Bushwalk + Leura / Katoomba map Bushwalk - Furber Steps, Federal Pass, Ruined Castle - Katoomba
andcoaloutofthevalley,butby1932wasalreadyatouristattraction.JustpasttheScenicRailwaythe track forks; stick to the right, following signs to the Landslide. Abouttenminutesfurtheron,60metrespastwheresteelcablescutacrossthetrack,you’llseeafaint padveeringofftotheleft—thisistheWilliams’LandslideDeviation,amoredirectbutratherindistinct route to the Golden Staircase. Ignore this track; keep going straight ahead.
This walk descends Furber Steps and joins up with the Federal Pass, opened on January 1st 1901 in honour of the federation of Australian states. A long but relatively easy-going day, most of this walk passes along the sheltered forest floor before popping out at the Ruined Castle, where 360° views offer a sense of being ‘on top of the world’.
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Furbers Steps
An exposed coal seam marks the first of the landslides, opening up to the massive landslide -caused by mining activities - which fell on three separate dates during 1931. Steel poles and the occasional white arrow mark the route across bare rocks and water-scoured gullies. Beyond the landslide, the track widens, with drystone embankments evidence of the old horse-drawn tramway which led to the Ruined Castle mines. About 600 metres from the end of the landslide, just beyond a small creek crossing, look for the mine shaft recessed into the bank on your right-hand side. This is the Mt Rennie Tunnel, through which coal was transported from the Megalong Valley under Narrow Neck along a cable tramway. Another kilometre of level walking and you arrive at the track junction where the Golden Staircase descends from Narrow Neck (an alternative entry/exit point for this walk). Keep straight ahead.
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Grade: Hard. Time: 7 hours. Distance: 14.4 kilometres return. Ascent/Descent: 370 metres ascent, 370 metres descent, plus 12 kilometres of undulating track. Weather: Suitable for all conditions. Closest public transport: Local buses 686 and 696 run between Echo Point and Scenic World, stopping at the Katoomba Kiosk where the track begins. Finding the track Head down Katoomba Street almost to the bottom, turning right into Katoomba Falls Road. This road curves down to the bottom of the hill, where you’ll see Katoomba Falls Kiosk on your left.
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The vegetation changes as you continue through the forest: tall tree ferns give way to a long grove of coachwoods, later opening up to a tall forest of blue gums, angophora and black ash. Lyrebirds scratch underfoot and Walk directions bellbirds ring all around. There are several old miners’ campsites along this old campsite The track starts just a little to the right of the kiosk. stretch, as well as the ruins of an old hut. About 45 minutes (2.5 kilometres) Descend concrete steps for 50 metres to the junction 0 300m from the Golden Stairs junction, turn right at the sign to the Ruined Castle. of three tracks. Head to your right, following signs for A steep, rocky ascent leads to the top before you head south-east along the Katoomba Falls Track. old campsite spine of the ridge. Shortly after Witches Leap, you arrive at the Round Castle 10 The broken shapes of the crags at Ruined Castle make it easy to understand Head Walk junction. Turn left, following signs to Furbers the origin of its name, when an 1880 journalist described it as a ‘rocky pile the steps. These steps lead past Rainforest Lookout, ruined keep of some gigantic castle’. The highest point is at the southernmost Queen Victoria Lookout and Furbers Lookout. (Ignore 12 11 end, just before the track starts to descend. A short scramble delivers 360° sidetracks to Underfalls Walk and Vera’s Grotto.) Look for Ruined views: north to Castle Head; south to Warragamba; east to Kings Table; and Castle ‘pick marks’ in the stone, evidence of where these steps west to Narrow Neck, where the headwaters of Cedar Creek appear as twin were blasted from the cliff in 1908. Levelling out a little, the clay-floored track undercuts waterfalls. The track descends back down to the Federal Pass. Turn left. After 600 metres you sandstone overhangs before arriving at the Federal Pass. Turn right. arrive at the original sign leading up to Ruined Castle. Return the way you came. (If you’re Afewminutesfurtheron,theinevitablecrowdoftouristsassemblesatthefootoftheScenicRailway. planning to catch the Scenic Railway up the hill, remember the last one leaves at 4.45 pm.) 9
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These notes and description from Blue Mountains Best Bushwalks, the acclaomed
Discover the Blue Mountains
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