Blue Mountains Three Sisters walk offers rainforest, waterfalls and Gundungurra history in a day trip from Sydney

The Three Sisters walk in Katoomba is a one-hour return track that leads from the Echo Point lookout down to the base of the Three Sisters rock formation, passing through rainforest and past waterfalls along the way. The walk is one of the most popular day trips from Sydney, located about two hours west of the CBD by car or train. The track is well maintained and suitable for most fitness levels, though there are steep steps and uneven surfaces that can be challenging in wet weather.

The walk begins at Echo Point, which is accessible by car or bus from Katoomba Station. The viewpoint provides the most famous view of the Three Sisters, with the three sandstone pillars rising sharply from the Jamison Valley floor and the Katoomba Cascades waterfall visible to the south. The lookout has a large viewing platform, a cafe and a visitor information centre operated by the NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service. Parking is available in the Echo Point car park, but spaces fill quickly on weekends and during school holidays, and visitors are encouraged to use the Katoomba to Echo Point shuttle bus.

The walk to the Three Sisters

From Echo Point, the track descends 98 steps to the base of the Three Sisters rock formation. The stairs are steep and can be slippery when wet, and visitors should allow sufficient time for the return climb. At the base of the formation, a series of interpretative signs explain the Gundungurra people's story of the Three Sisters, which tells how the three sisters were turned to stone by a powerful elder to protect them from a tribal conflict, and how they remain in their current form waiting to be restored to life. The story is specific to the Gundungurra people, who have lived in the Blue Mountains region for thousands of years, and it is important to understand it as a living cultural narrative rather than a myth or legend.

After the Three Sisters, the track continues along the base of the cliff through the rainforest, passing a series of smaller rock formations and overhangs. The vegetation is cool temperate rainforest, with tree ferns, coachwood and sassafras growing in the moist conditions below the cliff. The track passes a small waterfall that cascades down the rock face after heavy rain, and there are several lookouts that provide views back across the Jamison Valley to the plateau edge.

The return via the Giant Stairway

The return journey from the Three Sisters can be made via the Giant Stairway, a series of 998 steps that climb from the valley floor back up to Echo Point. The stairway is a popular fitness challenge, and it provides a different perspective on the Three Sisters as the climber ascends through the rainforest canopy. The steps are steep and uneven, and they can be hazardous when wet or icy, so walkers should wear sturdy footwear and carry water. The Giant Stairway is not suitable for people with mobility impairments, and there is no alternate route for those who cannot use stairs.

The full walk from Echo Point to the Three Sisters and back via the Giant Stairway takes approximately one and a half hours for a fit walker, or two hours for someone moving at a more relaxed pace. The walk can be extended by continuing along the valley floor to the Katoomba Cascades, a waterfall that drops 10 metres into a rock pool at the base of the cliff. The cascades are most impressive after heavy rain, when the water volume is high and the spray creates a fine mist that cools the surrounding rainforest.

Planning and transport

The Blue Mountains are about two hours west of the Sydney CBD by car, and about two and a half hours by train from Central Station to Katoomba. The train journey is scenic, passing through the Hawkesbury River valley and therugged sandstone country of the lower Blue Mountains. Once in Katoomba, the Echo Point lookout is a 20-minute walk from the station, or a five-minute bus ride on the Blue Mountains Bus Company route 685. The shuttle bus from Katoomba to Echo Point operates on weekends and public holidays, with tickets available from the Katoomba visitor information centre.

NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service information about the Three Sisters walk, including current track conditions and safety alerts, is available at nationalparks.nsw.gov.au. Blue Mountains Tourism's guide to walks and attractions is at bluemountainsnsw.com. Explore more coastal walks and getaways at the Culture & Escapes hub.

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