The walk from Narrow Neck to Castle Head Lookout is a relatively easy bushwalk that leads to a secluded lookout with spectacular views.
The first part of the track follows the Narrow Neck Trail before branching into thick bushland, where several vantage points offer great opportunities to take in the views.
| Narrow Neck to Castle Head Lookout | |
|---|---|
| Distance: | 4.5 km (return) |
| Time: | 1.5 hours |
| Grade: | Easy / moderate (some steps) |
| Dogs: | Not allowed |
| Maps: |  PDF map |
 Interactive map |
|
Getting There
The Narrow Neck Peninsula is a plateau southwest of Katoomba, separating the Jamison Valley to the east from the Megalong Valley to the west.
Glenraphael Drive provides access to the plateau from Cliff Drive near Scenic World. To get there, turn off the Great Western Highway at Katoomba and follow the signs to Scenic World. Continue along Cliff Drive, then turn left onto Glenraphael Drive.
Follow this unsealed road for about 2.6 km until you reach a car park at a gate, just past the Golden Stairs signpost. This is the last car park along this road.
Below is a map of the walk from the car park to the lookout.
Track Notes
This is a relatively short and easy walk (4.5 km return) along a well-defined track that’s easy to follow. There are some steps in the second half, but the incline isn’t too steep.
We recommend wearing comfortable sneakers or hiking shoes for better grip on the bush track. The lookout at the end makes for a great picnic spot, so consider bringing some food if you’d like to relax and take in the views.
1. Narrow Neck Trail
From the car park, head past the gate and start hiking along the Narrow Neck Fire Trail.
As a fire trail, the path is fairly wide and quite rocky. It’s popular with both hikers and cyclists, some of whom continue all the way to the end of the plateau, about 10 km further south.
Around 800 metres in, you’ll see a signposted path to the left marked as Castle Head Track. Follow this trail to continue to Castle Head Lookout.
2. Castle Head
You might notice that the signpost indicates this is a two-hour return hike to the lookout, but that estimate isn’t very accurate. It takes about 30 minutes to reach the lookout from here.
The path starts with a short uphill climb via a series of steps and a narrow track, followed by a brief downhill section.
After about 500 metres of walking through bushland, the track opens onto a spacious rocky platform with fantastic views of the Three Sisters and the Jamison Valley.
This is one of those unofficial lookouts where you’re unlikely to see anyone else, despite the incredible views.
From here, it’s another 800 metres to reach the main attraction: the lookout at the southern tip of Castle Head. The vegetation along the way is a mix of low trees, bushes, and heath, creating a pleasant bushwalking environment.
Just before reaching the lookout, the trail passes an old trig station marking the highest point of the headland.
As you approach the lookout, Mount Solitary comes into view, with the Jamison Valley stretching out to the left and Cedar Creek Valley to the right.
The Cedar Creek Valley lies between the southern end of the Narrow Neck Peninsula and Castle Head. Straight ahead, you’ll spot the Ruined Castle, which from this distance appears as little more than a cluster of rocks.
If it’s your first time visiting, you might find yourself lingering here for a while because the views are truly spectacular.
When you’re ready to leave, simply retrace your steps along the same path back to the car park.
Nearby lookouts:
