I was keen to visit an interesting nook part way down Leura Falls that I had read about in an essay by John Low in his book “Blue Mountains Byways”. The essay “A Secret Garden” is about a special place near the bottom of Bridal Veil Falls that was described in an early tourist guide as “Gwennies Grotto“. So I suggested a walk to Bob to visit the Grotto and some other nearby features.
It was quite cold when Bob parked at the top of the track, on Cliff Drive at Katoomba. Due to landslides and track work, a lot of the tracks were closed – including the Fern Bower Track and the Leura Cascades Track.
Before crossing Cliff Drive, we looked at this ice in a puddle –
At the top of the track was this structure with the directions to points of interest. I think these structures are called Direction Finders.
And there is a fine view of the Jamison Valley.
We walked down the Round Walk Track almost to the bottom of Leura Cascades, and then along the Amphitheatre Track to the bottom of Bridal Veil Falls –
Here is the bottom of Bridal Veil Falls.
Just downstream of Bridal Veil Falls is the small but attractive Weeping Rock Waterfall –
We crossed the creek here and entered Gwennies Grotto.
John Low speculates in his essay that it is probably named after Genevieve Goyder, the granddaughter of Frederick Goyder, a former owner of the Carrington Hotel and a former mayor of Katoomba. He was active on the local reserve trusts, so this speculation seems reasonable.
Around 100 years ago, it was likely that the grotto would have had picnic table.
We explored just past the grotto, but were stopped by this abyss –
And back down at creek level, we could see this old stonework showing how the floor of the grotto had ben built up.
We then explored a short way down the creek, following a now disused sewerage line.
We scrambled down a small drop.
This took us to the infinity pool at the top of the lower waterfall of Leura Falls. Many years ago (1980’s), we used to access the Lindemann Pass Track via a long ladder here which was once part of the sewerage scheme.
Looking back upstream you can see some sewerage infrastructure.
This infinity pool seems to be now popular with Instagrammers and others interested in old sewers.
We then climbed back up to the base of Bridal Veil Falls, the upper waterfall of Leura Falls, and continued following the Amphitheatre Track.
This took us past this interesting “Octopus Tree” –
This track took us to the junction with the closed Fern Bower Track, but we could still descend down to Leura Forest at the bottom of the cliffs.
New track work has cleared the base, so we could see Lila Falls –
And then more descending.
We reached Linda Falls –
And a bit further down was Leura Forest.
Leura Forest is an amazing place, but in the dappled winter light it was difficult to photograph.
Dardanelles Pass and the Giant Staircase was closed due to Track work, so we walked along Federal Pass. We passed these giant Turpentines –
And we went around the base of the Three Sisters.
We then approached the lower part of Scenic World. Our next track was up the steep Furber Stairs. This is another amazing example of track construction.
We could look across to Katoomba Falls –
We could also see a recent landslide –
And the Three Sisters –
We then reached Reids Plateau, and after stopping for a few photos we pound sunny spot for lunch.
Here is the Jamison Valley, the Three Sisters and Mt Solitary –
The Three Sisters –
Katoomba Falls
Orphan Rock
This Grey Butcherbird watched us while we had lunch –
We then set off along the Prince Henry Cliff Walk, to Echo Point, then past the Three Sisters, and all the way back to Bob’s Car.
Grey Shrike-thrush
Nodding Greenhood Orchid – Pterostylis nutans
It had been an energetic but very interesting and scenic walk.