the national pass

The trail is not too difficult if you start from the end where you decend the giant stairway instead of climbing it. It's a great walk with plenty of views, waterfalls and even cockatoos. Highly recommended.

Moderate/High level of difficulty with clear signs along the way. The most difficult part is the very high stairs along the Wentworth falls. The rest is pretty easy, the walk path is so well restored that makes it a rather relaxing walk. The view is absolutely breathtaking, the whole valley in front of your eyes and you see the shades changing with the sun. This walk goes through 4 or 5 waterfalls and they're all different. Definitely one of the must do's in the region!

The National Pass is one of my favourite walks ever, and surely among the very best in Australia. We did this walk in about 2.5 hours with a 12 year old child and each carried our own water backpack and some fresh fruit and nuts. The trail is quite varied and the landscape changes often, with lovely water falls gently spraying off the cliff edge in parts which is a delightful surprise to walk beneath on a hot humid day in mid summer! There are gorgeous sweeping valley views and of course the stunning Wentworth Falls which has multiple crossings so lots of great viewing angles and interesting for little ones and adults alike with constantly changing terrain and path surfaces. There are lots of stepping stones across waterways and some bridges and cliff edge paths and the whole way it just keeps getting better all the way to Empress Falls which is absolutely beautiful.

The walk is so nice and varied made. One of the best walks I did in Australia (not including Tasmania ;) )

The National Pass is very accessible from Sydney even though I was a tourist without a car. I simply bought a train ticket and arrived at the Wentworth Falls station without any issues. I walked to the Conservation Hut and started my hike from that point. I passed by the Empress Lookout and walked down a fairly wet and slippery part to see the Empress Falls. Then, I walked along the National Pass and I eventually met the beautiful Wentworth Falls. The National Pass is very well maintained and the signages are very clear. It offers a good view of the valley. There were hardly any tourists on the trail. Maybe that was because I was doing the hike on a weekday in mid October. My solitary hike was only accompanied by a couple of cockatoos. When I reached the Wentworth Falls, there is a good picnic spot right in front of the falls. It is a very good spot to refuel before I climb the steep Grand Stairway back to the top. Overall, I really like this trail but you definitely need a pair of good hiking shoes to make the experience enjoyable. There are a couple of spots that are wet and slippery due the water overflow from the falls. Make sure you hold onto the railings in those parts if you don't want to fall off the mountain. I also recommend taking the Darwin's Walk to get to the trail from the train station. It is a more scenic route than the main road.

My family, including children aged 13 to 7, had a lovely walk along the National Pass. There are fantastic views and varying terrain. Decent shoes are essential. Highly recommended for an active family. We had great weather but it would be worth checking the forecast before setting out.

Definitely worth the effort. Walk can be done in 2,5 hours and along the route are several place where you can go for a swim if you're good with cold water. Views into the valley are amazing!

The Blue Mountains and the View from Echo point in Katoomba are certainly a beautiful place to visit but this time i went to Wentworth Falls and the start of the National Pass walking trail. It is a very steep descent into valley from the Falls side of the track. As you step down down the hand carved sandstone steps it crosses your mind how on earth will i climb out at the other end... Don't worry it isn't that hard. Take plenty of water though as you will need it especially in the warmer summer months. I went in late October and the wildflowers were stunning, bird calls musical and the waterfalls all trickling. If you get hot there is a swimming hole filled with icy water. The trail is newly renovated and has won international acclaim. It is well signposted - you cant get lost if you stick to the track. On of the best free attractions in the world.

This is definitely a must when you come to Blue Mountain especially if you are nature lover. It will be a 4-5 hrs hiking along the 2.5km tracks from top down to bottom and back up. You'll surely love a small track in the middle of mountain on the edge of hundreds meters cliff, and you have the view of the whole valley.

This walk has it all. Physically demanding cliff face track, spectacular panoramic views, natural waterfalls and its all absolutely free! Probably due to the steep descent and climbs its perhaps not as well known as the 3 Sisters in nearby Katoomba but is definitely worth a visit for those seeking a bit of adventure.Local and overseas visitors can take the train to Waterfall Station. Trains run about every half hour and its approx a 2 hour ride from Central station. Its best to arrive early to avoid the heat of the day between October and March. The weather here is variable and cheking the forecast is recommended. Views can be shrouded in mist and wet and cold days would be uncomfortable.A good pair of hiking boot are essential as well as adquate water to avoid dehydration.All the attractions and lookouts are well signposted and the Charles Darwin walk from the Station is around 2km to the start of the National Pass walk. Total round trip 8.6 km. For those a bit apprehensive about the stairs, descents and climbs you can still enjoy the views from the easily accessible lookouts.

This walk is not easy for folks with knee problems or unfit types. But we are mid-50s and really enjoyed it. Wonderful views, waterfalls, pretty bush and I loved the sandstone blocks everywhere, it was a huge restoration. The Conservation Hut is a must, and so nice for a deserved break before taking the short cut track back to Wentworth Falls car park.

We were there in a wet weather, and the water falls were breathtaking. We didn't see much at lookouts because of the fog, but we enjoyed the 3 hour walk with fresh air, cool weather and great views. We started from the Wentworth fall picnic area and had lunch at the Conservation Hut. The cafe made delicious meal and yummy milkshakes.

Well signposted hike for the medium to hard seeker. Of course the views and the falls are well worth the walk and I suggest hiking boots and be sure of the weather. I always finish well within the signposted time but be aware it could be up to 4.5hours round trip

This is a great trail. We did it in mid winter and although it was cold the stairs at the end really got us warmed up.The views are amazing and the trail in the cliff side is one of a kind.There are a bunch of shorter options but I recommend doing the long path from the conservation hut to Wentworth falls

The National Pass is considered the best walking trail in Australia, at 6kms in length it packs in everything for a pretty good day of sight-seeing, from crazy cliff stair-cases, zig-zaging mountain paths, rain-forest, waterfalls, moss covered paths & rocks, fresh water streams, birds & wildlife. Its free, two magic words that ring loudly in the ear make this experience, inside a world heritage site a much greater memory than seeing the Three Sisters. The track is easy to walk, incredible that much of it was created by men using picks, shovels & dynamite over 100 years ago by cutting into claystone ledges to connect sandstone cliffs with walking paths purely for leisure. The National Pass at different points transforms from stone steps to boulders at the base of waterfalls to crazy staircases on the side of cliffs & boardwalks amongst rainforest ferns, every part of it is very safe showcasing the professional workmanship of recent restoration which has won recognition from the United Nations Educational, Scientific & Cultural Organisation (UNESCO). Trying to manage your time resting around rock bases of waterfalls, cliff ledges or under the canopy of cool rainforest trees becomes more necessary as time begins to drag on & dwindle.The Coo’ee bush call originated in this area from the local Aboriginal Dharuk tribe & is something crazy Australians of older generations do whenever they stand near a valley. The National Pass is a perfect place to test the strength of your coo’ee & to listen to responses from anonymous walkers somewhere off in the distance. The trail starts off from the car park at the Wentworth Falls picnic area to the grand Jamieson Lookout just before the first flight of steps that lead down in amongst the trees into the bush. Within 15 mins you arrive at the first creek which is the source of the Wentworth Falls before it drops suddenly 100 feet below, which is only a mid-point. A series of concrete steps crosses the creek for hikers to skip across. Once on the other side there is another small waterfall with a picturesque rocky face covered in ferns called the Queen’s Cascades. The path now hugs along a rock cliff & the real descent downwards begins. There is a fantastic spot where the path leads to a corner along the ledge where a clear unobstructed view of the horizon & the Jamieson Valley present themselves over a long drop downwards, simply an amazing spot for photos.The Grand Stairway, the highest stairway in Australia starts here & so does the fun of walking on something far out of the ordinary. The staircase isn’t just any set of stairs. It is on the side of a sandstone cliff, over the side is a drop a hundred feet or more & also offering wide expansive views of the Jamieson Valley. The staircase zig-zags down towards the middle section of Wentworth Falls where the National Parks & Wildlife Service have placed large stone blocks to step across the cascading water. A good place to stop & rest under the cool shade of the surrounding cliffs like a rocky amphitheatre. This is an ideal picnic spot to enjoy a drink & the view. It is easily possible to get right under the cascading water of Wentworth Falls for a shower if you’re game. Continuing further you will eventually come across a low sandstone overhang, most people will have to bend slightly. This section & beyond is known as the Upper Track. A few hundred metres past the overhang is a halfway marker on a concrete post, around here the path forks into two with one leading further down into the valley to the base of Wentworth Falls where a collection pool is found. The National Pass from here onwards to the Valley of the Waters visibly changes to a more forest environment, green & very photogenic. The path leading down features seven caged ladders with hand rails & forms part of the Wentworth Pass trail snaking along the valley floor eventually joining back up with the National Pass trail & is an hour extra. The two paths reconnect around the Valley of the Waters. The Valley of the Waters is a beautiful area & is basically the bottom of the cliff. Directly above is the Conservation Hut/Café. There are several cascading waterfalls & pools all connected to each other set in amongst lush forest tress & large leafy ferns. There are steps cut out or laid along the path with hand rails for much of the way up & flat resting areas overlooking the waterfalls. One or two of these resting areas has evidence of ancient Aboriginal axe-grinding grooves used long ago. Once back up to the Conservation Hut there is a 15 mins walk back to the starting point either thru a trail or via the road, both of which are clearly marked. Once you’re finished, it’s time to consider returning next weekend to do the slightly longer Wentworth Trail down to the base of the waterfall but not before a cold VB longneck & a foot massage before you pass out drunk or dead tired. The Wentworth Falls starting point is located at the picnic area & car park. It is under 2kms from the Wentworth Falls train station down Falls road off the main Great Western Highway. Wentworth Falls is 95 kms from Sydney & about 90 mins drive mostly along highways making it relatively easy to get to. In my opinion it is not necessary to carry an emergency locator beacon on this trail as it is clearly marked but they can be hired from most of the Visitor Centres in the Blue Mountains for use in an emergency, Amazingly, I still get mobile reception with Telstra along most of the track. As always it is best to start the walk early in the morning to enjoy the best conditions.