The Katoomba Night Walk offers the unique opportunity to check out some of the most beautiful waterfalls and rock formations in the area after dark. The Three Sisters at Echo Point have been lit up for years, but the Katoomba Night Walk is a new addition which allows you see much more, with over a kilometre of track illuminated until 10.30pm.
It’s incredibly atmospheric to stroll along the forest pathways with small twinkling lights, and if you’re lucky a gorgeous starry sky overhead too. It’s an easy walk and suitable for anyone who can manage a couple of staircases.
Here’s exactly what to expect on the Night Walk, one of the best things to do in Katoomba.
The Katoomba Night Walk
When the lights are in operation
There are two sets of lights for the night walk, the flood lights which illuminate the things you are looking at, like the waterfalls, and the small spot lights which light up the paths so you can see where you’re going.
The flood lights come on at dusk and remain on everyday until 10.30pm. The small pathway lights remain on until 11pm so that you have plenty of time to make your way back if you’re staying until the flood lights go off.
Personally, all the lights were plenty bright enough for me not to need any additional light, but I did see a few people with torches. You won’t need anymore than a phone torch though.
The Katoomba Night Walk
The Stats
Distance: 2.4km return
Elevation: 53m
Difficulty: Easy, either paved or boardwalk. But there are a few stairs so it’s not a wheelchair accessible track.
The walk highlights
We started the walk at the Katoomba Falls Kiosk which has free parking with no time restraints. After 60m you’ll arrive at the staircase which takes you up to the main lookouts over the waterfall and valley.
You can’t see a lot from the first one, Solitary Lookout, but the second, Katoomba Falls Lookout, is the best one of all. The waterfall and Three Sisters are lit up, as well as Orphan Rock. If you stand here long enough you’ll probably see the odd bat swooping over the valley too.
Just beyond Katoomba Falls Lookout you’ll come to the main viewpoint for Orphan Rock, which gives you a closer up view. It looks like one of the Three Sisters, but all on its lonesome.
A minute further along is Witches Leap Lookout. This one is lit really well and it feels more intimate than the other viewpoints. Unfortunately the waterfall is often just a trickle, but it’s still a pretty view.
The walk then continues along the forested pathway, past two more lookouts, to Katoomba Cascades. The final part of the walkway to the cascades is lined with tree ferns, and the river running on your right offers a relaxing backdrop to the track.
The cascades are the most well illuminated of any of the spots on the whole walk. You can also walk right into the pools at the base if you want to, we saw lots of kids in wellies having a great time splashing around.
There are several benches here to sit and enjoy the cascades too.
Once you’re here you’ve done the premier part of the walk. Whilst it does continue on for another 420m (each way), there’s not a lot more to see.
You can catch a glimpse of the top of the cascades at the lookout to the left of the stairway, but it’s not a view as such. The walkway then heads right and takes you to Cliff View, which is strangely not lit. It’s almost like they haven’t quite finished this bit yet.
I still liked walking out that way just because I was enjoying the whole experience and it didn’t really matter that there wasn’t much to see, But you could easily stop at the cascades knowing that you’ve seen the best of the walk.
Overall this unique walk is one of our new favourites in the mountains.
Facilities on the walk
There are no facilities whatsoever along the trail. The nearest toilets are in the park across the road from the kiosk where you park your car. You need to carry all your rubbish out with you and dispose of it in town.
Getting to the Katoomba Night Walk
The Katoomba Night Walk starts at the kiosk by the Prince Henry Picnic area (you can find the exact location on Google Maps by clicking here).
You can drive right to the start of the walk as there is parking by the picnic area, and more by the oval across the road.
You also can get here by hopping on the 686 bus from Katoomba town centre, and they run fairly regularly.
The best time to do the Katoomba Night Walk
We did the walk on a Friday night and it was very busy. We thought it might start to empty out as it came towards 10.30pm but it didn’t. If you’re looking for a quiet experience you might want to go on a weeknight, or possibly a Sunday night.
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