SIX FOOT TRACK TREK – NEW SOUTH WALES

Day 1 (Saturday) – Meet in Katoomba 6.30am or Jenolan Caves 7.45am.

Jenolan Caves to Coxs River – (about 8-9 hours trekking)

The trek will start at around 8.00am at Jenolan Caves once the team is organised. The team will trek up the right of the Jenolan Caves Conservation Area which is a steep feature as we climb out of Jenolan Caves. After about 4km, we will pass Kiaora Hill as we make our way along Jenolon Caves Road for around another 3.5km before crossing the road and heading into the forest towards the Black Range Camping Ground which will be another 2.5km’s trekking. We will have a morning tea break at Black Range Camping Area before heading off along Black Range Road. This section is about 8.7km. We will break for lunch along this section before we take on the steep downhill section that will wind its way down the range for about 4.3km when we will hit Alum Creek Camping Ground. Some the views along these sections are stunning. We will rest at Alum Creek and have a good break before we take on the big 2km uphill feature coming out of Alum Creek. This feature is challenging as we will have clocked up around 23km when we have to negotiate it, but a lot of the trekking has been on the flat or downhill, so we should have energy in reserve at this stage. Once we are over the steep feature called the Mini Mini Saddle, we will trek down another steep section for about 4km into our final destination for the day at Coxs River. Tonight we will be staying in our ecolodge and will enjoy a beautifully cooked meal and sit around and enjoy the peace and tranquillity of this beautiful setting. After dinner, play cards, chat, read a book or just sit and relax, the choice is yours.

Day 2 (Sunday) – Coxs River to Katoomba (about 5-6 hours trekking)

Today is a shorter day, but we will wake at 6.00am to have a delicious cooked breakfast. We will aim to head off toward Katoomba from the cottage around 7.30am. Lunch will also be provided. We will head off and not too far from the cottage, we will walk across the famous Bowtells Swing Suspension Bridge that goes over the Coxs River. The views in this area are magnificent. After we navigate the bridge, we will continue for another 4.5km before we come over a hill feature and will be treated to amazing sweeping views out to the Blue Mountains and Katoomba….we are getting closer now. We will see the Dryridge Vineyard on our right as we head towards the Megalong Cemetary. We will have a break here and refuel with water and food before we head towards the Megalong Village which is another 3.7km away. We will have another quick break around here before we take on the last section, which will take us 4.6km up through Nellies Glen and then up to the very steep section which we now call “Dummy Spit Hill” which comes out eventually at the top at Explorers Tree. Congratulations!! From here we will head into Katoomba to have a celebratory drink before heading home.

If you are planning on staying Friday night at Katoomba which is highly recommended, we would recommend checking out the following booking websites for the best deals.

Wotif

Trivago

Booking.com

If you are looking for things to do in Katoomba and the broader Blue Mountains area before or after The Six Foot Track trek, please explore the Visit NSW Blue Mountains website.

• Australian guides with extensive outdoor and adventure experience
• Transport to and from The Six Foot Track – Katoomba to Jenolan Caves and Explorer’s to Katoomba
• Ecolodge accommodation on Saturday night
• 20 litre daypack if required
• Wet weather multi fit poncho if required
• All meals, drinks and snacks – morning tea, lunch and dinner Saturday, and cooked breakfast and morning tea Sunday
• Support vehicle and logistics (support vehicle will follow the team each day)
• Personal support and leadership on the trek
• Emergency remote communications and group first aid kit.

• Accommodation at Katoomba on Friday night
• Alcoholic drinks and beverages at the ecolodge on Saturday night
• Lunch on Sunday because we are usually at Exploers Tree by lunctime.

Fitness Grade: Low-Medium

You should be able to walk at least 8-9 hours the first day with a light daypack weighing up to 3kg. The second day is 5-6 hours.

Anyone should be able to undertake The Six Foot Track trek with a reasonable level of fitness and health. Because we have a full-time safety vehicle following the team, if we have any issues, members can be driven to the ecolodge to rest up for the final day. The first day is really the toughest part of the trek as it is an 8-9 hour day depending on the team’s speed. The second day back to Katoomba will be around 5-6 hours trekking depending on the team’s speed. If you are unsure, please contact the Peak Potential Adventures team to discuss your situation and to see if this trek is suited to you.

(Most of the gear will be carried in the support vehicle that will follow the team over the two days of trekking. The route is mostly flat and downhill on the first day, which is the longest section of the two-day trek. Times will vary depending on team speed).

Peak Potential Adventures will provide some gear, but you will require some gear.

• Comfortable hiking or walking shoes
• Warm jacket and pants
• Toiletries
• Sun hat
• Sunglasses (preferably polarized)
• Personal towel
• Comfortable socks for 2 days walking
• Linen, doona and pillow WILL BE supplied at the ecolodge
• Daypack (Peak Potential Adventures will provide a 20 litre Denali pack if you don’t have one)
• Rain gear (Peak Potential Adventures will provide a rain poncho that is multi fit)
• Snacks (Peak Potential Adventures will provide snacks, but you may have a personal favourite chocolate bar etc.)
• Sunscreen (Peak Potential Adventures will provide a large pump, but you may wish to carry your own tube)
• Hand sanitiser. (Peak Potential Adventures will provide a large pump, but you may wish to carry your own bottle)

The basics: (You will need comfortable walking shoes/boots, comfortable walking socks, a jumper and warm pants, toiletries, sunglasses and sunscreen. Peak Potential Adventures will provide a 20 litre daypack, rain poncho, food, water, and other logistics support like private transport to Jenolan Caves and from Explorers Tree back into Katoomba at the end of the trek).

• Katoomba private bus pickup (Saturday) (Carrington Hotel 15-47 Katoomba St.) – 6.30am
• Trek start time (Saturday) (Jenolan Caves) – 8.00am
• Trek finish first day (Saturday) (Jenolan Caves to Coxs River) – Between 4.00pm – 5.00pm (about 8-9 hours trekking).
• Trek start the second day (Sunday) – 7.30am
• Trek finish second day (Sunday) (Coxs River to Explorers Tree) – On or before 1.30pm (about 5-6 hours trekking).

(These times may vary depending on the speed of the team, weather conditions, road conditions, length of breaks and if there are any medical or logistical issues. Please contact 0410 569 692 if there are any issues on the day).

In 1884, a government survey party was appointed by the NSW Premier, the Hon. Alexander Stuart to find a horse track from Katoomba to Jenolan Caves. The group left Sydney on 24 March 1884 and the following day descended the Katoomba cliffs at Narrowneck into the Megalong Valley. It was soon thought that Black’s Ladder might provide better access, so the party blazed a fresh route from the Megalong Creek to the Explorers Tree. The party then marked a route to Coxs River and a second base camp was established at Little River.

From there a route was found which ascended the Black Range. They reached Jenolan Caves on 3 April 1884 having taken 11 days to mark the original 26 miles (about 42km). NSW Parliament consequently granted 2,500 pounds for the track’s construction. Travellers could now ride from Katoomba to the caves in less than eight hours. The new track became popular until around 1904 when a road link from Megalong Valley to Blackheath was opened. This new road provided improved access to the valley and horse and bollock teams were more easily used for the transport of goods.

By the 1930s motor vehicles became more popular and the number of people using the track declined and sections of the original track were converted to roads and fire trails. In the 1960s, an unsuccessful attempt was made to construct a fire trail/road through Nellies Glen by dumping spoil from a quarry. A new track has been made on the regrowth area. A diversion to access the Black Range camping ground has increased the distance to 46 kilometres.

Safety and Regulation Requirements

All Peak Potential Adventures leaders who guide on the Six Foot Track are first aid qualified

Our team uses both short and long range communication equipment that includes, UHF radios, EPIRBs and satellite devices like Garmin Reach, or a satellite phone for more remote adventures

Peak Potential Adventures in approved an authorised to operate their Six Foot Track adventure by NSW Crown Lands

Peak Potential Adventures holds public liability insurance of $10 million through Aon Risk Services.

If you have any further questions or would like more information about our Six Foot Track trek.

You can contact our team at admin@peakpotential.net.au

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Alternatively, please click here to go through to our contact page.

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