Fairfax Heritage Track
Download & Print Map and Notes45 mins
1.9 km One way
17 m
Very easy
NPWS Heritage Centre
National Parks and Wildlife Service Heritage Centre[1], Blackhealth, is a hub for the Blue Mountains National Park. It is signposted on Govetts Leap Road (past McLean Cr). Drop into the Heritage Centre to get advice and learn about the history of the park. You will also find information displays[2] about the traditional owners, thing to do and the local flora and fauna. The heritage centre also has 2 signposted accessible car parks, a shop with souvenirs[3], toilets[4] and snack food. There is a picnic area[5] out the back and plenty of general parking.
(0km) NPWS Heritage Centre car park → Woodland Retreat
810 m
14 mins
4m
-23m
Very easy
From the front of the NPWS Heritage Centre[6], Blackheath, this walk heads along the concrete footpath[7] gently downhill keeping the car park (and Govetts Leap Rd) to your right. The path leads to a ‘Fairfax Heritage Track’ sign[8] at the lower end of the car park. The track leads left (following the sign), then immediately turns right at the ‘The Fairfax Heritage Track’ map sign[9]to follow the asphalt path[10]. After 40m the path leads past a faint intersection with a dirt track[11] and continues straight ahead winding through the wooded forest[12] for another 100m to find a bench seat[13]. The path bends sharply right[14] and leads gently downhill for 140m where the track bends sharply left[15]. The walk continues to gently meander for about 125m to another bench seat[16] (on your left). Then the track bends sharply right and gently undulates up and down for another 330m to find another bench seat[17] (on the left), just before a three-way intersection with a small dirt track (on the left) and a ‘Woodland Retreat’ sign[18]. (The ‘Woodland Retreat’ side track leads about 15m to a small seat[19], this is a rough dirt track).
(0.81km) Woodland Retreat → George Phillips Lookout
740 m
13 mins
6m
-27m
Very easy
Continue straight: From the intersection, this walk leads down along the footpath, leaving the seat, sign and sidetrack behind (on the left). The path soon bends left and after 70m passes through (ignoring) a four-way intersection with a dirt trail[20]. The path leads on for another 75m, bending a few times, to find another bench seat[21] (on the left). From here the path continues to lead (gently undulating) through the forest for another 140m to find yet another bench seat[22] (on your left). Here the track bends sharply to the right and leads gently downhill for 230m to passes through (ignoring) another four-way intersection with a dirt trail marked with a ‘Rehabilitation Area – Please Keep Off’ sign[23]. The walk then continues downhill along the path for another 220m to find a few picnic tables[24], a stone picnic shelter[25] at an intersection with a short ramp[26] leading down to the signposted[27] ‘George Phillips Lookout’[28] (on your left).
George Phillips Lookout
George Phillips Lookout, Blue Mountains National Park, provides stunning views east into the Grose Valley. The lookout offers views to Pulpit Rock, the horseshoe-shaped gorge and over the deep, green gorges of the Grose Valley to Mount Banks. The lookout is fenced and has a wheelchair accessible ramp. There are a series of picnic tables including a stone shelter just behind the lookout.
(1.55km) George Phillips Lookout → Govetts Leap Lookout
340 m
7 mins
7m
-18m
Very easy
Veer right: From George Phillips Lookout, this walk leads gently downhill along the path keeping the filtered views of the valley to the left. After about 25m the path bends sharply left, then right. The path continues gently downhill for 180m coming to the edge of the Govetts Leap Picnic Area[29], a series of stone shelters[30], dirt car park[31] and the signposted[32] end of ‘The Fairfax Heritage Trail’ asphalt path[33]. Here the walk heads through the timber bollards[34], then bends left and leads for 60m across the dirt/gravel[35] car park to the large stone shelter[36] at the edge of the turning circle (and car park)[37] at the end of Govetts Leap Rd.
Continue straight: From the large stone shelter[38] at the edge of the turning circle (and car park)[39] at the end of Govetts Leap Rd, this walk heads 35m towards the valley views[40] to head through the stone arch[41] then down the ramp[42] to the large flat gravel and fenced ‘Govetts Leap’ lookout platform[43].
Continue straight: From the large stone shelter[38] at the edge of the turning circle (and car park)[39] at the end of Govetts Leap Rd, this walk heads 35m towards the valley views[40] to head through the stone arch[41] then down the ramp[42] to the large flat gravel and fenced ‘Govetts Leap’ lookout platform[43].
Govetts Leap Lookout
Govetts Leap Lookout is named after the first European man to have enjoyed this view, William Govett, as an assistant surveyor in June 1831. Govetts Leap Lookout offers wonderful views over the Grose Valley and the spectacular Bridal Falls. The word `leap` is an old Scottish word meaning waterfall. The lookout is easily accessed from the car park[46], there are also toilets[47] and picnic shelters[48] nearby.
Maps for the Fairfax Heritage Track walk
You can download the PDF for this walk to print a map.These maps below cover the walk and the wider area around the walk, they are worth carrying for safety reasons.
Katoomba | 1:25 000 Map Series | 89301S KATOOMBA | NSW-89301S |
Katoomba | 1:100 000 Map Series | 8930 KATOOMBA | 8930 |
Cross sectional view of the Fairfax Heritage Track bushwalking track
Analysis and summary of the altitude variation on the Fairfax Heritage Track
Accessibility summary information for the Fairfax Heritage Track
Parking: There are 2 designated accessible parking areas on this walk.
They are 1770m apart.
Toilets: There are 2 designated accessible toilets on this walk. They are 1840m apart.
Seats: There are 8 places to sit on this walk. They are on average 260m apart, with a maximum gap of 440m.
Hazards: There are 2 specific noteable accessability related hazards on this walk.
Trip Hazard A 5 to 10cm step between carpark and track. Access is between bollards that are 110cm apart. Found about 1760m into the walk.
Wheelchair Rough This walk leads through a gravel carpark for about 60m. The surface in unevean and erroded in places. The gravel is mostly compressed but the surface may soften after prolonged rain. Found about 1790m into the walk.
Toilets: There are 2 designated accessible toilets on this walk. They are 1840m apart.
Seats: There are 8 places to sit on this walk. They are on average 260m apart, with a maximum gap of 440m.
Hazards: There are 2 specific noteable accessability related hazards on this walk.
Trip Hazard A 5 to 10cm step between carpark and track. Access is between bollards that are 110cm apart. Found about 1760m into the walk.
Wheelchair Rough This walk leads through a gravel carpark for about 60m. The surface in unevean and erroded in places. The gravel is mostly compressed but the surface may soften after prolonged rain. Found about 1790m into the walk.
Accessibility Details
Overview of this walks grade – based on the AS 2156.1 – 2001
Under this standard, a walk is graded based on the most difficult section of the walk.
Length | 1.9 km | ||
Time | 45 mins | ||
. | |||
Grade 1/6 Very easy |
AS 2156.1 | Gradient | Flat, no steps (1/6) |
Quality of track | Smooth and hardened path (1/6) | ||
Signs | Clearly signposted (1/6) | ||
Experience Required | No experience required (1/6) | ||
Weather | Weather generally has little impact on safety (1/6) | ||
Infrastructure | Generally useful facilities (such as fenced cliffs and seats) (1/6) |
Some more details of this walks Grading
Here is a bit more details explaining grading looking at sections of the walk
Gradient
This whole walk, 1.9km is flat with no steps.
Quality of track
This whole walk, 1.9km follows a smooth and hardened path.
Signs
This whole walk, 1.9km is clearly signposted.
Experience Required
This whole walk, 1.9km requires no previous bushwalking experience.
weather
This whole walk, 1.9km is not usually affected by severe weather events (that would unexpectedly impact safety and navigation).
Infrastructure
This whole walk, 1.9km is close to useful facilities (such as fenced cliffs and seats).
Similar walks
Other Nearby walks
Plan your trip to and from the walk here
The Fairfax Heritage Track walk starts at the NPWS Heritage Centre car park (gps: -33.630772, 150.30684)Your transport options to NPWS Heritage Centre car park are by;
Bus. (get details)
Car. There is free parking available.
(get details)
The Fairfax Heritage Track ends at the Govetts Leap Lookout (gps: -33.627973, 150.31134)
Your transport options to Govetts Leap Lookout are by;
Bus. (get details)
Car. There is free parking available.
(get details)
Fire Danger
Each park may have its own fire ban, this rating is only valid for today and is based on information from the RFS Please check the RFS Website for more information.Weather Forest
This walk starts in the Central Tablelands weather district always check the formal BOM forecast or pdf before starting your walk.Forecast snapshot
Park Information & Alerts
Short URL = http://wild.tl/nwn
Gallery images
There are other downloads I am still working on.
You will probably need to login to access these — still all free.
* KML (google earth file)
* GPX (GPS file)
Special Maps/ brochures
* A3 topo maps
* PDF with Lands Topo map base
* PDF with arial image (and map overlay)
I wanted to get the main site live first, this extra stuff will come in time.
Happy walking
Matt 🙂
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