Furber Steps-Scenic Railway

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Time 1 hr 15 mins
Circuit 869 m Circuit
Climb 46 m
Grade 4 Hard track
Bus Car
no_pets
This popular walk descends into the Jamison Valley, passing great views of Mt Solitary and Katoomba Falls. Be sure to allow time to explore as many of the side trips as possible as these are just amazing (especially the cascading water at Katoomba Falls). To save the walk back up the hill, take a ride on the Scenic Railway (make sure you get there before the last train at 4:50pm).

Scenic World

Scenic World
Scenic World is one of the most renowned tourist attractions of Katoomba and the Blue Mountains. Located on the cliffs of the Jamison Valley , visitors can enjoy a ride on the Scenic Railway (the world's steepest incline railway) or the Scenic Cableway, into the Jamison Valley, and explore the Scenic Walkway from the base. Alternatively, the Scenic Skyway offers a bird's eye view over the valley, with a glass floor to enhance the experience. Scenic World also features a revolving restaurant, a cafe and a kiosk, in addition to the documentary theatre and souvenir shop. Rides can be purchased, starting from $16 for adults and $10 for children, and combination or family passes are available. More info.

(0km) Scenic World → End of wooden footbridge

distance 120 m time 3 mins climb 5m descent -20m Very easy
From the Scenic World main entrance, this walk follows the 'Prince Henry Cliff Walk' signs down the concrete steps and around to the back of the building, where it comes to a wooden footbridge that curves around behind the main car park. At the end of the footbridge, this walk comes to an intersection with the Prince Henry Cliff Walk.

(0km) End of wooden footbridge → Vanimans Lookout

distance 90 m time 2 mins climb 0m descent -29m Hard track
Continue straight: From the intersection, this walk follows the bush track down the gentle hill, winding down some wooden steps as the track bends around to the right. It then arrives at the signposted intersection of the 'Prince Henry Cliff Walk' and the track to the base of the Scenic Railway.
Turn right: From the intersection, this walk heads down the steep wooden steps, following the signs to the bottom of the Scenic Railway. The walk comes to the intersection of Vanimans Lookout at the bottom of the steps.

Vaniman's Lookout

Vaniman's Lookout
Vaniman's Lookout is a fenced, long and narrow lookout on the cliff edge, opposite Reids Plateau. The view looks directly over the Three Sisters across the Kedumba Valley, under the Scenic Skyway. The lookout was considered one of the finest views on the Three Sisters in the 1900's. The lookout was named after Chester Melvin Vaniman in 1905, a well-know adventurer and artist from the USA, who visited the Blue Mountains in 1903. More info.

(0km) Vanimans Lookout → Int of Katoomba Falls Round Walk and Juliets Balcony Track

distance 110 m time 3 mins climb 4m descent -11m Hard track
Turn right: From Vanimans Lookout, this walk follows the bush track heading away from the bottom of the wooden steps. The track winds around the side of the hill and down the steep metal stairs. At the bottom, the walk comes to the intersection of the Katoomba Falls Round Walk and Juliets Balcony track (unsignposted).

(0km) Int of Katoomba Falls Round Walk and Juliets Balcony Track → Juliets Balcony

distance 10 m time climb 1m descent 0m Moderate track
Veer right: From the intersection, this walk heads up the short set of wooden steps, winding up to the raised rock platform, and along the bush track to the edge of the fenced-off rock shelf. At the end of this side trip, retrace your steps back to the main walk then Turn right.

Juilets Balcony

Juilets Balcony
Juliets Balcony is a spectacular lookout, perched on top of a rock buttress near Orphan Rock, under the Scenic Skyway. The lookout provides sweeping views of the start of the Kedumba Valley, from Katoomba Falls to the Three Sisters. The lookout is accessed by a staircase, off the Furber Steps track. The fenceline continues along the lookout, forming a long, fenced balcony.

(0km) Int of Katoomba Falls Round Walk and Juliets Balcony Track → Rainforest Lookout

distance 80 m time 1 mins climb 3m descent -5m Moderate track
Veer left: From the intersection, this walk follows the long set of wooden steps winding down the side of the hill. After this, the walk flattens out for a short distance then continues up a short set wooden steps to the intersection of the Round Walk and the Furber Steps track.
Turn right: From the intersection, this walk follows the 'Base of Scenic Railway' signpost down the wooden steps to the bottom, where it comes to the Rainforest Lookout.

Rainforest Lookout

Rainforest Lookout
Unlike many lookouts in the area, Rainforest Lookout does not offer sweeping valley views. Instead, this lookout offers an opportunity to get up close and personal with the canopy of the rainforest. Spend some time in the cool shade listening to the birds and Witches Leap creek passing by. A sign at the lookout explains that there once were wood-fired barbeques here for picnics, but removed due to the toll on the local environment[3].

(0km) Rainforest Lookout → Int of Furber Steps and Katoomba Falls Lookout Track

distance 20 m time climb 1m descent 0m Moderate track
Turn right: From the Rainforest Lookout, the track follows the bush track heading past the base of the wooden steps and then through the forest for a short while, until it reaches the signposted intersection of the Underfalls Walk.

(0km) Int of Furber Steps and Katoomba Falls Lookout Track → Katoomba Falls

distance 180 m time 6 mins climb 1m descent -67m Easy track
Turn left : From the intersection, this walk follows the 'Underfalls Walk' sign down a short set of steps and across a small waterfall using the wooden bridge (This creek flows from Witches Leap all the way down to Veras Grotto). Once past the falls, the track continues through the rainforest, winding along the well-defined path until arriving at Katoomba Falls Lookout, right at the base of the falls. At the end of this side trip, retrace your steps back to the main walk then Turn left.

Katoomba Falls

Katoomba Falls
The Katoomba Falls are among the most famous waterfalls in the the Blue Mountains region. The Kedumba River falls about 150 meters in 2 main stages. The Undercliff Track, from the Furber Steps, can be used to access the first landing of the waterfall. The Katoomba Falls can be viewed from most lookouts in the the area, including from the bottom of the falls at Cooks Landing on Federal Pass, or from the track running next to the Kedumba River at the top of the falls. These falls are also a highlight for the trip across the Scenic Skyway.

(0km) Int of Furber Steps and Katoomba Falls Lookout Track → Int of Furber Steps and Lynes Point Track

distance 40 m time 1 mins climb 1m descent -2m Moderate track
Continue straight: From the intersection, this walk follows the 'Scenic Railway' sign along the bush track, winding through the forest for a short while before passing a large rock overhang with a wooden bench seat underneath. The walk continues down a set of stairs until reaching the signposted 'Queen Victoria Lookout'.
Continue straight: From the intersection, this walk heads up the short metal staircase to the intersection of the Queen Victoria Lookout at the top.

(0km) Int of Furber Steps and Lynes Point Track → Lynes Point

distance 10 m time climb 1m descent 0m Moderate track
Turn left : From the intersection, this walk follows the bush track heading around the right-hand side of the metal staircase, continuing around under the Queen Victoria Lookout to Lynes Point. At the end of this side trip, retrace your steps back to the main walk then Veer right.

(0km) Int of Furber Steps and Lynes Point Track → Int of Furber Steps and Vera's Grotto Track

distance 120 m time 8 mins climb 17m descent -91m Hard track
Turn right: From the intersection, this walk follows the bush track heading away from the short metal staircase, winding along the side of the hill to the top of some concrete steps where there is a 'Furber Steps' signpost. From here, the walk continues down the concrete steps for a short distance until it comes to the signposted 'Furber Lookout'.
Continue straight: From the Furber Lookout, this walk heads down the concrete steps that zigzags steeply down to the bottom of the cliffs. The track then flattens out and continues through the forest with the hand railing on the right, crossing a short boardwalk and coming down to the signposted intersection of the Vera's Grotto track.

(1km) Int of Furber Steps and Vera's Grotto Track → Vera's Grotto

distance 30 m time 3 mins climb 27m descent -3m Easy track
Continue straight: From the intersection, the walk follows the 'Vera's Grotto' sign along the bush track, winding down a set of wooden steps to Vera's Grotto Lookout at the bottom. At the end of this side trip, retrace your steps back to the main walk then Turn left.

Vera's Grotto

Vera's Grotto
Vera's Grotto is a pleasant little spot located amongst the cascades on Witches Leap creek. This is a great area for lunch on a hot day, as it is always kept cool by the falls and the shade from the surrounding trees. When venturing to the grotto, you may be lucky enough to spot the Whistler and Yellow Robins. Superb Lyrebirds are also heard and even seen frequently in the surrounding area.

(1km) Int of Furber Steps and Veras Grotto Track → Int of Furber Steps and Scenic Railway Track

distance 130 m time 6 mins climb 5m descent -75m Hard track
Turn right: From the intersection, this walk goes down the stairs. These zigzag down the hill and, at several points, go under overhangs in the cliff. The walk continues steeply downhill (occasionally on metal stairs) until reaching an intersection with a bush track signposted 'Federal Pass'.

(1km) Int of Furber Steps and Scenic Railway Track → Scenic Railway (Bottom Platform)

distance 170 m time 4 mins climb 10m descent -15m Easy track
Turn right: 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.

(1km) Scenic Railway (Bottom Platform) → Scenic World

distance 300 m time 26 mins climb 210m descent -8m Very easy
Turn left: From the bottom platform, this walk heads up to the cliff top using the Scenic Railway. Hang on tight! This 415m-long journey is the world's steepest railway. Use of the railway costs $10 for adults and $5 for children one-way. Last train normally at 4:45pm (opens at 9am). More info.

Maps for the Furber Steps-Scenic Railway 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 Track1:50 000 Map SeriesSix Foot TrackNSW-six-foot-track
Katoomba1:25 000 Map Series89301S KATOOMBANSW-89301S
Katoomba1:100 000 Map Series8930 KATOOMBA8930

Cross sectional view of the Furber Steps-Scenic Railway bushwalking track

Terrain profile for Furber Steps-Scenic Railway

Analysis and summary of the altitude variation on the Furber Steps-Scenic Railway

Altitude analysis for Furber Steps-Scenic Railway

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.

Length869 m
Time1 hr 15 mins
.




Grade 4/6



Hard track
AS 2156.1GradientVery steep (4/6)
Quality of trackRough track, where fallen trees and other obstacles are likely (4/6)
SignsDirectional signs along the way (3/6)
Experience RequiredSome bushwalking experience recommended (3/6)
WeatherWeather generally has little impact on safety (1/6)
InfrastructureLimited 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

420m of this walk is flat with no steps and another 330m is very steep. Whilst another 300m has gentle hills with occasional steps and the remaining 120m has short steep hills.

Quality of track

660m of this walk follows a smooth and hardened path and another 450m follows a clear and well formed track or trail. Whilst another 40m follows a rough track, where fallen trees and other obstacles are likely and the remaining 15m follows a formed track, with some branches and other obstacles.

Signs

Around 1.1km of this walk is clearly signposted, whilst the remaining 50m has directional signs at most intersection.

Experience Required

Around 940m of this walk requires no previous bushwalking experience, whilst the remaining 230m requires some bushwalking experience.

weather

This whole walk, 1.2km is not usually affected by severe weather events (that would unexpectedly impact safety and navigation).

Infrastructure

Around 1.1km of this walk is close to useful facilities (such as fenced cliffs and seats), whilst the remaining 70m has limited facilities (such as not all cliffs fenced).

Similar walks

A list of walks that share part of the track with the Furber Steps-Scenic Railway walk.

Other Nearby walks

A list of walks that start near the Furber Steps-Scenic Railway walk.

Plan your trip to and from the walk here

The Furber Steps-Scenic Railway walk starts and ends at the Scenic World (gps: -33.728585, 150.30096)

Weather Forecast

This walk starts in the Central Tablelands weather district.

Current Alerts

Park Information

Blue Mountains National Park

Attracting over 3 million visitors annually, Blue Mountains National Park holds some of Australia's most spectacular and diverse wilderness areas. Explore the Grose Valley, with its sheer sandstone cliffs, waterfalls and scenic walking, or enjoy the famous views of the Three Sisters. Easy access makes a day trips very worthwhile, but with such diversity it would be great to stay in one of the many B&B's and spend a few days soaking up the region.

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