Wentworth Falls - Places to See

Grand View Hotel

The original Grand View Hotel was built during the boom in tourism to the Blue Mountains in 1883. The present building at 174 Great Western Highway was completed in 1930. It is one of the thirteen historic inns listed on the excellent History Highway Inns website. Check it out at History Highway Inns which offers detailed information about the historic inns in the Blue Mountains.

Walking Tracks in the Wentworth Falls Area
Just west of Wentworth Falls Railway Station, on the southern side of the Highway, is Falls Road which heads south out to Wentworth Falls Reserve. Near the end of Falls Rd, Fletcher St heads west out to Valley of the Waters Reserve. These two reserves are the starting points for the walks in the area. The booklet, 'Walking Tracks in the Wentworth Falls Area', prepared by the National Parks & Wildlife Service, provides an excellent contour map and details of these walks.

From Wentworth Falls Reserve there is a 1-km return walk to Princes Rock which offers excellent views of Wentworth Falls and the Jamison Valley. There are rock overhangs, waterfalls, facilities and birdlife, all in a rainforest setting. A walk of medium difficulty it includes steps. Another 1-km walk is the scenic Weeping Rock Circuit Walk (medium difficulty with steps). This reserve is also the most logical departure point for Fletchers Lookout and Rocket Point Lookout, offering excellent views of the Kings Tableland escarpment, Wentworth Falls and Queens Cascades.

From Valley of the Waters Reserve it is possible to take the 3-km Nature Circuit Track (medium difficulty with steps) which is a scenic walk taking in Asmodeus Pool and Edinburgh Castle Rock. This is the logical departure point for the Queen Victoria Lookout, Lyre Bird Lookout, Empress Falls, Sylvia Falls, Lodard Falls, Vera Falls and Gladstone Lookout. Den Fenella Lookout, Lady Sees Lookout and Breakfast Point Lookout lie along walking tracks which run between the two reserves.

Either reserve is a suitable starting point for the Over/Under Cliff Walks (3 km one way, of medium difficulty), the National Pass Circuit Walk (4 km) and the 5-km Wentworth Pass Circuit Walk. Both of the latter are difficult going involving many steps and, in the latter case, ladders.

Bushwalkers should note that, owing to the Christmas 2001 bushfires, there were some track closures in the area. For further information ring the National Parks and Wildlife Service on (02) 4787 8877.

Yester Grange
No longer open to the public Yester Grange is one of the most significant buildings in Wentworth Falls. It is a Victorian country house built in 1890 by the retired sea captain John Smith who named it after Yester House in Gifford, near Edinburgh. It was built of weatherboard and designed by James Barnet, the son of the colonial architect who designed the GPO in Sydney.

It was soon sold to Sir John See (Premier of New South Wales from 1901-04) who used it as his summer residence. It was common at the time for the wealthy of Sydney to retreat to the cool of the mountains from the heat of Sydney. The Smiths added the two rear wings and ballroom in 1889 and it remained in the family until 1938. The initials of Smith and his wife are intertwined on the doors in the hall.

From the wide front verandahs there are views across towards Wentworth Falls Lake (a dam built across Jamison Creek in 1903), Mount Solitary and Sublime Point. Sadly it is now no longer open to the public. It is being used for private functions and is not open to the public.