It’s not often that a long weekend pops up unplanned on our calendar. We thought about staying in Sydney to soak up the city vibes and catch up on some much-needed reading and chilling. But when the weather forecast promised full sun and no rain (a rare treat this season!), we quickly changed our minds. Before we knew it, we had booked our second trip to the Blue Mountains in less than six months and were dusting off our winter hiking kit. I was a bit nervous about heading to the Blue Mountains in winter since I’m super sensitive to the cold and a total newbie hiker, but this trip turned out to be an absolute success.
This time around, we chose to stay in Lawson—a smaller, less touristy alternative to Blackheath or Katoomba—and booked a charming Airbnb close by the Lawson walks. The moment we arrived, we were greeted by a flock of chickens wandering around our doorstep, instantly confirming we had left city life far behind. This accommodation in Leura is set on the ground floor of a one storey house, and feels like a micro-farm with its chicken coop (producing a handful of fresh eggs every morning for your brekkie) and sprawling garden.
I’d say the biggest draw for us was the recently installed outdoor jacuzzi, where we could unwind at nightfall and soothe our tired legs under a sky full of bright stars. We made it a ritual to run the jacuzzi every evening before dinner, and it worked wonders for our muscles after logging over twenty thousand steps a day. Inside, I loved the super comfy bed, the fully equipped kitchen (which we didn’t use much but had everything you could possibly need), and the bathroom with heated tile floors. Honestly, I think we locked the perfect accommodation in the Blue Mountains.
The Blue Mountains in winter: our itinerary
On day 1, we drove from Sydney for about 90 minutes, quickly unpacked and fuelled up before setting off on our first hike. We chose to do the North Lawson Path and Empire Pass Track via Frederica Falls, as it is an easy one and we could finish it before dark. It was a great choice to kick things off, and the perfect way to shake off a week of sitting behind a computer. Thanks to the recent downpours (or more like biblical storms), the waterfalls were gushing. I guess that’s one of the perks of exploring the Blue Mountains in winter—as long as you choose a sunny weekend!
On day 2, we set off a bit earlier, prepped our lunch including a portable pot of freshly brewed decaf coffee (a new essential addition to our winter hiking kit!) and drove to the start of the Fortress Ridge walk. We walked for about 2 hours and a half total although it always felt way more due to the elevation, stopping by for mandatory photoshoots on tops of rocks, well-deserved “victory” sandwiches, and said decaf coffee that remained warm until the end when we needed it the most.
The weather was particularly sunny that day, so the walk, which is mostly under open skies, felt like a summer stroll. The gentle breeze and crisp air made it much more enjoyable than the stickiness we experienced during the hotter months. When you reach the top and walk along the ridge, you get to take in a 360 view over the lush eucalyptus forests that give the Blue Mountains their distinctive dreamy bluish haze. For context, these trees release fine droplets of oil into the atmosphere, which then mix with dust particles and water vapour. When sunlight hits these particles, it scatters shorter wavelengths of light, such as blue, more than the longer wavelengths resulting in this gorgeous blue glow I couldn’t stop snapping with my camera.
On our way back, and following a tricky bit that required some agile (but not so graceful) rock hopping and tiptoeing along muddy stone staircases, we reached one of the most magical Blue Mountains lookouts I’ve had a chance to see: the top of a 100 metre high waterfall. The Fortress Creek Falls plunges over a cliff into the Grose Valley, and it’s spectacular. There are some rock holes, right there at the edge, where you can sit to soak in the views if you’re not afraid of heights. Personally, I was standing about 3-4 metres away from the edge, firmly gripping a tree branch with one hand whilst capturing the landscape on my iPhone with the other, and feeling very much in awe and terrified of accidentally slipping off at the same time.
On day 3, we set off early again to squeeze in a hike before our late afternoon check-out. We chose to revisit the iconic (for us, at least) Porters Pass and Colliers Causeway near Blackheath. Our experience hiking there last summer was so memorable that we wanted to see if it still held its reputation as one of the finest trails in the Blue Mountains in winter as well. Although the weather was still quite warm, this hike is mostly in the shadows – picture deep caves, towering trees, and cradles of mammoth rock formations where sunlight can’t filter – so I got quite chilly at times. It was also particularly slippery and muddy, but still totally doable and beginner-friendly. This hike is all about looking upward and feeling like you’re in Jurassic Park, waiting for a T. rex to burst out from around a cliff at any moment. There’s quite simply nothing like it.
My winter hiking kit
Although you can get away with regular activewear and comfortable trainers in summer (like I did back in December), I wouldn’t recommend it at this season. The temperatures drop in the Blue Mountains in winter, especially in the morning or after sunset, the wind can also be icy and the terrain pretty slippery. I felt I needed to invest in a proper winter hiking outfit. I splashed out on a pair of walking boots just before our trip and they were a great buy. It is usually recommended to “break them in” at home first, but I like to live dangerously and started wearing them straight out of the box into the mountains. Luckily, they fit perfectly.
Clothing wise, I couldn’t leave home without my extra thick leggings, which are originally part of my ski (under)wear arsenal, but worked wonders in this mild weather context. I recommend packing good base layers (I have a few like these), a good fleece – this one looks cute – and adequate socks. I ignored the latter and regretted it deeply! Bag-wise I picked up this 25L one in black from Kiwi outdoor specialist Macpac, and it has the perfect consistency to stock just about anything, from thermal bottles to snacks and extra layers.
Useful Links
- All Trails – the best app for trails guides and maps
- Our Airbnb accommodation in Lawson
- Macpac for all things outdoorsy in Australia/NZ (they also have a shop in Katoomba)
Photos: me & Nick Morosi
