Wentworth Falls Hiking Guide (Walks and Lookouts)

Last updated: December 7, 2022

Wentworth Falls is one of the most popular hiking destinations in the Blue Mountains. The name refers to the beautiful 3-tiered, 187m high waterfall, but it is also the name of the town where the waterfall is located.

There are many hikes to choose from in the Wentworth Falls area, some very short and others quite long and challenging. In addition to walks, there are also numerous lookout points with spectacular views to explore.

Deciding where to go and which track to conquer in Wentworth Falls can be a challenge in itself. This hiking guide aims to help you find the best walks and lookouts in Wentworth Falls so you can plan a great day out.

Most walks in the Wentworth Falls area start and end at the Wentworth Falls Picnic Area or the old Conservation Hut.

Depending on which walk you’d like to do or which lookouts you’d like to visit, it’s best to park your car at one of those two spots.

Note that the picnic area is the most popular location of the two and is also the closest to the waterfall.

Wentworth Falls Picnic Area is the starting point for the following walks:

• Wentworth Falls Track
• Princes Rock Walking Track

Conservation Hut is the starting point for the following walks:

• Valley of the Waters Track
• Nature Track

The following walks are loop walks and can be started from either location:

• Wentworth Pass
• National Pass
• Overcliff Undercliff Track

1. Wentworth Falls Picnic Area

The Wentworth Falls Picnic Area offers excellent facilities, such as BBQs, tables and well-maintained toilet blocks.

To get to the picnic area, take the Falls Road exit from the Great Western Highway and drive to the car park at the end of the road.

This is where Falls Road flows into Sir H Burrell Drive that loops around the car park and the picnic area.

2. Conservation Hut

The old Conservation Hut is located at the end of Fletcher Street in Wentworth Falls, Blue Mountains.

It opened in 1963 as a meeting place for the Blue Mountains Conservation Society. In 1993, the building was redeveloped into a cafe.

Getting to the Conservation Hut is very easy. From the Great Western Highway, take the exit into Falls Road in Wentworth Falls, followed by a right turn into Fletcher Street.

The Conservation Hut has a reasonably sized car park that quickly fills up during weekends, but suburban street parking is available nearby.

3. Public Transport

Alternatively, you can travel by train to the village of Wentworth Falls on the other side of the Great Western Highway and follow the Charles Darwin walking track to the waterfall.

This easy 2.4 km walk follows Jamison Creek with a few small waterfalls and beautiful scenery to enjoy along the way.

There are several great lookouts in the Wentworth Falls area where you can enjoy amazing views of the waterfall and the nearby cliff walls and valleys.

Some of these lookouts are close to the picnic area, and others require a bit of hiking.

These are the five most popular lookout points in Wentworth Falls, all accessible from the picnic area:

1. Jamison Lookout
2. Wentworth Falls Lookout
3. Fletchers Lookout
4. Rocket Point Lookout
5. Princes Rock Lookout

1. Jamison Lookout

Conveniently located right next to the car park along the footpath beside the Sir H Burrell Drive loop, the Jamison Lookout offers scenic views of the Jamison Valley towards Mount Solitary and beyond.

While you can’t see the waterfall from this lookout point, the views are amazing enough to get you excited about what’s to come.

2. Wentworth Falls Lookout

Similar to the Jamison Lookout, the official Wentworth Falls Lookout point also offers Jamison Valley views but from a slightly different angle.

Located along the eastern side of the Sir H Burrell Drive loop, the Wentworth Falls lookout is the first major lookout that provides glimpses of the top of the waterfall. But despite its name, this is not the best place to see the waterfall in its entirety.

From the Wentworth Falls lookout point, the main walking track goes into the bush towards the Fletchers Lookout and the waterfall.

3. Fletchers Lookout

The small Fletchers Lookout offers a close-up view of the top of the waterfall in addition to panoramic views over Jamison Valley and the surrounding escarpments.

The Fletchers Lookout is signposted as a small side track off the main Wentworth Falls walking track.

4. Rocket Point Lookout

The Rocket Point Lookout is located on the other side of the waterfall and can be accessed via a short loop walking track.

The start of this loop is close to the top of the waterfall, but many visitors to Wentworth Falls tend to skip this lookout because this walk isn’t very obvious. That’s a pity though, because the views from Rocket Point are fantastic and highly recommended.

After crossing Jamison Creek above the waterfall, look out for the small Rocket Point Circuit signpost to find the walk to the lookout.

The fenced Rocket Point Lookout sits high on a cliff and offers panoramic views of the waterfall and the valley below.

5. Princes Rock Lookout

The Princes Rock Lookout is perhaps the best viewing point in the area to see the entire waterfall.

There are two ways to get to the Princes Rock lookout. The easiest and quickest way is via the Princes Rock walking track that starts from Sir H Burrell Drive, close to the Wentworth Falls lookout. It’s an easy 1 km descending walking path from there.

The other way to get to this lookout is via a section of the Overcliff Undercliff circuit walk (see further below).

Other lookouts that deserve a mention in this guide are the Queen Victoria Lookout and the Empress Lookout along the Empress Falls walking track.

These two lookouts are located on the western side of the Wentworth Falls area, and can be accessed via the National Pass and Wentworth Pass walking tracks and the Nature Track.

Below are the eight most popular walking tracks in the Wentworth Falls area.

Note that the three loop walks (Wentworth Pass, National Pass, Overcliff Undercliff Track) each go into the valley at different depths. They re-join at the waterfall and at the Conservation Hut.

If you’re in a hurry and want to see the best highlights in a relatively short time, do the Princes Rock walking track, followed by the Wentworth Falls track.

1. Wentworth Pass
2. National Pass
3. Overcliff Undercliff Track
4. Wentworth Falls Track
5. Princes Rock Walking Track
6. Valley of the Waters Track
7. Nature Track
8. Den Fenella Track

1. Wentworth Pass

The longest of the three circuit tracks, the Wentworth Pass, is a 5 km adventurous hike that can be started from the old Conservation Hut or the picnic area.

From the Conservation Hut, the Wentworth Pass makes its way through the upper section of the Valley of the Waters, deep into the dense rainforest of the Jamison Valley via Empress Falls.

This track treats hikers to several creek crossings, waterfalls and lookouts before it rejoins the National Pass after climbing the Slack Stairs. From there, it’s a short distance to the Grand Stairway, which brings hikers to the top of Wentworth Falls.

From the waterfall, make your way to the picnic area, past the Wentworth Falls and Jamison lookout points, before returning to the Conservation Hut via the Shortcut Track.

2. National Pass

Built with picks, shovels and dynamite at the start of the 20th century, the National Pass walking track has long been one of the most iconic hikes in New South Wales.

Starting at either the Wentworth Falls picnic area or the Conservation Hut, this 4.5 km circuit trail passes several lookouts with panoramic views of the famous Wentworth Falls and the Jamison Valley.

Some sections of this historic track are built into the side of the cliff, which only adds to the experience.

One of the track’s highlights is the Grand Stairway, a set of hand-carved stone steps connecting the top of the waterfall with the valley below.

As mentioned, the National Pass is currently closed until further notice. You can, however, still access the Grand Stairway and visit the waterfall.

3. Overcliff Undercliff Track

The Overcliff Undercliff Track is the shortest of the three circuit tracks in the Wentworth Falls area.

Starting at the Wentworth Falls Picnic Area, this track follows the edge of the cliff rather than going into the valley like the Wentworth Pass and National Pass do.

Several small lookout points along the way, such as the Lyrebird and Breakfast Point lookouts, offer great views of the valley below, and Sublime Point and Mount Solitary further away.

The Overcliff Undercliff Track is approximately 4 km in length and consists of four sections (in clockwise order, starting from the picnic area):

1. Wentworth Falls Track
2. Undercliff Track
3. Overcliff Track
4. Shortcut Track

4. Wentworth Falls Track

Starting at the picnic area, the Wentworth Falls track is a short walking trail to the top of Wentworth Falls.

This track is perfect if you don’t have much time or if you’re simply not up for a longer, more challenging hike.

The Wentworth Falls track includes the major lookout points, so you get to enjoy great views of the valley and the top of the waterfall.

Once at the top of the waterfall, you can extend this walk by taking the Grand Stairway to the bottom of the falls, or you can stay on higher grounds and visit the Rocket Point lookout.

5. Princes Rock Walking Track

The walking track to the Princes Rock lookout is the shortest in this list of Wentworth Falls walks but certainly doesn’t disappoint.

The walk officially starts at the picnic area on Sir H Burrell Drive and makes a descent towards the valley, between the Jamison and Wentworth Falls lookout points.

The destination, the Princes Rock Lookout, provides excellent views of the waterfall and the surrounding cliff walls and valley.

6. Valley of the Waters Track

The Valley of the Waters walking track guides bushwalkers into the rainforest of the Wentworth Falls valley, with several scenic waterfalls to explore, such as Empress Falls, Sylvia Falls and Lodore Falls.

This track is essentially the first part of the Wentworth Pass, up until the intersection where the Wentworth Pass makes a left turn heading towards the Wentworth Falls waterfall.

At this intersection you have the option to extend your hiking adventure by continuing straight to Vera Falls. Do note though that this extension to the walk is for experienced bushwalkers only as the track is not well maintained, and it’s possible to get lost.

The Valley of the Waters Track is approximately 2.5 km return and takes in the following waterfalls:

1. Empress Falls
2. Sylvia Falls
3. Lodore Falls
4. Flat Rock Falls

7. Nature Track

The Nature Track is the only walk in this list of Wentworth Falls walks that doesn’t get close to the famous waterfall.

With start and finish at the Conservation Hut, the moderately challenging 3.5 km Nature Track is a true bushwalker’s delight.

Dense rainforest, small waterfalls, and lookout points; this fascinating walking trail is named Nature Track for good reasons.

Follow the signs from the Conservation Hut and enjoy this two-hour adventure in absolutely stunning natural surroundings.

8. Den Fenella Track

The Den Fenella Track is a very short but highly enjoyable bushwalk between the picnic area and a scenic lookout point overlooking the valley.

Even though it’s only a 1 km return walk, it’s a real treat, with creek crossings, cascade waterfalls, lush rainforest, and panoramic views.

The highlight of this walk is the Den Fenella Lookout at the very end, from where you can enjoy sensational views of the Jamison Valley and beyond.

Once you’ve finished soaking in the views from the lookout, retrace your steps back to the car park, or do some of the other walks in the Wentworth Falls area.