bridal Veil Lookout
(2.17km) Int of Prince Henry Cliff Walk and Bridal Veil Lookout Track → Fossil Rock
50 m
1 mins
5m
-1m
Moderate track
Veer right: From the intersection, the walk follows the bush track heading up the hill, keeping the cliffs and the valley down the hill to the left as it winds up to the Fossil Rock Lookout.
Fossil Rock
(2.22km) Fossil Rock → Int of Cliff Drive and Prince Henry Cliff Walk
80 m
2 mins
16m
-3m
Moderate track
Turn left: From the intersection, this walk follows Cliff Drive up the gentle hill, passing the picnic seat at the point and heading around the left-hand side of the restaurant to the signposted intersection of ‘Prince Henry Cliff Walk’.
Solitary Kiosk and Restaurant
(2.3km) Int of Cliff Drive and Prince Henry Cliff Walk → Fern Bower
230 m
7 mins
9m
-42m
Hard track
Turn right: From the intersection, the walk heads along the bush track, away from the Echo Tree Lookout, winding along the well-defined bush track for a short while before coming to the signposted intersection of the track to Leura Forest.
Turn left: From the intersection, this walk follows the ‘Leura Forest’ sign along the bush track, winding down the hill for a short while before dropping down a set of wooden steps, to the signposted intersection with the ‘Jamieson Lookout’ track.
Continue straight: From the intersection, this walk follows the dirt path, heading down the long set of wooden and rocky steps. The walk winds down past a picnic chair under a cliff overhang, and continues down the steps into the valley and through the forest to the Fern Bower information sign.
Fern Bower
(2.53km) Fern Bower → Lila falls crossing
340 m
14 mins
10m
-168m
Hard track
Turn right: From the intersection, this walk follows the ‘Federal Pass Leura Forest’ sign down the long metal staircase, to cross the bridge over Linda Creek in front of Lila Falls.
Lila Falls
(2.87km) Lila Falls crossing → Marguerite Cascades
180 m
11 mins
37m
-90m
Hard track
Marguerite Cascades
(3.04km) Marguerite Cascades → Leura Forest
320 m
11 mins
50m
-14m
Hard track
Veer right: From the intersection, this walk crosses Linda Creek just below a pleasant cascade[4] using the foot bridge with a handrail[5]. This walk then continues along the bush track that winds along the valley floor, to the signposted ‘Leura Forest’. From here, the walk continues along the wide bush track, passing a few picnic tables, and winding through the forest to an open area with a large gazebo and an information sign at the intersection of the Federal Pass and the Dardenelles tracks.
Leura Forest
(3.37km) Leura Forest (Int of Federal Pass and Dardenelles Tracks) → Int of Federal Pass, Scenic Railway and Dardenelles Tracks
1.2 km
37 mins
141m
-125m
Hard track
Continue straight: From the bottom of the Giant Staircase, the walk follows the ‘Scenic Railway’ sign, keeping the main cliff to the right. The track continues with some great views over the Valley, and at several points, there are small seats to enjoy these fine views. The track then comes to a well-signposted intersection, with signs pointing along the ‘Federal Pass Track’ and ‘Dardanelles Pass’.
(4.53km) Int of Federal Pass, Scenic Railway and Dardenelles Tracks → Scenic Railway (Bottom Platform)
2.1 km
1 hr 1 mins
210m
-196m
Moderate track
Continue straight: From the intersection, this walk heads south-west away from Katoomba Falls along the bush track, soon passing the signposted ‘Turpentine Tree’. Shortly after this tree, the track comes to an intersection with another bush track and set of stairs (on the right, signposted as ‘Furber Steps’).
Continue straight: From the bottom of Furber Steps, this walk follows the ‘To base of scenic railway’ sign keeping the handrail on the left, and following the flat bush track. This track passes through a small gate over a metal bridge at the bottom of the Scenic Railway.
(6.59km) Scenic Railway (Bottom Platform) → Scenic World
300 m
26 mins
210m
-8m
Very easy
Scenic World
Maps for the Leura to Katoomba via Dardanelles Pass walk
You can download the PDF for this walk to print a map.These maps below cover the walk and the wider area around the walk, they are worth carrying for safety reasons.
Six Foot Track | 1:50 000 Map Series | Six Foot Track | NSW-six-foot-track |
Katoomba | 1:25 000 Map Series | 89301S KATOOMBA | NSW-89301S |
Katoomba | 1:100 000 Map Series | 8930 KATOOMBA | 8930 |
Cross sectional view of the Leura to Katoomba via Dardanelles Pass bushwalking track
Analysis and summary of the altitude variation on the Leura to Katoomba via Dardanelles Pass
Overview of this walks grade – based on the AS 2156.1 – 2001
Under this standard, a walk is graded based on the most difficult section of the walk.
Length | 6.6 km | ||
Time | 4 hrs | ||
. | |||
Grade 4/6 Hard track |
AS 2156.1 | Gradient | Very steep (4/6) |
Quality of track | Rough track, where fallen trees and other obstacles are likely (4/6) | ||
Signs | Directional signs along the way (3/6) | ||
Experience Required | Some bushwalking experience recommended (3/6) | ||
Weather | Storms may impact on navigation and safety (3/6) | ||
Infrastructure | Limited facilities, not all cliffs are fenced (3/6) |
Some more details of this walks Grading
Here is a bit more details explaining grading looking at sections of the walk
Gradient
4.1km of this walk has short steep hills and another 2.1km has gentle hills with occasional steps. Whilst another 550m is flat with no steps and the remaining 200m is very steep.
Quality of track
4.4km of this walk follows a clear and well formed track or trail and another 1.3km follows a rough track, where fallen trees and other obstacles are likely. Whilst another 650m follows a smooth and hardened path and the remaining 540m follows a formed track, with some branches and other obstacles.
Signs
Around 5km of this walk is clearly signposted, whilst the remaining 1.9km has directional signs at most intersection.
Experience Required
Around 6km of this walk requires no previous bushwalking experience, whilst the remaining 660m requires some bushwalking experience.
weather
Around 7km of this walk is not usually affected by severe weather events (that would unexpectedly impact safety and navigation), whilst the remaining 170m is affected by storms that may impact your navigation and safety.
Infrastructure
Around 6km of this walk is close to useful facilities (such as fenced cliffs and seats), whilst the remaining 1.2km has limited facilities (such as not all cliffs fenced).
Similar walks
Other Nearby walks
Plan your trip to and from the walk here
The Leura to Katoomba via Dardanelles Pass walk starts at the Corner of Olympian Parade and Lone Pine Ave (gps: -33.725365, 150.33191)Your transport options to Corner of Olympian Parade and Lone Pine Ave are by;
Bus. (get details)
Car. There is free parking available.
(get details)
The Leura to Katoomba via Dardanelles Pass ends at the Scenic World (gps: -33.728585, 150.30095)
Your transport options to Scenic World are by;
Bus. (get details)
Car. There is free parking available.
(get details)
Fire Danger
Each park may have its own fire ban, this rating is only valid for today and is based on information from the RFS Please check the RFS Website for more information.Weather Forest
This walk starts in the Central Tablelands weather district always check the formal BOM forecast or pdf before starting your walk.Forecast snapshot
Park Information & Alerts
Short URL = http://wild.tl/ltkvdp
Gallery images
There are other downloads I am still working on.
You will probably need to login to access these — still all free.
* KML (google earth file)
* GPX (GPS file)
Special Maps/ brochures
* A3 topo maps
* PDF with Lands Topo map base
* PDF with arial image (and map overlay)
I wanted to get the main site live first, this extra stuff will come in time.
Happy walking
Matt 🙂
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