Carrington Park to Leura Forest
Dharug & Gundungurra Country

1 h 30 min to 3 h

2.5 km
return

↑ 312 m
↓ -312 m

Hard track
This walk starts from Carrington Park and winds down into the valley below, to Leura Forest. Leura Forest was a pleasure ground in years gone by, and now boasts a nice little picnic area with a shelter, picnic tables and seats. This is a great spot for lunch. Take some time to explore the forest before climbing back up the valley the way you came. Let us begin by acknowledging the Dharug & Gundungurra people, Traditional Custodians of the land on which we travel today, and pay our respects to their Elders past and present. 
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Carington Park. | Photo by admin, 2008.
Coming down from Carington Park. | Photo by admin, 2008.
Stair case on Federal pass bellow Jameison Lookout. | Photo by admin, 2008.
Shady chair of Federal pass above Fern Bower. | Photo by admin, 2008.
winding down the valley. | Photo by admin, 2007.
Below Fern Bower. | Photo by admin, 2008.
Intersection above Lila and Linda falls. | Photo by admin, 2008.
Lila Falls. | Photo by admin, 2008.
Federal Pass heading under the cliff. | Photo by admin, 2008.
Stair case bellow Lila Falls. | Photo by admin, 2008.
Marguerite Cascades. | Photo by admin, 2008.
Eastern end of Leura Forest. | Photo by admin, 2008.
Walking through the forest. | Photo by admin, 2008.
Leura Forest Gazebo. | Photo by admin, 2008.
Leura Forest picnic benches. | Photo by admin, 2008.
Downloads GPX PDF

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Safer Bushwalks
Tips on staying safe on track
Before you start any bushwalk ensure you;
• Tell someone you trust where you are going and what to do if you are overdue
• Have adequate equipment, supplies, skills & knowledge for the whole journey
• Consider the impact of weather forecasts, park/track closures & fire dangers
• Can respond to emergencies & call for help at any point
• Are healthy and fit enough for this journey
If not, change plans and stay safe. It is okay to delay and ask people for help.
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Getting There
Transport options and directions
Start (-33.7203399,150.3174495)
Mode Bus Car (There is free parking available.)
DirectionsFrom
  • Turn on to Bathurst Road, BMD then drive for 165 m
  • At roundabout, take exit 1 onto Gang Gang Street, BMD and drive for another 105 m
  • Turn right onto Lurline Street, BMD and drive for another 800 m
  • Turn left onto Merriwa Street and drive for another 530 m
  • Turn sharp right onto Cliff Drive, BMD and drive for another 25 m
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Track Notes
Turn by turn instructions & maps
Getting started
From Carrington Park, the walk crosses Cliff Drive and goes down the stairs and past the sign for 'Blue Mountains National Park'. The walk continues down the stairs until reaching an intersection signposted with the way to 'Echo Point' or 'Leura Cascades'.....
Turn map Directions & comments
Start.
There is a picnic table (about 25 m back from the start).
There is a seat (about 20 m back from the start).
Carrington Park (about 7 m back from the start).
Carrington Park
Carrington Park

Carrington Park is a medium-sized park on a traffic island, at the junction of Cliff Road and Merriwa St, Katoomba. The park is partially fenced and has a picnic shelter, picnic tables, garbage bins and children's play equipment.
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Carrington Park is a medium-sized park on a traffic island, at the junction of Cliff Road and Merriwa St, Katoomba. The park is partially fenced and has a picnic shelter, picnic tables, garbage bins and children's play equipment.

After another 40 m turn sharp left, to head along Prince Henry Cliff Walk.
After another 50 m pass a seat (on your right).
After another 125 m turn right.
The starting point of an optional sidetrip. An optional side trip to Jamieson Lookout. To start this optional side trip turn left here. On returning from this side trip veer left when you get back to this intersection. Details below.
After another 30 m turn right, to head along Federal Pass.
After another 30 m pass the "Federal Pass" (on your right).
After another 60 m pass a seat (on your left).
After another 85 m come to the "Fern Bower".
Fern Bower
Fern Bower

Fern Bower is an especially pleasant part of the Blue Mountains National Park, protected from heat and providing a great environment for fern trees, bracken ferns and moss to thrive. Fern Bower is a signposted area along the Federal Pass walking track, just below Jamieson Lookout and next to Linda Creek. This is a nice place to stop, rest and enjoy the bird noises.
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Fern Bower is an especially pleasant part of the Blue Mountains National Park, protected from heat and providing a great environment for fern trees, bracken ferns and moss to thrive. Fern Bower is a signposted area along the Federal Pass walking track, just below Jamieson Lookout and next to Linda Creek. This is a nice place to stop, rest and enjoy the bird noises.

After another 115 m pass a seat (on your left).
After another 85 m (at the intersection of Amphitheatre Track & Federal Pass) turn right, to head along Federal Pass.
After another 240 m find the "Lila Falls" (15 m on your right).
Lila Falls
Lila Falls

Lila Falls is a thin waterfall on Linda Creek. The Federal Pass crosses the creek (on a bridge) in front of these falls, just below the intersection with the amphitheatre. The waterfall is not the most spectacular one in this valley, but it is a nice cool spot to catch your breath.
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Lila Falls is a thin waterfall on Linda Creek. The Federal Pass crosses the creek (on a bridge) in front of these falls, just below the intersection with the amphitheatre. The waterfall is not the most spectacular one in this valley, but it is a nice cool spot to catch your breath.

At the intersection of Federal Pass & Track to Leura Falls continue straight, to head along Federal Pass.
After another 50 m pass a seat (6 m on your left).
After another 85 m find the "Marguerite Cascades" (15 m on your left).
Marguerite Cascades
Marguerite Cascades

Marguerite Cascades are a series of small cascades finishing with a taller waterfall of a few metres height, dropping into a shallow sandy pool. The cascades are on Linda Creek and a small bridge crosses the creek at the base of the falls as part of the Federal Pass walking track. The cascades are a nice place to sit and listen to the water running and the local birds in this cool shady area.
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Marguerite Cascades are a series of small cascades finishing with a taller waterfall of a few metres height, dropping into a shallow sandy pool. The cascades are on Linda Creek and a small bridge crosses the creek at the base of the falls as part of the Federal Pass walking track. The cascades are a nice place to sit and listen to the water running and the local birds in this cool shady area.

After another 60 m veer left, to head along Federal Pass.
After another 160 m (at the intersection of Federal Pass & Dardanelles Pass) turn left, to head along Federal Pass.
After another 15 m come to a shelter.
Turn around here and retrace the main route for 1.2 km to get back to the start.
About 55 m past the end is "Leura Forest".
Leura Forest
Leura Forest

Leura Forest is a great picnic area in the Jamison Valley at the junction of the Federal Pass and Dardenelles Tracks. This place was home to a popular tea house (also known as 'Lady Carrington Dining Hall') from the late 1800's. Today walkers can still enjoy the historic rotunda and the foundations of the original tea house. The picnic area provides a great rest spot under the shade of the lilli pilli and coachwood forest.
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Leura Forest is a great picnic area in the Jamison Valley at the junction of the Federal Pass and Dardenelles Tracks. This place was home to a popular tea house (also known as 'Lady Carrington Dining Hall') from the late 1800's. Today walkers can still enjoy the historic rotunda and the foundations of the original tea house. The picnic area provides a great rest spot under the shade of the lilli pilli and coachwood forest.


An optional side trip to Jamieson Lookout.
Turn map Directions & comments
Start.
About 25 m past the end is a seat.
Continue another 0 m to find Jamieson Lookout at the end.
"Jamieson Lookout".
Jamieson Lookout
Jamieson Lookout

Jamieson Lookout is a fenced lookout at the east end of the Federal Pass track, and just off Prince Henry Cliff Walk. The lookout has a bench seat and provides great views up the Jamison Valley, along Kings Tableland escarpment and past Mount Solitary. The lookout is perched up on a large rock buttress, giving views unobscured by trees.
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Jamieson Lookout is a fenced lookout at the east end of the Federal Pass track, and just off Prince Henry Cliff Walk. The lookout has a bench seat and provides great views up the Jamison Valley, along Kings Tableland escarpment and past Mount Solitary. The lookout is perched up on a large rock buttress, giving views unobscured by trees.

Turn around and retrace your steps back the 20 m to the main route.
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Terrain
Know the Hills, grading & facilities

Carrington Park to Leura Forest


Grading
Class 4/6
Hard track
Length 2.5 km
Time 1 h 30 min to 3 h
Quality of track Rough track, where fallen trees and other obstacles are likely (4/6)
Gradient Very steep (4/6)
Signage Directional signs along the way (3/6)
Infrastructure Limited facilities, not all cliffs are fenced (3/6)
Experience Required No experience required (1/6)
Weather Weather generally has little impact on safety (1/6)

Some facilities on route
Shelter: There is one 1.3 km from the start.

Seat: There are 5 on route, on average they are 410 m apart with the largest gap of 1.6 km.


Order of key facilities on route
ItemFrom StartName & link to notes
Seat
-5 m[seat]
Seat
105 m[seat]
Seat
345 m[seat]
Seat
550 m[seat]
Seat
910 m[seat]
Shelter
1.3 km[shelter]
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