The longest hiking trail in Western Sydney, the Great West Walk, has more than doubled in length to 140km, making it possible to walk from Parramatta in the city to Katoomba in the Blue Mountains along a single trail!

The Great West Walk Extension is Officially Open!

The new section of the Great West Walk stretches from Katoomba to Emu Plains and was mapped out by The Walking Volunteers group, who are currently undertaking the inaugural hike of the new trail! 

NSW Minister for Infrastructure, Cities, and Active Transport, The Hon. Rob Stokes MP, has just met the hikers during their traverse and officially opened the new section of trail. 

‘Whether you walk 30 minutes or 30 kilometres along this incredible trail, projects like this offer immeasurable community benefits,’ he said.

What to Expect on The Great West Walk

The trail extension winds through an array of environments and landscapes – from Sydney’s urban centres, public parklands, and the oldest architecture in the country, into the serene natural beauty of the Blue Mountains escarpments, undulating valleys, pristine waterways, and endless mountain views. 

‘The 80km walk through the Blue Mountains is the perfect end to a journey that starts in Parramatta – although walkers may decide to start in the Blue Mountains and head down, rather than up the 1,000m elevation,’ said Blue Mountains City Mayor, Mark Greenhill.

‘Either way, the walk will offer an exceptional walking experience.’

The previously 60km trail meandered from Parramatta to Penrith, in the foothills of the Blue Mountains, but now the track involves a great deal more elevation as it climbs into one of the state’s most beloved natural regions. 

‘The inaugural Great West Walk from Katoomba to Penrith is the fulfilment of a dream the Walking Volunteers have had for many years to proof-walk and provide online maps for a walking route from Parramatta to Katoomba,’ said The Walking Volunteers secretary, Bill Avery.

‘Over 900,000 people have accessed these maps since 2019 (when the original trail opened)…We hope that our maps will encourage more people to visit and re-visit the Blue Mountains including the lesser-known sections that have so many reminders of our Indigenous and colonial history,’ he said. 

So, who’s heading out this weekend?