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| Eagle Hawk Lookout |
In September 1937 a section of Cliff Drive, Katoomba was declared open by the Hon Eric Spooner,
Minister for Works and Local Government in NSW. Mr Spooner was involved in a
number of other official openings around Katoomba around this time, so we can
assume that he liked the place.
The Cliff Drive, constructed by the then Katoomba Municipal Council, opened up a
number of lookouts in places which must have been reasonably difficult to get to before then.
Approaching from the Scenic
World end, the first is Eagle Hawk
Lookout, which offers one of the best views of the Three Sisters and the
cliffs between Echo Point and Katoomba Falls. There is limited parking (only
two or three car spaces, which might all be taken up by a tourist coach). The
lookout is down a short flight of steps, but even from the top the view is
quite remarkable.
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| Orphan Rock from Malaita Point Lookout |
Malaita Point Lookout
follows soon after, also on the left. There is presently no sign, only a gap in
the safety railing to indicate the beginning of the track. There is parking on
the opposite side of the road; however, as it is on fairly sharp bend, drivers
need to take special care when making the necessary U turns on what has become
a busy road.
The island of Malaita is one of the Solomon Islands and gave
its name to a well know steamship serving the Pacific islands in the first half
of the 20th century. Malaita Point might have taken its name from
the ship. Others have suggested that the name was given because of the presence
of a group of Malaita islanders who were undergoing training with a mission
society in premises nearby, early in the century.
The view from the lookout is spectacular and includes a rare
view of the back of Orphan Rock. The
cliffs are popular with rock climbers
and were the scene of a recent fatal accident. See this Sydney Morning Herald article for more information.
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| Landslide Lookout from Narrow Neck Lookout |
Next comes Landslide
Lookout, with parking on both sides of the road. The track to the lookout
descends to a point looking towards the Narrow
Neck. Standing there you will be quite unaware of the fact that you are
standing on the brink of the great 1931 landslide, a fact which is brought home
only when you look back from Narrow Neck Lookout.
The Cyclorama Point
track is immediately opposite that to Landslide Lookout. When you read accounts
of the views from this spot (eg this one from the Herald, 18th September 1937) you ascend the steps with
great anticipation. Alas, the bush has grown to such an extent that the view is almost totally obscured today. The whole article makes good reading and may be
read in Trove by clicking here.
Narrow Neck Lookout
is several minutes further on. It has the best parking of all these lookouts
and also a picnic table (not the shelter that used to be here). Tree growth is
rapidly obscuring the otherwise fantastic view of the Narrow Neck. Don’t miss
the view on the left of the cliff face remaining after the 1931 landslide.
Hilda’s Lookout
(source of name unknown – perhaps she lived nearby) is relatively recent and is
also suffering from obscuring vegetation.
My video of these places may be found here. My Blue Mountains You Tube playlist may be found here . I have three other playlists - on gem hunting/mining, Glen Innes and New Zealand.
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