Gordon Falls picnic area

Gordon Falls Reserve is a council-managed picnic area and playground in Leura, just outside Blue Mountains National Park's formal boundary. Tables, barbecues, open grass and a play area make it a good stop for a family lunch or a breather between walks.

There are picnic tables, public toilets and parking. Bring your own food; this is a picnic stop rather than a dependable café stop.

The reserve is a useful base for nearby walks, including Lyrebird Dell and Pool of Siloam. It also sits at the handoff between the first and second days of the Grand Cliff Top Walk, so it works as a picnic stop or a place to begin or finish a longer outing.

Gordon Falls lookout is reached by a short but stair-heavy track from the reserve. From there, the falls drop about 200 m into the valley, with the cliffs of Sublime Point across the view. The cascade can appear distant or partly hidden, so think of this as a broad valley lookout more than a close waterfall stop.

Peregrine falcons may circle on the valley thermals, and lyrebirds are often seen foraging in the forest litter. Neither is guaranteed, but they give you a reason to take your time once you leave the picnic lawn.