Amphitheatre Track, Bridal Veil Falls & Leura Cascades - Blue Mountains National Park

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Route: Solitary Restaurant, Fern Bower, Federal Pass, Lila Falls, Amphitheatre Track, Bridal Veil Falls, Leura Cascades, Prince Henry Cliff Walk, Tarpeian Rock, Cliff Drive, Leura Park, Chelmsford Bridge, Upper Leura Cascades, Leura Cascades Picnic Area, Cliff Drive

Date: 04/06/2023
From: Solitary Restaurant

Parking: Solitary Restaurant
Start Point: Solitary Restaurant
Finish Point: Solitary Restaurant
Region: Blue Mountains National Park

Route length: 3.7km
Time taken: 00:59
Average speed: 6.0km/h
Ascent: 138m
Descent: 156m

Points of Interest: The Amphitheatre, Bridal Veil Falls, Leura Cascades

The Amphitheatre Track in the Leura area of the Blue Mountains has recently reopened after an extended closure. Now the track is accessible again, it forms part of an extended loop around Bridal Veil Falls and Leura Cascades - one of the prettiest short hikes in the area.

Beginning from Solitary Restaurant, the first part of this hike delves into the rainforest below the cliffs using the ramps and steps of Federal Pass. The historic pass creates a continuous link below the cliffs between the village of Leura in the east and Ruined Castle in the west. It's a classic 8km trail that passes several popular spots including Fern Bower, Leura Forest, the Landslide, Furber Steps and the Golden Stairs along its route.

Federal Pass as it descends into Fern Bower

Fern Bower

Fern Bower

Federal Pass alongside Linda Creek

Linda Creek

Federal Pass

Before reaching the bottom of the Federal Pass steps, you'll find the branch onto the Amphitheatre Track, located close to Lila Falls which cascades down the rocks below Fern Bower. It’s thought that the falls were named after Lilla North, the daughter of John Britty North who established the Katoomba Coal and Township Land Co. Limited and actively promoted the growth of Katoomba as a tourist resort.

The beautiful Amphitheatre Track follows the cliff wall into the Amphitheatre where the cliff walls tower above in a graceful curve.

The Amphitheatre Track

Mists cling to the cliffs

Entering the Amphitheatre

The Amphitheatre

The Amphitheatre

The Amphitheatre Track

It's short-lived but you'll quickly find yourself close to the bottom of Bridal Veil Falls. Weeping Rock has a nice view of the creek before a short climb takes you to the falls.

Leura Falls Creek

The Amphitheatre Track climbs to Bridal Veil Falls

The multi-tiered fall is spectacular, especially after some rain. The view from the foot of the falls gives a unique aspect, with the waterfall appearing as a tall pyramid of rock.

Bridal Veil Falls

Bridal Veil Falls

Bridal Veil Falls

The path continues to the top of the Bridal Veil waterfall, which is located at the bottom of the Leura Cascades. After the lookout above Bridal Veil Falls, the path heads into a dark dell where the water swirls beneath a large sandstone overhang before climbing alongside the tumbling waters of Leura Falls Creek - the popular cascades themselves.

The Amphitheatre Track

Climbing the last section of the Amphitheatre Track

The lookout above Bridal Veil Falls

Bridal Veil Falls

A misty Jamison Valley

Leura Cascades

Leura Cascades

Leura Cascades

There is a path that climbs alongside Leura Creek and cascades until it meets the Prince Henry Cliff Walk. I decided to check in on the lookout at Tarpeian Rock but, as you might have guessed, there were no views today. Afterwards, I made my way through Leura Park to Chelmsford Drive and the old Chelmsford Bridge.

The bridge is next to the Leura Cascades picnic area, which occupies the former site of the Katoomba Baths. The Katoomba Municipal Baths were a popular swimming spot back in the 1920s up until the 1970s before the land was filled to create the picnic area. The bridge itself is the last of its kind built in New South Wales - an unreinforced concrete arch constructed in 1912.

Following the Prince Henry Cliff Walk towards Tarpeian Rock

Tarpeian Rock Lookout

Tarpeian Rock Lookout

Chelmsford Bridge

Upper Leura Cascades

Leura Falls Creek

The old swimming pool has been filled

The baths as they once existed, with Chelmsford Bridge in the background

Heavy rain hastened my retreat from the picnic area. Luckily, a new accessible path has been built to link the picnic area with Cliff Drive, the scenic link road between Leura and Katoomba. At the time of writing Cliff Drive is closed to vehicles due to damage caused by the 2020 floods and is not expected to reopen until late 2023. That said, it is open to pedestrians and provides the means of completing this loop at the Solitary Restaurant.