Katoomba Falls Blue Mountains

Katoomba, New South Wales 2780

Katoomba Falls is located in the legendary Blue Mountains National Park, just a short drive from Sydney.

The Blue Mountains have been dazzling tourists and locals alike for years with their incredible landscape, undeniable scenery, and relaxing atmosphere. Millions of people visit the Blue Mountains each year to get outside and enjoy nature’s finest. One of the biggest attractions to the area are the Katoomba Falls in Gundundgarra country.

The Katoomba Falls is located on the fantastic Scenic Drive, only two kilometres away from the Blue Mountains shopping centre. It’s one of the most photographed spots in all of Australia. It’s close proximity to the Three Sisters, the Blue Mountain’s famous landmark, makes it a must-see spot. The view of the waterfalls is an easy 45-minute stroll along the trail which links to Echo Point as well, where you can see the Three Sisters in the distance.  Be sure to make a stopover in the town of Katoomba and stay a while! It’s the main town in the Blue Mountains region and is home to crisp mountain air, specialty village shopping and a heritage trail.

Attractions Near Katoomba Falls

Scenic World is the Blue Mountain’s premier natural attraction, with over 25 million visitors a year. It’s home to 3 rides; the Skyway, Cableway and Railway, as well as a walkway. The Skyway is suspended 270 metres above the ground, with a glass flooring meaning you get the perfect view of the forest below at any angle. Did we mention it’s also the largest aerial cable car in the Southern Hemisphere? Enjoy the 720-metre journey above the Jurassic forest with amazing 360 degrees views. The Railway is the steepest passenger train in the world, and there are 3 settings you can choose to customise your journey down the trail. If you are wanting the traditional version, select the Original mode, for a calming journey down select Laidback, or for the thrill seekers, select Cliffhanger mode!

The falls are also located next to the Katoomba Scenic Skyway where you’ll get to experience an incredible view of the Three Sisters, the Katoomba Falls, and a panoramic view of the park. If you’re not afraid of heights, it’s a definite must!

The Three Sisters are an unmissable stopover when you visit the Katoomba Falls. It’s without a doubt the most iconic attraction in the Blue Mountains, attracting millions of visitors each year. This unusual rock formation represents the 3 sisters from an Indigenous backstory. Sitting 3000 feet above sea level, the story begins with three sisters from the Katoomba tribe who fell in love with three brothers from the Nepean tribe. As a tribal law forbade them from getting married, the brothers decided to capture the sisters, and a result created a war between the tribes. To protect the three sisters, a witch doctor cast a temporary spell on the sisters transforming them into rocks, to be turned back after the danger had passed. Unfortunately, during the war, the witchdoctor was killed and the sisters remained rocks for eternity, a tragic reminder we now see today in the form of the Three Sisters rock formation. The best lookout to see the Three Sisters is Echo Point, which also doubles as a gateway to many other great walks out into the Blue Mountains.

You can even reach Katoomba Falls by beginning the trail at Echo Point. The walk is around an hour and 30 minutes, and 3.1 kilometres return. There’s an ascension of around 310 metres and the track is moderately graded.

Take advantage of the beautiful landscape and stay next to the waterfall! There is the Katoomba Falls Tourist Park, a conveniently located accommodation site for cabins, powered and unpowered camping sites.

Feeling like you need exercise? The Furber Steps will do the trick. This insanely steep track is mostly steps, so be careful to take your time as you make your way to the Jamison Valley floor. There are 996 steps to conquer, so be ready! At the base of the track is another trail that leads you to the bottom of Katoomba Falls. If you don’t want to walk back up those grueling steps, no worries mate! There is a scenic train that will bring you back up to the top of the cliff where you began.

Walks around Katoomba Falls

The Prince Henry Scenic Walk is another way to view the beautiful Katoomba Falls. Located just behind the main plaza at Scenic World, this walk takes you around the top of the falls to a breathtaking view of the Jamison Valley. Around every turn and at every viewpoint is a great photo opportunity. This walk is the easiest and shortest out of all the viewpoints.

The Katoomba Falls Round Walk is a short but picturesque circuit walk that begins at Scenic World and takes around 2 hours to complete the 1-2-hour walk. It’s a moderately graded walk that takes you around the segmented waterfall between Echo Point and Scenic World that drops down 150 metres. The first lookout you’ll encounter on this trail is Juliet’s Balcony. Climb up the small staircase that leads to the rocky platform and you’ll have perfects views of Katoomba Falls from top to bottom. It’s a popular lookout for tourists so expect a few people waiting their turn for photos with the falls in the background. For another angle of the falls, the next vantage point you’ll come across is the Rainforest Lookout at the bottom of the falls. This walk also includes interesting rock formations such as Witches Leap, see if you can spot the witch’s profile in the rocks!