SIX FOOT TRACK

Let us take you on a professionally guided and fully supported two-day walk of the historic Six Foot Track in the Blue Mountains. This walk would be regarded as one of New South Wales most iconic overnight walks. The Six Foot Track is a 45-kilometre old horse and cart route that was built in the late 1800s to ferry supplies between Katoomba and Jenolan Caves.

Your overnight gear will be transported in the support vehicle, so you’ll only need to carry a day pack over the 45-kilometre journey. One of the highlights will be to stay overnight in the tranquil Six Foot Track Eco Lodge, which is nestled in bushland just back from the beautiful Cox’s River. Day two of the trek starts with a crossing of the famous Bowtells Swing Bridge as the team makes its way towards Megalang Valley.

Finish the walk at the historic Explorer’s Tree where Gregory Blaxland, William Lawson and William Charles Wentworth, the explorers who achieved the first known successful crossing of the Blue Mountains of New South Wales by European settlers, carved their initials in 1813.

The walk is both challenging and fun based on the program that Peak Potential Adventures has designed. Because this adventure is accompanied by our support vehicle most of the way which carries your overnight gear, you’ll only need to carry a daypack. All you have to do is bring some basic equipment like comfortable walking shoes, a warm jacket and pants and enjoy the scenery, the challenge, the serenity and the great company of like-minded people on this two-day weekend adventure.

The Six Foot Track is an adventure that delivers a remarkable experience of a historic Australian walk. You can choose to do it as a stand-alone adventure or use it as a foundation experience for future multi-day treks, or incorporate it into a training plan for multi-day adventures in Australian and overseas destinations. The Six Foot Track has some challenging features which make makes it a great training trek for other adventures offered by Peak Potential Adventures to Mt Kilimanjaro in Tanzania, the Overland Track in Tasmania, Kokoda Track in Papua New Guinea, or Everest Base Camp in Nepal.

The Six Foot Track will provide an excellent introduction to outdoor endurance walks, and if completed, participants will be prepared mentally and physically for bigger multi-day adventures. The walk includes access to a support vehicle, and it’s important to note that this adventure is not just about the challenge – it will be fun and deliver moments that you will remember for the rest of your life. Overnight accommodation will be in the tranquil and peaceful Six Foot Track Eco Lodge on the Coxs River.

Highlights

• Stunning views walking down Black Range
• Stay in the beautiful private eco lodge nestled back in bushland from Coxs River
• Enjoy the company of fellow outdoor enthusiasts and adventurers
• Cross the famous Bowtells Swing Bridge over Coxs River
• Stunning views of the Blue Mountains walking through the Megalong Valley
• Enjoy a beautifully cooked fully catered dinner at the end of the first day at the eco lodge
• Weather permitting, take a dip in the beautiful rock pools near the eco lodge
• Relax in the private eco lodge and enjoy the natural peace and serenity
• Enjoy close encounters with some of the local wildlife, flora and fauna
• Walkthrough the beautiful Nellies Glen rainforest near the end of the trek
• Just disconnect from daily life for the weekend and take in the great outdoors.

Day 1 – Saturday – Meet in Katoomba 6:15 AM, and the private bus will drive the team to Jenolan Caves 

Trek Jenolan Caves to Coxs River 

Walking Time: 8-9 hours (will vary depending on team speed, breaks etc.)

Distance: 30km

Meals Included: morning tea, trail snacks, lunch, afternoon tea, dinner at the eco lodge

Accommodation: private eco lodge – group cabin with double bunks

We will meet in Katoomba at 6:15 AM and take our private bus to Jenolan Caves to start the trek. If you have driven up to Katoomba, you will be able to leave your car near the Katoomba Police Station on Edwards St. Our private bus can also meet you at this location. Our group email prior to the adventure will also provide detailed information about the transport arrangement and contact numbers. (For detailed transport arrangements and where you can leave your vehicle in Katoomba, please refer to the ‘other information’ section below in ‘transport arrangements’)

The walk will start at around 8:00 AM from Jenolan Caves once the team is organised. The team will walk 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 Jenolan 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 walking. 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 of the views along these sections are stunning.

We will rest at  the top of Alum Creek hill and have a good break before we walk down the hill and take on the 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 walking 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 walk down another steep section for about 4km into our final destination for the day at Coxs River.

Tonight we will be staying at the Six Foot Track Eco Lodge 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 sit and relax, the choice is yours.

Day 2 – Sunday – Trek Coxs River to  Explorer’s Tree (Katoomba)

Walking Time: 5-6 hours (will vary depending on team speed, breaks etc.)

Distance: 15km

Meals Included: buffet breakfast, trail snacks, morning tea

Today is a much shorter day, but we will wake at 6.00 AM to have a delicious cooked buffet breakfast. We will aim to head off toward Katoomba (Explorer’s Tree) from the eco lodge around 7:30 AM. We will head off and not too far from the eco lodge; we will walk across the famous Bowtells Swing Bridge that crosses 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 towards 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 last steep section and stairs which comes out eventually at the top at Explorers Tree.

Congratulations!! Our support vehicle will drop you back at your transport in Katoomba.

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.

Peak Potential Adventures operates small group adventures both in Australia and overseas and was founded by a group of experienced adventurers who have built a solid and well-regarded reputation. Our experience in the outdoors has been built from the ground up over many years. Adaptability, planning, logistics, transparency and professionalism are our strengths and qualities. Meeting your expectations, servicing your needs, keeping your safe and delivering value for money adventure experience are our priorities. Taking on an adventure can sometimes seem a bit daunting, so one of our most important qualities is that we are approachable and always available to answer any questions or provide advice – with us, you’ll always get a personalised level of service.

• We provide experienced local New South Wales professional guides with local knowledge and experience
• Our Six Foot Track trek has a maximum of 11 people or less
• We only work with the best operators and suppliers in New South Wales
• You’ll get a very high level of service because you are guided and looked after by business stakeholders
• We are qualified personal trainers and can get you ready for your adventure with an individual training program
• All our guides hold first aid qualifications and can provide wilderness rescue
• All our adventures have formulated operational plans for emergencies or evacuations
• We are fully licensed and accredited in the areas of our adventure operations.

• Australian professional guides with extensive outdoor and adventure experience
• Transport to and from The Six Foot Track – Katoomba to Jenolan Caves and Explorer’s Tree to Katoomba
• Shared open cabin style accommodation at the private Six Foot Track Eco Lodge on Saturday night
• 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)
• 20-litre daypack if required
• Wet weather multi-fit poncho if required
• 11oz ceramic Peak Potential Adventures mug
• Personal support and leadership on the trek
• Emergency remote communications and group first aid kit.

• Accommodation at Katoomba on Friday night before the trek
• Alcoholic drinks and beverages at the eco lodge on Saturday night
• Lunch on Sunday because we are usually at Explorer’s Tree by lunchtime.

Testimonials of others are important when you are considering taking on an adventure either here in Australia or in another part of the world. We pride ourselves on not just ensuring our clients succeed in fulfilling their adventure dreams safely, but we also ensure they have a positive experience from the time they sign up to one of our adventures, to when they arrive home.

Please refer to the testimonials page on our website.

If you have driven up to Katoomba on Friday night, you will be able to leave your vehicle on Edwards St out the front of the Katoomba Polie Station. Over the years, plenty of vehicles have been parked here, and there have been no incidents. Our private bus will follow you down from out the front of the Carrington Hotel to Edwards St if you stayed up the top end of Katoomba, or alternatively, the bus can meet you on Edwards St if that is closer to where your accommodation is. You can send us an SMS just letting us know that is where you’d prefer the bus to meet you. We will send out an email a week before the trek just outlining the meeting place arrangements and where you can leave your car. You can also approach the accommodation provider who you stayed with to see if you can leave your vehicle there.

We can also meet you at Jenolan Caves if you can get public transport to Jenolan Caves on Friday. This is an excellent option as you can do a caves tour and have a sleep in on Saturday morning, so it’s worth considering it if you have Friday free from other commitments.

At the end of the trek, we will take you back into Katoomba from Explorers Tree to your vehicle.

Please feel free to contact us if you require any assistance or more detailed information.

Fitness Grade: Low-Moderate

You should be able to walk at least 8-9 hours the first day with a light daypack weighing up to 4kg. The second day is 5-6 hours.

Anyone should be able to undertake The Six Foot Track with a basic 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 through various stages of the track, or to the ecolodge to rest up for the final day. The first day is generally the toughest part of the trek as it is an 8-9 hour day depending on the team’s speed covering a distance of 30km. The second day back to Katoomba will be around 5-6 hours trekking depending on the team’s speed, but the last hill up through Nellie Glen will test you. To complete the 45km over the two days, we suggest you will need a moderate level of fitness and endurance.

We are qualified Personal Trainers, so we will assess your current fitness levels and provide a training program that would be suited to complete this trek comfortably. If you are unsure, please contact the Peak Potential Adventures team to discuss your situation and to see if this adventure is suited to you.

(Most of your gear will be carried in the support vehicle that will follow the team over the two days, so it is walking without any weight. Times will vary depending on the team’s speed).

This trek spends the night at the Six Foot Track Eco Lodge on Coxs River, so think of your gear requirements in two parts. One part for around the eco lodge accommodation after the first day of trekking, and the other part for the two days of trekking themselves.

Please also remember that the support vehicle will be carrying your overnight gear, so please bring enough clothes and toiletries to be comfortable.

• Comfortable hiking or walking shoes (please make sure that have good tread for steep downhill sections)
• Comfortable socks for 2 days walking
• Trekking shirt and pants preferably wicking material
• Warm jacket and pants
• Toiletries
• Sun hat
• Sunglasses (preferably polarised)
• Personal towel
• Linen, doona and pillow WILL BE supplied at the eco lodge, so you won’t need to bring sleeping gear
• Daypack with rain cover and a 2-3 litre water bladder if it has one (We can provide a 20 litre Denali pack if you don’t have one)
• A 2 or 3 litre water bladder for your daypack, or a 1-litre water bottle. (We will provide water refills as required)
• We will provide a mug for hot drinks
• Rain gear (We can provide a rain poncho that is multi-fit if you don’t have one)
• Snacks (We will provide plenty of snacks, but you may have a personal favourite chocolate bar etc.)
• Sunscreen (We will provide a large pump dispenser, but you may wish to carry your own personal tube
• Hand sanitiser (We will provide a large pump dispenser, but you may wish to carry your own personal tube)
• The senior guide will be carrying a well equipped first aid kit during the day treks, but some basic personal first aid items like bandaids, panadol and ibuprofen are always handy to have on you.

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.) – 6:15 AM
• Trek start time (Saturday) (Jenolan Caves) – 8:00 AM – 8:30 AM
• Trek finish first day (Saturday) (Jenolan Caves to Coxs River) – Between 4:00 PM – 5:30 PM (about 8-9 hours trekking).
• Trek start the second day (Sunday) – 7:30 AM
• Trek finish second day (Sunday) (Coxs River to Explorers Tree) – On or before 1:30 PM (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 Darren 0410 569 692 or Shane 0422 256 192 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 around 45 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 [email protected]

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BOOKING TERMS AND CONDITIONS

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