Furber Steps, Federal Pass & The Three Sisters 27-10-2024
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Route: Scenic World, Cliff Drive, Prince Henry Cliff Walk, Vaniman's Lookout, Juliets Balcony, Underfalls Walk, Furber Steps, Federal Pass, Dardnelles Pass, Giant Stairway, Oreades Lookout, Three Sisters Track, Spooners Lookout, Echo Point, Prince Henry Cliff Walk, Katoomba Cascades, Reid's Plateau, Scenic World
Date: 27/10/2024
From: Scenic World
Parking: Scenic World
Start Point: Cliff Drive
Finish Point: Reid's Plateau
Region: Blue Mountains National Park
Route length: 7.6 km
Time taken: 01:45
Average speed: 4.3 km/h
Ascent: 380m
Descent: 381m
Points of Interest: Katoomba Falls, Furber Steps, Federal Pass, Giant Stairway, Three Sisters
No trip to the Blue Mountains is complete until you've tackled one of the steep stairways linking the clifftops to the walking tracks in the valley below. There are four sets, from the Golden Stairs in the west to the Grand Stairway at Wentworth Falls in the east. They all date to around the Victorian era, when tourism in the Blue Mountains really kicked off. Today, I'd be tackling the middle two: the Furber Steps and the Giant Stairway.
After driving to Katoomba I parked (for free) at Scenic World, a curious outdoors theme park that is home to a cable car (the Scenic Skyway) and the world's steepest passenger railway — the 52-degree Scenic Railway (train enthusiasts may get excitable determining whether it is, in fact, a true railway or not). The first task of this hike is to get into the National Park from Scenic World.
As part of the Grand Clifftop Walk, a new concrete path linking Cliff Drive to existing trails in the national park has been constructed. It replaces a path that used to pass through Scenic World, but it appears that it has been closed. After departing from the car park, I proceeded towards Cliff Drive, following it eastwards until hitting the new concrete path.
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Entering the national park from Cliff Drive |
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Steps at Vaniman's Lookout |
The path stops at Vaniman's Lookout, which has an iconic view of the Three Sisters and Katoomba Falls, the westernmost of the tall waterfalls that drop from the plateau to the valley. The path descends further with another lookout, Juliet's Balcony, having an equally good view of the falls, though there is a very short climb to the vantage point.
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Vaniman's Lookout |
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The Three Sisters |
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The view from Vaniman's Lookout |
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The top of Katoomba Falls |
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Juliets Balcony |
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Katoomba Falls |
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The middle tier of the waterfall |
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The are several information boards along the way |
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An old wooden bench beneath an overhang |
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Katoomba Falls from Lynes Point |
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The top of the Furber Steps |
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Furber Steps |
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Furber Steps |
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Back into the rainforest |
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Route of the Furber Steps |
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Approaching Federal Pass |
The Furber Steps were constructed in 1908, to replace the bush pole steps of the original Federal Pass. The name 'bush poles' sounds precarious on its own, let alone down the side of a sandstone cliff. Thomas Furber, a Lands Department surveyor with an interest in conservation, was mainly responsible for obtaining a government grant of £140 for the work. The photo below was taken on the completion of the project. While the vegetation has grown back, the amazing feat of construction can be clearly seen.
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1908 photo of the Furber Steps |
Nowadays, the Furber Steps join Federal Pass partway between the Scenic Station and Katoomba Falls View. If a climb out of the valley fills you with dread, I'd highly recommend using Furber Steps to descend and Scenic Railway to travel back up again (fees apply).
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Signage at the bottom of the Furber Steps |
The Federal Pass is one of the longer tracks in the Blue Mountains, joining the town of Leura in the east to Ruined Castle in the west via the base of the cliffs. It was originally built by the Katoomba community, from Leura Forest to Katoomba Falls, before being extended along an old horse-drawn coal tramway line. From the bottom of Furber Steps, I'd be hiking the original section, between Katoomba Falls and Leura Forest.
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Federal Pass |
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A close-up of one of the large Turpentine trees in the rainforest |
Federal Pass is a very pleasant route, generally flat and out of the heat of the sun. It crosses the Kedumba River and then extends through the bush to the tip of the Three Sisters ridge where it meets Dardanelles Pass, a path built to link the Giant Stairway to the Federal Pass. Federal Pass actually dips down into the rainforest from here, while Dardanelles Pass cuts a level course, both meeting nearly 2 km later.
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Federal Pass |
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Federal Pass |
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Federal Pass |
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Mount Solitary |
The 800 steps of the Giant Stairway are narrow and steep, protected from an imposing drop by a sturdy guardrail. The stairway was conceived in 1914 and construction began in 1916 but was deemed too expensive after only a quarter had been built. It was not until 1932 that work was re-commenced after lobbying by a local photographer. The Giant Stairway was opened by the Premier, the Hon. B.S.B. Stevens, at the same time as the platform at Echo Point.
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The bottom of the Giant Stairway |
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The first serious section of the Giant Stairway |
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Giant Stairway |
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Giant Stairway |
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Giant Stairway |
Close to the top of the stairs is Honeymoon Bridge, a short bridge across a chasm that links the tallest of the Three Sisters to the main ridge (access onto the bridge is currently restricted). Further climbing on the towers is prohibited due to their cultural significance with the Aboriginal traditional owners, the Gundungurra Nation.
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Giant Stairway |
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Honeymoon Bridge |
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Honeymoon Bridge |
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The cliffs behind the Three Sisters |
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The top of the Giant Stairway has received some love and attention recently |
The Giant Stairway eventually emerges at Lady Game / Oreades Lookout, directly behind Meehni, the tallest of the Three Sisters.
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The top of the Giant Stairway |
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The Three Sisters and Mount Solitary |
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The Three Sisters (Meehni, Wimlah and Gunnedoo) |
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The Three Sisters |
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Queen Elizabeth Lookout |
Heading west away from Echo Point, the Prince Henry Cliff Walk descends several flights of steps until it reaches the impressive Lady Darley's Lookout. A set of narrow metal steps descend an outcrop of rock with an imposing view of the valley. A handful of other lookouts are passed before reaching the Scenic Skyway East Station, where the Scenic World cable car terminates.
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Prince Henry Cliff Walk |
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It's currently cicada season - the noise can be deafening |
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Views over the Kedumba River |
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Cliff View Lookout |
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The Scenic Skyway over Katoomba Falls |
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Scenic Skyway car |
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Ruined Castle |
The Cliff Walk does a loop under the Katoomba Cascades, a picturesque set of waterfalls on the Kedumba River which sits just below a road and park. The river can be crossed by stepping stones or a small footbridge (presumably for times when the flow is high). A last recommended port of call is Reid's Plateau, a short circuit of a sandstone outcrop with numerous viewpoints of the valley, including Orphan Rock. From here, it's a short hike back to the car park at Scenic World.
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Katoomba Cascades |
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Prince Henry Cliff Walk |
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Duke and Duchess of York Lookout |
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Scenic Skyway |
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Reid's Plateau |
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Katoomba Falls |
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The middle tier catching the afternoon sun |
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Orphan Rock |
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Sulphur-crested cockatoo |
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Solitary Lookout |
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Katoomba Falls |
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