Fern Bower, the Amphitheatre Track & Bridal Veil Falls - Blue Mountains National Park

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Route: Merriwa Street, Prince Henry Cliff Walk, Fern Bower, Lila Falls, Amphitheatre Track, Weeping Rock, Bridal Veil Falls, Prince Henry Cliff Walk

Date: 08/03/2025
From: Merriwa Street

Parking: Merriwa Street
Start Point: Cliff Drive
Finish Point: Cliff Drive
Region: Blue Mountains National Park

Route length: 1.8 km
Time taken: 00:28
Average speed: 5.3 km/h
Ascent: 147m
Descent: 149m

After a night camping out in the Blue Mountains, I arrived at Govetts Leap in the early morning to find it blanketed in cloud and drizzle. I had to make some swift adjustments to my plans for the day. I had intended to explore some quieter lookouts along the Pulpit Rock Track, however, the weather wasn't conducive to looking at grand vistas. Instead, I turned my attention to a favourite wet weather hike of mine, Bridal Veil Falls.

The weather not looking particularly inviting

The Amphitheatre Track is the centrepiece of an extended loop around Bridal Veil Falls and Leura Cascades, and is one of the prettiest short hikes in the area that packs in all that is great about the Blue Mountains.

The hike begins on the Prince Henry Cliff Walk

Beginning from the old 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 the Ruined Castle in the west. It's a classic 8 km trail that passes several popular spots including Fern Bower, Leura Forest, the Landslide, Furber Steps and the Golden Stairs along its route.

Wet trails were the order of the day

Entering Fern Bower

Following the pass takes you into Fern Bower, a beautiful section of rainforest the lines Lila Creek. It is one of the wettest gullies in the area with a profusion of subtropical rainforest plants, mosses, and fungi. However, recent storms have carved out an impressive cascading waterfall where there was once dense bush.

Fern Bower

Fern Bower

Linda Creek

Linda Creek

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.

Federal Pass

The beginning of the Amphitheatre Track

The beautiful Amphitheatre Track follows the cliff into the Amphitheatre, where the walls tower overhead in a graceful curve. A sign notes a short section of the track leading to the amphitheatre is prone to rocks falling on it, so you shouldn't linger if you can help it.

The Amphitheatre

Within the depths of the amphitheatre

The Amphitheatre is short-lived, but you'll quickly find yourself approaching the bottom of Bridal Veil Falls. Before the main waterfall, you might find Weeping Rock in full flow. The small waterfall creates an impressive cascade, best viewed from the opposite side of the creek.

Weeping Rock

Weeping Rock

Weeping Rock

Weeping Rock

The multi-tiered Bridal Veil 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.

The track alongside Weeping Rock

Bridal Veil Falls

Bridal Veil Falls

Bridal Veil Falls

Bridal Veil Falls

From the base of Bridal Veil Falls is a sharp climb to reach the rim of the cliffs, now above the waterfall. On a clear day, the lookout above the waterfall has a prime view.

Climbsin the final section of the Amphitheatre Track

Leura Cascades Round Walk

Leura Cascades Round Walk

With the car parked off Cliff Drive, I opted to follow the Prince Henry Cliff Walk back towards the beginning of this short hike. If you have time, you can extend it to include the beautiful Leura Cascades, however, the picnic area is undergoing some renovations at the time of writing so it might be a little underwhelming.

Hiking in the Blue Mountains during rain can be a wonderful experience, offering a unique perspective of the landscape and generally quiet trails. While some tracks may be affected by rain, many are still accessible and offer a magical, if slightly damp, adventure.