The Three Sisters is an iconic rock formation near Katoomba, overlooking the Jamison Valley. It is the most popular tourist spot in the Blue Mountains, attracting thousands of visitors daily.
A short walking track, starting from the information centre at Echo Point, allows visitors to see the Three Sisters from close by, with several scenic lookout points nearby to explore.
| Three Sisters Walk | |
|---|---|
| Distance: | 1 km (return) |
| Duration: | 45 minutes |
| Grade: | Easy (steep section at the end) |
| Wheel-friendly: | Yes (until Oreades Lookout) |
| Dog-friendly: | No |
| Trailhead: | Google Maps |
Getting There
The Echo Point precinct is easy to get to by car and public transport, but it can get very busy there, especially on the weekends.
Parking your car at Echo Point can be quite challenging on those busy days, but there are a few options. There is a small parking area at the end of Echo Point Road, but that fills up quickly. Another option is to park on Cliff Drive just north of Echo Point. Otherwise, you might need to park on the streets a bit further away.
Public transport is a good option. The Blue Mountains train line offers regular services from Sydney’s Central Station to Katoomba. Local bus services depart from the Katoomba town centre to the Echo Point precinct.
If you don’t have access to a car and don’t want to travel by public transport, a professional day tour to the Blue Mountains is a good solution. Most tours allow for enough time to do the Three Sisters Walk.
Track Notes
The Three Sisters Walk is an easy, family-friendly trail, suitable for all ages and fitness levels. It’s also wheelchair-friendly up until Oreades Lookout.
The only challenging part is the bit at the end, where the track includes a short section of the Giant Stairway, which is quite steep.
The walk to the Three Sisters may be short, but there are many highlights. The track notes below describe the walk along the following seven highlights:
- Echo Point
- Stone Archway
- Spooners Lookout
- Oreades Lookout
- Lady Game Lookout
- Giant Stairway
- Honeymoon Bridge
- Three Sisters
1. Echo Point
The walking track to the Three Sisters starts from the information centre, but before going there, it’s worth exploring Echo Point and its various lookout platforms.
With stunning views of the Three Sisters and the Jamison Valley, Echo Point is one of the most popular lookouts in the Blue Mountains.
Echo Point is like a large square with lots of activity during peak season. There are multiple viewing platforms at different levels to explore.
Managed by the Blue Mountains City Council, Echo Point welcomes thousands of visitors each day.
Read more about Echo Point in our guide.
2. Stone Archway
From the lookout, make your way to the information centre, where you can access the walking path to the Three Sisters.
Housed in a modern building in the Echo Point precinct, the Blue Mountains Visitor Information Centre is open daily from 9 am to 5 pm and offers more information about the Blue Mountains and the Three Sisters.
The entrance to the Three Sisters Walk can hardly be missed, as it’s marked by a large stone archway next to the information centre.
The walking path is very well maintained, with several sandstone seats and interesting little animal sculptures along the way to discover.
3. Spooners Lookout
The walk soon hits an intersection where you can turn right to visit the Spooners Lookout as a side trail.
This Lookout was named after an Australian politician, Eric S. Spooner, who opened part of the Prince Henry Cliff Walk back in October 1934.
The Spooners Lookout is located only 200m from the Visitor Information Centre at Echo Point and is wheelchair accessible.
4. Oreades Lookout
From the Spooners Lookout, return to the main walking track to visit the second major lookout, the Oreades Lookout.
The Oreades Lookout is a large fenced viewing platform with ample space to move around and take in the scenic valley views.
Although not very well-known, the Oreades Lookout is actually one of the better lookouts in the Katoomba area.
The views are fantastic, and the platform is also very spacious and well-designed.
5. Lady Game Lookout
The next viewing point is the Lady Game Lookout, a narrow, fenced lookout right next to the Three Sisters.
From the Lady Game Lookout, the path continues to the Three Sisters via a short section of the Giant Stairway.
6. Giant Stairway
Starting at the archway next to the Lady Game Lookout, the Giant Stairway is an impressive structure with over 800 steel and stone steps heading into the Jamison Valley.
Luckily, to visit the first of the Three Sisters, you only need to conquer a very short section of the Giant Stairway.
7. Honeymoon Bridge
The last section of the Three Sisters Walk is the so-called Honeymoon Bridge, which connects to a rock overhang that is part of the first of the three sisters.
Be mindful that it can get very busy there on the weekends, so if you’d like to take photos and enjoy the views without the crowds, we recommend visiting early in the day.
Also note that the Honeymoon Bridge can be closed at any time depending on weather conditions.
8. Three Sisters
The Three Sisters were formed by land erosion by wind, rain, and rivers, causing the sandstone cliffs surrounding the Jamison Valley to slowly break up over time.
Various Aboriginal stories exist about why this unique rock formation is called the Three Sisters.
Perhaps the most widely adopted version is that three sisters named Meehni, Wimlah, and Gunnedoo were turned into stone as a result of a tribal conflict.
The three ladies lived in the Jamison Valley as members of the Katoomba tribe and had fallen in love with three brothers from the neighbouring Nepean Tribe.
Tribal law, however, blocked marriage between the brothers and the sisters, which prompted the brothers to capture the sisters.
An elder turned them into stone to protect the sisters from any harm during the tribal battle that followed. As the elder didn’t survive the battle, and no one else could reverse the spell, the Three Sisters remained the unique rock formation that it still is today.
Keen to continue hiking?
Climb down the Giant Stairway and follow a section of the Federal Pass to the Furber Steps near Scenic World. From there, continue past Katoomba Falls and along the escarpment back to Echo Point. This 6 km walk, the Giant Stairway to Furber Steps Loop, is one of the best walks in the Blue Mountains.
