Blackheath

Understand

The Blue Mountains Heritage Centre, Govett's Leap Road (near Govett's Leap Lookout), ☏ (02)4787 8877Country code missing. Daily 9AM-4:30PM. Run by National Parks NSW, offers free maps, information, and general local knowledge (updated Jul 2026)

Getting there

By car Blackheath is on the Great Western Highway, after Medlow Bath and is quite hard to miss. It takes approximately 1.5 to 2 hours from Sydney, depending on which road you take, and the traffic conditions.

By train Trains stop at 1 Blackheath Station every two hours off-peak and weekends, and more frequently at peak times. An adult return ticket from Sydney's Central Station to Blackheath is approximately $11 (on-peak) or $8 (off-peak). The $18.70 daily fare cap if using Opal also applies (which is less on Fridays and weekends). The station is near the main shops and gives good access to the town centre. A shuttle operates over the road from the station. Govett's leap is around 3 km from the station, and Evan's lookout is further. So, best to have a plan worked out if you are hoping to tour the attractions and vistas that the area is famous for.

Getting around

Blue Mountains Bus Company runs a public bus service which operates along the major roads in Blackheath, and can take you to Katoomba or Mount Victoria.

See

Blackheath has some excellent lookouts which give great views of the surrounding bushland.

1 Blackheath Gardens, 2 Hat Hill Rd (opposite Blackheath Railway Station). A small municipal park and garden near the centre of town – during the summer it doesn't contain a whole lot but contains vivid autumn colours during April and May. Free. (updated Dec 2024) 2 Grose Valley. 3 Govett's Leap. This is most frequently visited lookout, and has well developed picnic facilities and a nice viewing spot. There is folklore surrounding a criminal who supposedly leapt off the cliff rather than be captured by law enforcement agencies, that supplants the more mundane truth of being discovered by Government surveyor William Govett, who used the word 'leap' as an old Scottish word meaning waterfall. 4 Evans Lookout. (updated Apr 2018) 5 Perrys Lookdown. (updated Apr 2018) 6 Blue Gum Forest. nature reserve (updated Apr 2018)

Do

Bushwalking Blackheath has a wide variety of different walking tracks and places to go to and experience. As always in the Blue Mountains, all longer walks involve venturing down into the valley first and then back up. This is also a popular spot for canyoning and rockclimbing, with local operators like Blue Mountains Climbing School offering training and guided climbs.

For those without a car, the Govetts Leap Loop Walk is a 9km walk that begins and ends at Blackheath station. It takes in the Popes Glen walk on the way to Govetts Leap, and then follows the clifftop before joining the Braeside Walk to return to Blackheath station. Allow around 4 hours for the loop walk. Carry water and a good map. The trails are well established, but there are a few junctions where you may accidentally take the wrong fork without a map. There is mains water at Govetts Leap, so you can refill your water bottle there. From Govett's Leap Lookout you can start different walks, including the challenging 5 to 8 hours long Rodriguez Pass in the Grose Valley to Evans Lookout. Or for an easy 1–2 hours one-way walk to Evans Lookout take the Cliff Top walk that crosses the creek just above Govetts Leap. The Grand Canyon walk is a popular 6.3 km loop starting from Evans Lookout. The walk takes you through a series of biomes ranging from prehistoric-looking rainforest to drier banksia scrub down to the eponymous canyon. On the less visited western side, 1 Porters Pass Track Trailhead (end of Burton Rd) is the gateway to the Porters Pass trail to Lamberts Lookout, which you can combine with Colliers Causeway and Centennial Pass for a 5.2km loop with 280m of elevation change. Highlights include the remarkable Grotto at the end of the Causeway and Fort Rock up at the top of Centennial Pass, with great views over the valley. The trail is rough in parts and muddy after rain, and while it's reasonably well signposted, you'll want to bring a map to navigate the junctions. At the end of Hat Hil

Buy

There are several shops in Blackheath.

General IGA is a convenience store which also sells unleaded petrol, at 211 Great Western Highway. Altitude Delicatessen, 5 Star Minimarket, The Butcher, The Bakery, and Blackheath Continental Delicatessen are all situated near each other on Govett's Leap Road. The Bogbean is a health food store which sells foods including grains, flour, nuts, organic snacks like chocolate, bulk honey, vitamin and mineral supplements, natural skin and hair care products and a small range of gifts including games and puzzles. The Vegie Patch is on the corner of Govett's Leap Road and the Great Western Highway, and sells fruit and vegetables, and various health foods.

Gifts Old Tythe Barn sells miniatures and collectables, doll's houses, tin toys, lamps, bric-à-brac. Old and new. On the highway at the entrance to the railway station. 266 Great Western Highway +61 2 4787-7284 Colliers Crystals is in the Colliers Arcade, and sells crystals, statues, and fountains. Govett's Leap Road, next to Victory Theatre Yuko Moon Beautiful gifts. Govett's Leap Road, opposite Victory Theatre.

Eat

1 Cinnabar (formerly Escarpment), 246 Great Western Hwy, ☏ +61 2 4787 7269, [email protected]. W-Sa 5:30-9PM. Multi-cuisine casual dining and bar. (updated Apr 2015) 2 Victory Cafe, ☏ +61 2 4787 6777. Housed in the foyer of the old Victory Theatre, this cafe serves up fine coffee and Australian brunch staples. The unique drawcard here is the massive antique shop in the back, housing goods from 50 vendors across two levels, with everything from vinyl records to seashells and vintage clothing. (updated Jul 2026) 3 Blackheath General Store, 249 Great Western Hwy, ☏ +61 2 4787 5082. A modern Australian cafe with locally sourced ingredients and Mediterranean influences. 4 Ho's Palace Chinese Restaurant, 243-244 Great Western Hwy, ☏ +61 2 4787 8809. It serves Chinese food and is able to seat over 150 people inside. 5 The New Ivanhoe, ☏ +61 2 4787 6156. Local pub. It serves pies which were mentioned in The Good Weekend magazine, and have been in extremely high demand ever since. People with wireless laptops can also connect to the Wi-Fi access point there to access internet. 6 Blackheath Fish Shop, 222 Great Western Hwy, ☏ +61 2 4787 8280. Is owned by a Greek family and has been around since 1967.

Drink & nightlife

Ivanhoe Hotel Have a drink at the Ivanhoe. Pleasantly old-fashioned pub. Reasonably good and cheap counter meals. 1 The Gardners Inn, 255 Great Western Hwy, ☏ +61 2 4787 8347. Is another pub which was established in 1831.

Sleep

Blackheath has several motels, and guesthouses. A few of them are located on the highway for easy access to town and others are tucked away near other venues like the Golf Course.

1 Glenella Guest House and Restaurant, 60 Govetts Leap Rd, ☏ +61 2 4787 8352.