The wonderful walk from Perrys Lookdown into the Blue Gum Forest follows a clear an steep track into one of the region's bushwalking and conservation icons. Allow plenty of time to explore the majestic Blue Gum Forest, looking up the tall trees and enjoying the birds flying through the area. The track is steep and the valley tempts visitors to stay and enjoy for a long time. If you want to stay overnight, Acacia Flats campsite is only 500m from the forest. To return to the car park, retrace your steps up the hill. 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.
Top of Perrys Track. | Photo by admin, 2008.Perrys Lookdown. | Photo by admin, 2008.View from Perrys Lookdown. | Photo by admin, 2008.Track bellow Perrys lookdown. | Photo by admin, 2008.Railed track down to Dockers Lookout. | Photo by admin, 2008.Dockers Lookout. | Photo by admin, 2008.View from Memorial Plaque Lookout. | Photo by admin, 2008.Track down from lookouts. | Photo by admin, 2008.Rock steps on Perrys Track. | Photo by admin, 2008.Track to Perrys Lookdown. | Photo by admin, 2008.Helicopter below in Grose Valley. | Photo by admin, 2008.Western edge of Blue Gum Forest. | Photo by admin, 2008.Track to Acacia Flats. | Photo by admin, 2008.No Camping in Blue Gum Forest. | Photo by admin, 2008.Blue Gum Forest. | Photo by admin, 2008.
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.
Turn right onto Inconstant Street and drive for another 115 m
Turn sharp left onto Carysfort Street and drive for another 310 m
Turn right onto Cleopatra Street and drive for another 125 m
Turn left onto Hat Hill Road and drive for another 6.4 km
Keep right onto Perrys Lookdown Road and drive for another 850 m
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Track Notes
Turn by turn instructions & maps
Getting started From the car park, the walk follows the sign 'Perry's Lookdown Track' down the hill to a railed lookout.....
Turn map
Directions & comments
Start.
Perrys Lookdown campground (about 20 m back from the start).
Perrys Lookdown campground
Perrys Lookdown campground
Perrys Lookdown offers a simple campsite, close to some spectacular lookouts and well located as starting point for longer walks exploring the Grose Valley. There are 5 tent sites and a non-flush toilet, but no water available. This area allows fuel stoves only (no camp fires). The camping area is a short walk from the car park. Limit to one night stay (sites cannot be reserved).
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Perrys Lookdown offers a simple campsite, close to some spectacular lookouts and well located as starting point for longer walks exploring the Grose Valley. There are 5 tent sites and a non-flush toilet, but no water available. This area allows fuel stoves only (no camp fires). The camping area is a short walk from the car park. Limit to one night stay (sites cannot be reserved).
After 20 m pass the sign (10 m on your left).
After another 50 m turn right, to head along Perrys Track.
The starting point of an optional sidetrip. An optional side trip to Dockers Lookout. To start this optional side trip continue straight here. On returning from this side trip turn left when you get back to this intersection. Details below.
After another 45 m turn right, to head along Perrys Track.
After another 380 m head down the steps (about 1.3 km long)
Then head down the steps (about 790 m long)
The starting point of an optional sidetrip. An optional side trip to Acacia Flats Camping Ground. To start this optional side trip turn right here. On returning from this side trip veer right when you get back to this intersection. Details below.
After another 830 m (at the intersection of Blue Gum Forest Track & Perrys Track) turn left.
After another 40 m pass the sign (10 m on your right).
After another 35 m find the "Blue Gum Forest" (70 m on your right).
Blue Gum Forest
Blue Gum Forest
Blue Gum Forest, Blue Mountains NP, is a large stand of Eucalyptus deanei trees on the junction of the Grose River and Govetts Creek. The magnificent trees stand tall on the flats with low vegetation beneath. The trees of Blue Gum Forest represent the protection efforts of Myles Dunphy, who lead a group to raise the 130 pounds required to buy the Blue Gum Forest - quite a sum in 1931 during the depression - and save it from being cleared. The group were successful and the Blue Gum Forest is now protected within the Blue Mountains National Park.
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Blue Gum Forest, Blue Mountains NP, is a large stand of Eucalyptus deanei trees on the junction of the Grose River and Govetts Creek. The magnificent trees stand tall on the flats with low vegetation beneath. The trees of Blue Gum Forest represent the protection efforts of Myles Dunphy, who lead a group to raise the 130 pounds required to buy the Blue Gum Forest - quite a sum in 1931 during the depression - and save it from being cleared. The group were successful and the Blue Gum Forest is now protected within the Blue Mountains National Park.
Continue another 35 m to find the end. Then turn around here and retrace the main route for 2.8 km to get back to the start.
An optional side trip to Dockers Lookout.
Turn map
Directions & comments
Start.
Continue another 20 m to find Dockers Lookout at the end.
"Dockers Lookout".
Dockers Lookout
Dockers Lookout
Dockers Lookout, Blue Mountains NP, has views over the Grose Valley and Blue Gum Forest below. Mt Banks can be seen standing proudly to the north above the valley.
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Dockers Lookout, Blue Mountains NP, has views over the Grose Valley and Blue Gum Forest below. Mt Banks can be seen standing proudly to the north above the valley.
Turn around and retrace your steps back the 20 m to the main route.
An optional side trip to Acacia Flats Camping Ground.
Turn map
Directions & comments
At the intersection of Blue Gum Forest Track & Shortridge Pass Start heading along Blue Gum Forest Track (a walking track).
Blue Gum Forest (about 75 m back from the start).
Blue Gum Forest
Blue Gum Forest
Blue Gum Forest, Blue Mountains NP, is a large stand of Eucalyptus deanei trees on the junction of the Grose River and Govetts Creek. The magnificent trees stand tall on the flats with low vegetation beneath. The trees of Blue Gum Forest represent the protection efforts of Myles Dunphy, who lead a group to raise the 130 pounds required to buy the Blue Gum Forest - quite a sum in 1931 during the depression - and save it from being cleared. The group were successful and the Blue Gum Forest is now protected within the Blue Mountains National Park.
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Blue Gum Forest, Blue Mountains NP, is a large stand of Eucalyptus deanei trees on the junction of the Grose River and Govetts Creek. The magnificent trees stand tall on the flats with low vegetation beneath. The trees of Blue Gum Forest represent the protection efforts of Myles Dunphy, who lead a group to raise the 130 pounds required to buy the Blue Gum Forest - quite a sum in 1931 during the depression - and save it from being cleared. The group were successful and the Blue Gum Forest is now protected within the Blue Mountains National Park.
After 90 m pass the sign (9 m on your right).
After another 390 m come to the end.
About 60 m past the end is "Acacia Flats Camping Ground".
Acacia Flats Camping Ground
Acacia Flats Camping Ground
Acacia Flats Camping Ground, Blue Mountains NP, is situated on the floor of the Grose Valley between Perrys Lookdown and Lockley Pylon. The camp ground is approximately 50m from Govetts Creek and approximately 500m upstream from Blue Gum Forest. Acacia Flats Camping Ground is appropriately named after the dense population of Acacias found in this area. Acacia Flats is a wonderful area to camp with tall shady Blue Gums and level grass clearings which make for a great place to pitch a tent. There is a pit toilet and sitting logs to make camping more comfortable, and plenty of room for large groups. Water is available from Govetts Creek (treat before drinking).
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Acacia Flats Camping Ground, Blue Mountains NP, is situated on the floor of the Grose Valley between Perrys Lookdown and Lockley Pylon. The camp ground is approximately 50m from Govetts Creek and approximately 500m upstream from Blue Gum Forest. Acacia Flats Camping Ground is appropriately named after the dense population of Acacias found in this area. Acacia Flats is a wonderful area to camp with tall shady Blue Gums and level grass clearings which make for a great place to pitch a tent. There is a pit toilet and sitting logs to make camping more comfortable, and plenty of room for large groups. Water is available from Govetts Creek (treat before drinking).
About 100 m past the end is "Acacia Flat".
Acacia Flat
Acacia Flat
Acacia Flats Camping Ground, Blue Mountains NP, is situated on the floor of the Grose Valley between Perrys Lookdown and Lockley Pylon. The camp ground is approximately 50m from Govetts Creek and approximately 500m up stream from Blue Gum Forest. Acacia Flats Camping Ground is named appropriately after the dense population of Acacias found in this area. Acacia Flats is a wonderful area to camp with tall shady Blue Gums and level grass clearings which make for a great place to pitch a tent. There is a drop toilet and sitting logs to make camping more comfortable and plenty of room for large groups. (No camping in the Blue Gum Forest)
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Acacia Flats Camping Ground, Blue Mountains NP, is situated on the floor of the Grose Valley between Perrys Lookdown and Lockley Pylon. The camp ground is approximately 50m from Govetts Creek and approximately 500m up stream from Blue Gum Forest. Acacia Flats Camping Ground is named appropriately after the dense population of Acacias found in this area. Acacia Flats is a wonderful area to camp with tall shady Blue Gums and level grass clearings which make for a great place to pitch a tent. There is a drop toilet and sitting logs to make camping more comfortable and plenty of room for large groups. (No camping in the Blue Gum Forest)
About 115 m past the end is a toilet.
Turn around and retrace your steps back the 480 m to the main route.
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Terrain
Know the Hills, grading & facilities
Perrys Lookdown to Blue Gum Forest
Grading
Class 4/6
Hard track
Length
5.5 km
Time
3 h 30 min, 4 h 30 min to 2 days
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 (such as cliffs not fenced, significant creeks not bridged) (4/6)
Experience Required
No experience required (1/6)
Weather
Weather generally has little impact on safety (1/6)
Some facilities on route
Campsite: There are 3 on route, on average they are 1.9 km apart with the largest gap of 3.4 km.
Toilet: There is one 2.7 km (plus an extra 530 m along side route) from the start.