The Three Sisters Walk in the Blue Mountains of Australia is a paved path which visitors can take to the Three Sisters Aboriginal Place, which is a natural rock formation that is recognized as a place of special cultural significance to Aboriginal people.
Three Sisters Walk in the Blue Mountains of Australia
A stone archway stands at the entrance to Three Sisters Walk near the Echo Point Visitor Centre on this beautiful but warm summer day in January.
Along the walk, visitors find themselves surrounded by soaring eucalypt forest whilst simultaneously hearing the calls of birds in the fresh mountain air.
The rock formation of the Three Sisters comes into view only minutes after entering, with incredible views of the hazy blue Jamison Valley stretching to Mount Solitary as the backdrop.
The significant erosion of the sandstone turrets of the Three Sisters are obviously visible and was naturally caused by weather over the decades.
A stone archway connotes the entrance to the Lady Game Lookout, which is only 50 meters after the Oreades Lookout. The Lady Game Lookout overlooks the Three Sisters and gives stunning views of the Blue Mountains.
The entrance also marks the location for access to the Giant Stairway, which is comprised of greater than 800 steps and takes up to three hours to complete. I did not go to the Giant Stairway.
Engraved on the plaque that is mounted on the right support of the archway are the words:
THREE SISTERS
GIANT STAIRWAY
OFFICIALLY OPENED BY
HON. B. S. B. STEVENS, M.L.A
PREMIER OF N.S W.
1ST OCTOBER, 1932.
STEPS CUT BY RANGER McKAY
The stairs which lead down to Honeymoon Bridge are quite steep; but visitors can stand on the first of the Three Sisters once they have crossed Honeymoon Bridge. On the day I was there recently, Honeymoon Bridge was closed to the public; but I had access to the first of the Three Sisters when I visited this site years ago.
Final Boarding Call
The distance to walk the length of the Three Sisters Walk is 0.8 kilometers, which should take between 25 minutes and 45 minutes to walk. Although this walk is not level, it is also not steep: the pathway from Echo Point to Oreades Lookout is suitable for wheelchairs with assistance; and for prams. Some sections of the walk have a slope of as much as ten percent.
Three Sisters Walk
Cliff Drive
Katoomba, New South Wales 2780
Australia
+61-02-4787-8877
Operating Hours: The walk is open daily between 9:00 in the morning through 4:30 in the afternoon. Closed on Christmas Day.
No admission is charged for access to the Three Sisters. The walk starts near the Echo Point Visitor Centre, where toilets and picnic tables can be found. Parking is available in car parks and streets around Echo Point — including several designated parking spots for disabled people.
All photographs ©2024 by Brian Cohen.
