5 SPOTS TO VISIT IN GLENBROOK, BLUE MOUNTAINS NATIONAL PARK

“BE THANKFUL FOR YOUR LIFE, SPEND TIME IN NATURE, BREATHE DEEPLY, LET GO OF YOUR WORRIES, AND BUILD YOUR LIFE AROUND WHAT YOU LOVE”

Glenbrook is a beautiful little mountains village with its own spectacular corner of the Blue Mountains National Park offering excellent bike trails, bush-walking, camping and natural beauty.

Half the distance of Katoomba, Glenbrook is nestled at the bottom of the Blue Mountains only 10 minutes passed Penrith with an easy drive up the M4 & Great Western Highway. From Glenbrook train station it is only 1.5KM to the entrance of the National Park making it easy for those using public transport.

The entrance to the National Park is at the end of Bruce Road, where there is a ranger’s hut and visitors center. It’s approximately $8 a car per day. You are able to park on the streets outside the park for free if you’re planning to explore most of the park on foot. Inside the park there are paved roads in popular areas and well-maintained fire trails elsewhere for those driving, and plenty of tracks for bush-walkers and trail runners.

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Jellybean Pool

One of the more popular areas is Jellybean Pool which is the first road on the left before you descend down the causeway. Everything is well sign posted in this park, so you’ll have no troubles finding your way around.

Jellybean Pool is a peaceful swimming hole with soft sand banks and beautiful bush encasing it; making it perfect for picnics and a swimming on hot days.

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Red Hands Cave

If you decide to walk the park, the next stop I’d recommend is Red Hands Cave. Thought to have been painted between 500 and 1600 years ago, it is one of the best showcases of Aboriginal rock art in the area.

The walking track leading to the cave can be found at the bottom of the causeway on the right hand-side once you’ve crossed over the river. For those driving the park, the access by car is a lot further into the National Park (around 10KM). There is an outdoor toilet and picnic tables at the Red Hands car park if you want to stop for a quick toilet break.

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Crayfish Pool

If you find Jellybean Pool too crowded, I can guarantee you’re more than likely to have Crayfish Pool all to yourself. Located off the fire trail heading down to Red Hands Cave car park. About 4KM down the road, you may notice a slight widening in the road made for one or two cars to park. This is the entrance to the track. It’s very concealed, so if you miss it, you’ll hit Red Hands car park, where you can park the car and walk back up the road around 15 minutes.

As mentioned, it is a very concealed entrance, so keep your eyes peeled. Last time I went passed I noticed some rocks strategically placed on top of one another to indicate the entrance to the trail. The track may be a little over grown, but just follow your instincts and they will lead you to the pool. There are a few small sand banks for you to sit along and have a break, but you may feel more inclined to have a swim and get a closer look at the small waterfall.

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Tunnel View Lookout

If you ended up driving out to Red Hands Cave, you may have noticed the turn off for Mount Portal Lookout on the way. Another fairly easy one to navigate, but be prepared, there is a very steep part of this track. If you’re not confident your car can make it up, best park it down the bottom and walk up. It’s a killer but the view is well worth it!

Once you reach the top of the climb (and you’ll know it when you have), Tunnel View Lookout is directly in front. The road does bend around to the right taking you to Mount Portal, but since you’ve made the trek up here, check out Tunnel View Lookout as well. If you time it right, you might actually see a train coming along the cliff edge in front of you. It’s a cool to witness. It actually looks as if the train is floating on air!

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Mount Portal

As mentioned, when you hit the top of the steep 500M climb, the road bends around to the right, this is the way to go to Portal Lookout.

This would have to be my favourite lookout in the park, offering stunning gorge and river views. This area is wheelchair accessible and also a popular spot for abseiling and climbing.

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For those interested in camping, there is the popular Euroka Clearing where you’ll find a green valley suitable for camping and some barbecues, and maybe even a resident kangaroo or two!

There are many more areas to explore in this part of the Blue Mountains National Park, so for maps and more information head to http://www.nationalparks.nsw.gov.au/ or just ask at the visitor’s center upon arrival.

Gates to the park open at 8:30AM and close around 6:00PM depending on what time of year you visit. If you’re unsure, just check with the ranger when entering the park.

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Does anyone else frequent the Glenbrook National Park? Where are your favourite spots?

Be sure to follow my adventures on my Instagram!!

15 Comments Add yours

  1. Nepean lookout nice and jack Evans track. Also pisgah Rock walking track at the end there is a cave with a little note book you can sign.
    Oaks trail is a nice bike ride too.
    I once walked along breakfast creek but I got such a bad feeling it gave me the creeps.

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    1. Cheers Chris! I’ve done Jack Evans Track on a few occasions, though haven’t ventured down to Nepean Lookout yet. Haven’t heard of Pisgah Rock Walking track! Sounds great! Is that along the road heading out to Jack Evans Track/Nepean Lookout. I run Woodford to Glenbrook down the Oaks trail from time to time. Great training run! Thanks for the recommendations. There’s so much to see in such a small part of the Blue Mountains National Park 🙂

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      1. Yeah Pisgah is maybe a few km before jack Evans track. I did a bit of trail running on the Oaks as well but got a little dehydrated and my leg cramped up after 22km so I hobbled home the next 7km. After that I kept to 10km runs. I’m more support for my mate when he does the 6ft track or honslow classic runs.
        Narrowneck at Katoomba is a good run or hike 20km return from the carpark. If the weathers too hot in Glenbrook that’s were I head or blackheath.

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      2. Awesome! Definitely going to check it out! Thanks heaps. I’m actually doing a night run at Narrowneck in a few weeks. Really excited for it. It’s great heading higher into the mountains when the weather gets warmer. Love the change in scenery. Doing the UTA 50 next year, so need to get a lot of training in for that!

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      3. I’m backing in training for the 800km Camino walk across Spain next year so our paths might cross in Glenbrook, Katoomba or blackheath. I’ll lookout for someone much fitter than me lol

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      4. 800KM!? THAT’S INCREDIBLE!! Good luck with your training. That will be one heck of an experience 🙂

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      5. Good luck with your training to.
        I have more info about The 270km I completed back in 2014 I’ll tell you now I’m no writer, more photography and video but WordPress is a good place to link Facebook YouTube Instagram and Google+ once I learn them all and have them renamed to ChrisOsborneAdventures.

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      6. I’m still learning too! Have yet to delve into Youtube and Google+ but I will in time 🙂 Oh awesome! I’ll defs check it out. Sounds wicked!

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  2. So beautiful. I’d love to do some trail running/exploring there if I’m lucky enough to visit your part of the world.

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    1. I hope you get a chance to visit soon Caroline! 🙂

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  3. cedricramey says:

    Hey thanks for the follow! Great and post blog!

    Liked by 1 person

  4. snowgood says:

    Looks fabulous.

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  5. I absolutely loved the Blue Mountains when I visited last year. My mum’s childhood friend lives there and it was a joy to see her and to explore the beautiful area she lives in. I didn’t see Glenbrook though, so that is definitely on the list for next time 🙂

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    1. Oh that’s lovely! Yes, definitely need to put Glenbrook on the list 🙂

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