Perrys Lookdown to Blue Gum Forest walking track

This is about a 5.3 km return walk from Perrys Lookdown down to the edge of Blue Gum Forest, then back up the same route. The mapped line is 2.67 km each way; some published summaries list 4 km, so plan for the longer mapped distance. Allow 3 to 4 hours. It is a Grade 4 walk for experienced bushwalkers, with a hard climb on the way back. The mapped route ends at the forest edge; Acacia Flat and the Grose River are a separate continuation.

Pause at Perrys Lookdown for the wide view across Grose Valley, Mount Banks and the blue-gum canopy below. The track then leaves the ridge, passes a large swamp and drops down the cliff line. Expect a long, steep run of uneven steps on rough ground. The main effort comes on the return, when you climb those steps back to the lookout. For a photo, include both the canopy below and Mount Banks across the valley so the view has scale.

The payoff is a stand of tall Deane’s blue gums on the valley floor. Bushwalkers pooled money in the 1930s to save the forest from logging, making this more than a scenic turn-around. Listen for bell miners among the trees; red-headed gang-gangs and yellow-tailed black cockatoos are also noted around the walk.

From Blackheath, Hat Hill Road becomes Perrys Lookdown Road; the final access road is unsealed and can become boggy after rain. Parking is available at Perrys Lookdown. Bring your own drinking water, a topographic map and a compass or GPS; a personal locator beacon is recommended. Pets and domestic animals are not allowed, except certified assistance animals. If the steep descent is more than you want, the lookout itself gives you the valley view without the climb.