The Grose Head South Lookout is a remote vantage point in the Blue Mountains offering beautiful views of the Lower Grose Wilderness.
It can be accessed via two walking tracks that together create an enjoyable loop walk, which also serves as a popular cycling trail in the Winmalee area.
| Grose Head South Lookout | |
|---|---|
| Distance: | 13 km (loop) |
| Time: | 3 hours |
| Grade: | Moderate / hard (steep sections) |
| Wheel-friendly: | No |
| Dog-friendly: | No |
| Trailhead: | Google Maps |
Getting There
The best starting point for the walk to Grose Head South Lookout is at the end of White Cross Road in Winmalee, where you’ll find a small car park.
From there, you can choose between the Blue Gum Swamp Track and the Shaws Ridge Trail to reach the lookout. We highly recommend combining both to create a loop.
The Blue Gum Swamp Walk is slightly shorter than the Shaws Ridge Trail, but the full loop covers roughly 10 km. The steep side trail to Grose Head South Lookout adds an additional 3 km return, making it a 13 km bushwalking adventure.
Track Notes
As mentioned, we recommend doing the loop walk to enjoy a variety of scenery along the way. For the best experience, consider going anti-clockwise, starting with the Shaws Ridge Trail and returning via the Blue Gum Swamp Walk.
The Blue Gum Swamp Walk is the more picturesque and easier of the two trails, making the return leg of the loop a bit more enjoyable.
Below is a map with the two walking tracks that make up the loop, the side trail to Grose Head South Lookout, and the car parking area.
P: Car park
1: Blue Gum Swamp Walk
2: Shaws Ridge Trail
3: Grose Head South Lookout
The Walk
The Blue Gum Swamp Walk and Shaws Ridge Trail loop is a popular trail, with many locals regularly tackling it for exercise.
While most of the loop follows a fire trail, the Blue Gum Swamp section winds through a beautiful forest setting.
About halfway through the circuit, where the Shaws Ridge Trail transitions into the Blue Gum Swamp Walk (or vice versa), you’ll spot a signpost for Grose Head South and Bees Nest Hill.
This marks the starting point of the side trail to Grose Head South Lookout, known as the Bees Nest Hill Track.
The side trail to the lookout is roughly 3 km return, with the first half being quite steep, so be prepared for a challenging climb.
At the intersection with the Springwood Ridge Trail, turn right to continue to the lookout. This final section is mostly flat and easy to navigate.
The Lookout
Near the end of the trail, you’ll come across a large clearing, with the lookout appearing to your left.
The Grose Head South Lookout is a spacious, unfenced rocky platform that offers spectacular views of the Lower Grose Valley, Springwood Creek, and the Grose River.
With its breathtaking scenery, this lookout also makes for a fantastic picnic spot.
For similar views, visit the Faulconbridge Point Lookout, another remote vantage point overlooking the Lower Grose Wilderness. A 6.5 km hike on a fire trail will get you to that unique spot.
