FITNESS
Low-Moderate
DURATION
2 Days Total
COST
$550.00
Only a 50% part payment is required to secure your position unless the trek date is within 60 days and then the full payment is required. If the trek date is not guaranteed to depart yet, please do not book pre-trek accommodation until we have confirmed the date with a G beside the date. Your funds will be held in our adventure holding account until guaranteed.
Six Foot Track Overview and Itinerary
TREK OVERVIEW
Let us take you on a professionally guided and fully supported two-day trek of the historic Six Foot Track in the Blue Mountains. This trek would be regarded as one of New South Wales most iconic overnight treks. 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 trek 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 trek is both challenging and fun based on the program that Peak Potential Adventures has designed. Because this trek 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 trek.
The Six Foot Track is an adventure that delivers a remarkable experience of a historic Australian trek. 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 treks 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 Kilimanjaro in Tanzania, the Overland Track in Tasmania, or Everest Base Camp in Nepal.
The Six Foot Track will provide a good introduction to endurance trekking and if completed, participants will be prepared mentally and physically for bigger multi-day treks. The trek 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 trekkers 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
- Walk through 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 - JENOLAN CAVES TO COXS RIVER
Day 1 – Saturday – Meet in Katoomba 6:15 AM and the private bus will drive the team to Jenolan Caves
Jenolan Caves to Coxs River
Trekking 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: ecolodge – 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 trek 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 trek will start at around 8:00 AM from 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 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 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 of 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 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 just sit and relax, the choice is yours.
DAY 2 - COXS RIVER TO EXPLORER’S TREE
Day 2 – Sunday – Coxs River to Explorer’s Tree (Katoomba)
Trekking 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 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.
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.
Additional Information
WHY TREK WITH US?
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.
TREK INCLUSIONS
- 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 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
- 600ml aluminium water bottle
- 12oz enamel Peak Potential Adventures retro camp mug
- Personal support and leadership on the trek
- Emergency remote communications and group first aid kit.
TREK EXCLUSIONS
- 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
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.
TRANPORT ARRANGEMENTS
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 REQUIREMENTS
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 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.
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 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).
EQUIPMENT REQUIREMENTS
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 and a water bladder if it has one (We can provide a 20 litre Denali pack if you don’t have one)
- We will provide a 600ml aluminium water bottle
- We will provide an enamel camp 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).
IMPORTANT TIMES
- 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).
SIX FOOT TRACK HISTORY
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 REGULATIONS
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.
FURTHER INFORMATION?
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]
You can also get in contact with us on our Facebook and Instagram feeds.
Alternatively, please click here to go through to our contact page.
BOOKING CONDITIONS
Please ensure that you read our booking terms and conditions below.
FAQ’S
If there’s a question that we haven’t covered for you, we are just an email or phone call away.
How often do you run the trek?
The trek will usually depart monthly.
Because of high temperatures in the Blue Mountains and fire risks, we generally cease operating our Six Foot Track trek over the hotter summer months. Please also check our Facebook and Instagram feeds because we also announce new trek dates there as well.
How hard is the trek?
The trek itself is not considered all that difficult. There are some challenging sections as you get closer to Coxs River of the first day, and on the last day as you make your way up the escarpment to finish the trek at Explorers Tree. There is a fair bit of downhill walking on the first day, which we believe is better than going uphill, which is why we are able to comfortably do the trek in two days, vs three days going from Katoomba to Jenolan Caves. There is a support vehicle with the team for most of the way, so this is considered a trek that most people could actually attempt. Our biggest recommendation is to wear very comfortable walking shoes or boots.
What is the accommodation like on Saturday night?
The Six Foot Track Eco Lodge accommodation on Coxs River is a dorm style large room with double bunks. For privacy and comfort. we generally book the 12 person cabin just for our team. Because the eco lodge is limited in communication and gets busy during parts of the season, this arrangement is subject to change. If the accommodation arrangements are changed by the eco lodge and we don't get the private cabin, we will compensate you accordingly with a discount voucher that can be used on any of our treks by you, family or friends. The shower and toilet are outside but are well maintained, clean and private. The showers are very basic and it's generally cold water. Many trekkers elect to go for a swim in Coxs River if we arrive with plenty of daylight hours to spare and the weather is warm enough.
What type of food do we eat?
There will be plenty of food on the trek. You will receive a snack pack on the morning that we leave Jenolan Caves that will contain snack type foods and fruit that you can eat during the day. We have designed this snack pack as an energy supplement on top for the main meals that are served during the trek. For morning tea, we will serve tea and coffee and snacks. For lunch on the first day, we provide packed sandwiches and also serve tea and coffee.
On Saturday night for dinner, our hosts at the Six Foot Track Eco Lodge Pavel & Lucie will cater for dinner that is generally a slow-cooked goulash with rice and potato. Sunday morning breakfast is also catered by the ecolodge with a buffet style hot breakfast that is pretty amazing. You will also be provided with additional snack foods to get you through to the end of the trek. Morning tea will also be served at Megalong Valley, but because we usually arrive at Explorers Tree around 1:00 PM, lunch is not provided. Most people either get some lunch in Katoomba, or stop on the way home for the food of their choice after a weekend of trekking.
If you have a dietary requirement, we will cater for you with yummy alternatives, so please make sure that you let us know about your dietary requirements on the adventure booking form. You will be taken through to our adventure booking form after you check out and pay for the trek.
What facilities are at the Six Foot Track Eco Lodge?
The eco lodge serves alcoholic beverages.
There is no mobile phone reception at the ecolodge.
Why use Peak Potential Adventures?
Our guides and the way we run our trek are second to none. You will only get very experienced guides on our treks that you can trust. We pride ourselves on ensuring that everyone has a positive, rewarding and safe experience. We leave nothing to chance in our preparation and are always thinking about our client's safety and enjoyment during the trek.
How many people on this trek?
This trek is limited to a maximum of 12 people.
Can I trek safely if I have allergies or a medical condition?
It all depends on the allergy or the medical condition, but we would strongly suggest that you speak to your doctor first before making a booking. If it is a food allergy, that will be no problem because that can be catered for by the ecolodge or ourselves who will be preparing our food. Please just let us know on the adventure booking form so we can make adjustments and arrange alternatives for what you can't eat.
Can I pay a deposit and pay the rest before departure?
Yes, we only require a 50% part payment to secure your position on the trek if the trek is more than 60 days out with the full balance payable 60 days before departure. If the trek is departing within 60 days, full payment will be required when you book.
Is there a credit and debit card payment surcharge?
Yes, if you book using the credit or debit card Stripe payment gateway, there will be a 1.6% surcharge. You can avoid this 1.6% surcharge by electing to either do a bank transfer or to be issued an invoice in the payment options.
What happens to my payment?
When you book an adventure with us, your funds go into an adventure holding bank account until such time the adventure is definitely guaranteed to start. If an adventure does not go ahead for some reason like bad weather, or not enough participants, we will refund you in full. Please also read our full booking terms and conditions.
What happens if I need to cancel?
If you cannot participate in the trek for which you have paid, you will receive a credit for 24 months to join another Six Foot Track trek over that period.
Please read our booking terms and conditions for specific policy details.
Will I get access to photos and media content?
Yes, any photos that are taken by the Peak Potential Adventures team during the trek will be shared with you via Dropbox. This is a free file/folder sharing service up to 2GB which is usually enough space for any photos that we have taken during the trek. If the photo folder is more than 2GB, we will reduce the quality of the photos. The quality will still be more than enough to share on social media etc.
If you don't already have a Dropbox account, please click here to go through to their signup page. We would recommend using the same email address to signup that you used on the trek booking form because we will generally use that email address when we share the photo folder. Once you have shared access to the photo folder, you will be able to download any photos in that folder. We will usually delete the folder after a month after the trek to free up our available file storage.
Only a 50% part payment is required to secure your position unless the trek date is within 60 days and then the full payment is required.
What Our Guests Say
