Nepean lookout

Nepean lookout is a natural viewpoint above Fairlight Gorge and the Nepean River in the Glenbrook area. The river bends below steep, tree-lined sandstone walls, with the lower Blue Mountains beyond. It is a worthwhile pause on the Glenbrook drive: the track from the car park is short and easy, but the lookout itself is unfenced. Keep children close and stay well back from the edge. From the viewing area, try to fit both the river and the gorge walls in one frame; that shows the landscape the river has carved.

The quick walk comes at the end of a much longer approach. From Glenbrook, directions follow about 8 km of The Oaks Trail and then roughly 4 km on Nepean Lookout Trail. The approach is unsealed, though it is listed for 2WD and all-weather access. The visitor information lists a car park but no toilet or drinking water, so bring a drink and sort out facilities before setting off. Pets are not permitted in the park, except certified assistance animals.

The Nepean River carved its way through the sandstone over millions of years, leaving the steep-sided Fairlight Gorge below the lookout. The view makes that story easy to read: the river runs between wooded ridges, with the exposed gorge walls visible through the trees.

Look around the approach as well as out over the valley. Angophoras grow near the lookout, their smooth bark a salmon colour, and spring brings colour and fragrance to the surrounding heath. Silvereyes, thornbills and striated pardalotes are among the small birds often seen moving through the trees.