From Sunrise to Sunset | A day in the Blue Mountains

After leaving Sydney, I spent three nights in Katoomba, where I’d visited on my way up the coast in April. I’d loved the area so much and found there was so much to do and see, that I was keen to come back when I had the chance.

I spent the entire weekend exploring, walking, and admiring, but my favourite day was the one I spent watching the sky and pushing my body to extremes. Thankfully, I had a great base to recover at: No. 14 Lovel Street. No. 14 is a cosy and clean ‘home away from home’ that offers private and dorm rooms at affordable rates. For around $30 a night, I stayed in a five bed dorm, just seven minutes walk from Katoomba train station. This was super ideal for getting around and having a space to relax in between adventures.

I began my day at 5am, when I got up to walk down to Echo Point for the sunrise. From No.14, it was just over half an hour’s walk, which was my only option at that time in the morning. It was a little chilly, but I could see the orange sky burning in this distance, and I was immediately motivated to get down to the lookout. I did the sunrise last time I was here, so I had no doubt it would be worth it.

At Echo Point, I skipped towards the lookout – no other human in sight! Down at the lower lookout were a couple of photographers, but it was still quiet. The three sisters – Katoomba’s iconic rock formation – were still cloaked in darkness, but the sky was brightening, casting orange light onto the cliffs. More people gathered as time went on and the sky changed, the colours growing softer. A woman next to me encouraged the sun, shivering in the breeze. A gold light appeared on the edge of the sisters, and then the sun rose, coming up through the trees. 

As time wore on, I decided to walk to the town centre for a coffee. I was keen to return to Black Cockatoo bakery, where I’d been before and had one of my favourite coffees of our entire trip up the coast. I sat in with an oat flat white, trying to warm up my fingers which were stiff with cold. 

Back at No. 14, I made breakfast, helping myself to some of the provided cereal. Then I got organised to head out to Minnehaha Falls, where I was very excited to explore. In the mountains without a car this time, I was introduced to the public transport system up there. The trains are very useful, coming about every hour or so, and the buses in Katoomba can be quite frequent, if you’re heading to common spots, such as Echo Point, Scenic World, or the station. However, getting out to other areas can be difficult. So, I walked from the hostel to the beginning of the Minnehaha trail, which took about 50 minutes. I promised myself I would make the most of that effort. 

The walk down to the falls is supposedly forty minutes, but I believe it only took me around twenty or so. A little longer including the photography stops. The trees were beautiful, and then there was the view of the falls amongst them, a rainbow glimmering in the water vapour.

The trail was dust, rocks, stone steps, and metal steps. Some were quite steep, but overall it wasn’t difficult. Once I reached the bottom of the falls, there were a few rocks to climb across to reach the pool. Water gushed down the rock face and splashed into the green pool below. Sun glazed several of the larger rocks where a few people were sitting. I spoke with some of the others there who’d been swimming, and asked how deep it was. There are a few rocks just beneath the surface at the edges, but besides that it is reasonably deep, so you could jump in. 

I braced myself for it – the water was cold! But when I did it and fully immersed myself, it felt incredible. I gasped as I came to the surface, and swum quickly to the edge. I went in and out a few times, and more people joined. There was a thrill to it, and we all cheered one another on for our efforts. After a few small swims I had to stop, my body was getting numb. But swimming and floating, gazing up at the water rushing down, was such a wonderful sensation. I felt so connected to the environment, and so grateful to be there. 

I spent a while hanging out at the pool – journaling and eating a packed lunch, soaking up the sunshine to warm me up again. More people joined as the afternoon wore on, and I was glad I’d gotten there that little bit earlier. I was able to experience the pool in peace and with a more social atmosphere. A dragonfly came and perched on my hand awhile and I admired its wings. They were so thin and delicate, but beautiful and strong. 

The walk back up to the trailhead was only about twenty or so minutes again, before the longer walk back through north Katoomba. Back at the hostel, I showered and spent some time chilling out, exhausted from the 25,000 or so steps I’d done already. Another guy who was staying at the hostel joined me where I was relaxing on the veranda, and we chatted for a while about our experiences in the mountains and wider in Australia. 

Later on, I headed out to Cahills Lookout for sunset. The west facing point gets very windy, but it’s worth it for the stunning view of the sun sinking. I admired it with several others, watching as the sky’s colours grew to the deeper, burning tones I’d seen that morning. 

As I rode the bus back to No. 14, the sky continued to bruise the exact colours it had at the beginning of the day. I was delighted that I’d been able to witness it, and so much more.