Pulpit Rock Lookout in Blue Mountains Australia
Pulpit Rock Lookout is my top favorite place in Sydney. When we were standing on the cliff, we were completely shocked by the almost 360-degree spectacular view of Blue Mountains National Park. It is part of the Blue Mountains National Park, where is one of UNESCO World Heritage.
It is a memorable experience to release our stress here by shouting as loud as we can on this non-touristy place. See below to know why you should add Pulpit Rock Lookout on your Sydney trip and guides to this place.
Detail Information of Pulpit Rock Lookout
| Cost | |
| Entrance | : Free |
| Transport | : By car (AU$60 per day – Jucy Car Rental) |
| : By public transportation (about AU$16 per person per day, check the daily cap spending for public transportation in New South Whales) | |
| Physical Requirement if by Car | |
| Trekking | : Easy grade |
| Suitable for | : Everyone (go with your baby, lover, the elderly or friends) |
| Distance of one way | : 400m from carpark |
| Duration of one way | : 15 mins from carpark |
| Physical Requirement if by Public Transportation | |
| Trekking | : Medium grade |
| Suitable for | : Anyone who can trek for 3 to 4 Hours |
| Distance of trekking | : 7.5km |
| Duration of trekking | : 3 to 4 hours |
| How to Go | : Recommend going by rental car. Required longer walk if go by public transportation |
| When to Go | : Non-rainy day |
| What to Worry | : Check the weather before you go. The road will become boggy if raining |
| What to Bring | : Water, hat, and sunscreen |
Why We Go Pulpit Rock Lookout
Generally, when planning a trip to the Blue Mountains, you will visit Echo Point, Jenolan Caves and Three Sisters based on the internet search results or following the best tour. So, does everyone go. These sceneries are iconic, but we love lesser-known beautiful spot. For us, the view of Pulpit Rock Lookout is even better. The most important things are we avoid the crowds, enjoy the awesome views and took plenty of stunning photos. Unexpectedly, we stayed there for an hour but only met one Aussie family, it was pretty awesome.
How To Go Pulpit Rock Lookout
Overview of Route
Faster and Better Way To Go Pulpit Rock Lookout By Renting A Car
We’ve spent 3 days in New South Wales with our mothers. They need a good rest as they are older adults and elderly. We can’t say to mums we would be sleeping in a dorm room to save more for travelling. So, we stayed in better and cheaper place overnight in Nightcap at Jamison Hotel in between of Sydney and Blue Mountains National Park since we had our best transportation (car rental: JUCY) and our wallets won’t bleed.
Renting a car is the fastest and best way to get from Sydney to Pulpit Rock Lookout. We spent AU$60 per day for renting a car, insurance, and gasoline, it just cost us AU$15 each person a day only! I hate driving, but I love driving in Australia and New Zealand so much! The landscape always surprises me along the way.
We went to Govetts Leap Lookout before visiting Pulpit Rock Lookout. The distance between Pulpit Rock Lookout and Govetts Leap Lookout is 8.6 KM. The last 2 to 3KM of the road before arriving at the lookout is a gravel road. And so, travel bus cannot enter this place and fewer tourists will come. But we no need to worry about it as we had checked today weather forecast in the early morning to know if we can go to this place. It was a sunny day and the following trip is full of adventurous smell.
By Public Transportation From Sydney Central Station
First of all, buy the Opal Card. This card is very useful when travelling in New South Wales (NSW) by public transportation, and it has a daily cap on the usage of this card.
After you have a deep breath at Govetts Leap Lookout, follow the lead of Govetts Walk and Pulpit Rock Track (3.5km). You will find the Pulpit Rock Lookout at the end of the walk. Do have a rest there on the bench to enjoy the spectacular view.
When you decide to go back, go to the other road and walk 400m to the car park area. After that, you need to walk another 3.5km along the Pulpit Rock Road and Hat Hill Road until you reach the junction of Hat Hill Road and Robb Avenue. Continue by taking the bus 698 back to the Blackheath Station. Be sure to check the timetable for the last bus unless you prepared camping gears on the campground.
Three Sisters Blue Mountains is located at 110 minutes driving distance from the Sydney town area. Pulpit Rock Lookout is just 15 minutes longer from there. It would be better to go by rental car or campervan as you not only have control over your time but also visit several spots on a day.
It Is Definitely Worth the Dirt And Bumpy Ride!
Govetts Leap Fall
From the Govetts Leap Lookout, you will see the beautiful sandstone escarpments extend out from left and right in order and the deep canyons of the Grose Valley in between them. And there is a 180 meters high slender waterfall which is the tallest waterfall in Blue Mountains National Park. Greats scenery, but the view is limited.
We didn’t come here on the suggested best timing (sunset) to view the Blue Mountains. But there were many cars here in this huge car park, many tourists, and tours around. Moreover, it’s fine to us as they were dispersed by the plenty of points to see the same scenery. I think there will be a busy place during the weekend.
After that, we all went to the washroom. Why did I need to say that? As we checked, there is no washroom facility in Pulpit Rock Lookout. And then we backed to our rental car and hit the road.
Pulpit Rock Lookout, We're Coming!
Finally, we reached Pulpit Rock Lookout! It was out of my expectation as I thought there would be asphalt parking lots and some locals coming here. But it is just a little parking area on mud with only a car over there. There is a signboard says “400M 15mins one-way easy grade” to Pulpit Rock Lookout. We laughed at each other and said this time we need 25 minutes. Maybe our legs are shorter as we found out we always took longer time than the google map estimated, so is it.
On the way to the lookout, eucalyptus forest surrounded us. Some lovely plants’ flower looks like a big bottle brush. Along the way is gravel road too and staircase. It was dry. Maybe the day before we came also a sunny day.
Ryan’s mother felt tired and asked if we need to walk back on this road later. Fortunately, the distance is only 400 meters. It is harder for the elders to keep climbing on the staircase. We comforted her not to worry since we had enough time to go back and almost there.
After that, we saw a huge blade of sandstone extending from the edge of the mountain. That is Pulpit Rock Lookout. It is fully surrounded by the fence and going down 45-degree steps to the end. The full view of Blue Mountains is incredibly amazing. The sandstone escarpment is wearing long eucalyptus green ball gown and covered by mysterious blue tulle. They are standing together quietly in a distance. You may not be able to imagine its grandeur, but when you’re here, this epic view offers you magnificent landscapes.
Escape From the Crowds
A young Aussie family with a kid on hand and holding a little girl was very surprised to see us on Pulpit Rock Lookout. He said usually no tourist come here as the condition of the road and less information. They actually don’t know this place but the Three Sisters only. His friend shared him this lookout after he told his friend he was planning a short trip to the Blue Mountains. This was his second time here as he really loves this place. So do I! We were happy to hear this story, so we could enjoy this amazing view here without interrupting by tourists.
Nobody else there after they left. We can shout, take whatever photos we like, and slowly walk down the terrifying almost 45-degree steps to the end of the lookout. I was the first to step on it. I’m not acrophobia, but my legs had gone limp when going down as I can see the rock below the steps. That’s so terrible! Need some time to go down. But that’s okay, we were not in hurry. We stayed there for an hour to enjoy. Although it sounds quite far from the Sydney city, it is so worth the dirt road and bumpy ride!
Best Time To Pulpit Rock Lookout
Cool breezes blow our face when we were sitting there, it was the afternoon at 3 pm in Autumn. It is recommended to come here on this season and spring or get your trekking shoes to walk in Winter. The days are cooler and the rain is easing on this dry autumn season. Winter is the peak tourist season.
If you want to avoid the crowd in the Blue Mountains, I highly recommend coming here on a sunny day between morning and afternoon 4 pm as to see the real Blue Mountains is. Busy and crowded during peak hours sunset.
Do remember to grab some snacks to enjoy here as it would make our trip perfect if having a nice tea time on this isolated pinnacle. After that, we left there at around 4 pm.
Why Does the Blue Mountains Look Bluish?
The Blue Mountains seems covered by the “blue veil”. The blue veil is formed because the atmospheric temperature rise, the essential oil of various Eucalyptus species evaporates and disperse in the air. It is visible blue spectrum of sunlight spreads more than other colors. Therefore, the reflected landscape from mountains seems bluish by human eyes.
Plan After Visiting the Blue Mountains
Leaving Pulpit Rock Lookout, we drove 20 mins to have a great dinner in restaurant Leura Garage in Leura (besides Katoomba) and back to Sydney city.
You could go to Katoomba station where two stops away from Blackheath station to have a fancy dinner in one of the restaurants and stay one night at hotels in Katoomba with a coming fresh morning to explore further on the next day.
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