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Another challenging uphill climb is then tackled with the rise to the
Pluviometer which is situated towards the eastern end of the Black Range ridge. This is followed by a slightly-inclining walk along the ridgeline to the dedicated Black Range Campsite. From here the track crosses then hugs close to
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In 1884 a New South Wales government party marked out a new horse track from
Katoomba across the Coxs River to shorten the journey. The track was constructed to be six feet wide (in order that two loaded drays could pass each other at any point), and was completed at a cost of £2500, although it was
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Although the route was being used as a walking track in the early 1920s, it fell into effective disuse, until reinstated by the
Department of Lands of New South Wales in 1984. Today the Six Foot Track is one of Australia's most iconic and well-known overland tracks.
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in 1991. It was named in honour of CPL Bob
Bowtell a former member of 3 Tp. Bob was born in Katoomba and he died in Vietnam. He was one of the famous 'Tunnel Rats' and he died in a tunnel clearance. His children attended the opening of the bridge in 1992.
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The
Jenolan Caves are a tourist attraction that first became popular in the mid and late nineteenth century. The journey to the caves from Sydney was a long one, though, and even after the western railway was completed to
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floor. Here in the valley the track passes the historical site of the abandoned shale mining
Megalong Village and continues on through farmland past the Megalong Cemetery (this is just off the track).
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The track is best walked in spring or autumn due to the heat and bushfire hazards of summer and the cold nights and rain of winter. The track can be walked in either direction.
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219:. The river is crossed either via ford or by using a suspension bridge, called Bowtells Swing Bridge, built by 3 Troop, the 'Tunnel Rats' of the 1st Field Squadron of the
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A dedicated campsite is available where most people camp the night before the demanding climb up to Mini-Mini Saddle the next morning and then the descent to Alum Creek.
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not until 1937 that the track became known as the Six Foot Track, by which time it was already close to impassable.
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Here is a terrain profile of the walk (via the swing bridge) Starting from the
Katoomba End,
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Jenolan Road before diverting to the final descent to the limestone caves at
Jenolan.
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Sydney and Blue
Mountains Bushwalks, Neil Paton (Kangaroo Press) 2004, pp.240-245
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in 1870, the journey involved a lengthy horse ride from the nearest station at
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Detailed printable maps and track notes for walking the six-foot track
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Self-Guided Six Foot Track Trips With
Optional Hiking Equipment Rental
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Hiking and bushwalking tracks in the Blue Mountains (New South Wales)
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for the track are available from the NSW Department of Lands, maps
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Download and print the full map set on the PDF from wildwalks
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The first recorded journey on the track was in 1887 by the
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Overlooking the Megalong Valley at Nellies Glen lookout
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The track where it passes through the Megalong Valley
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Starting on the western outskirts of Katoomba at the
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98:Black Range, 1,200 m (3,900 ft) approx
260:(8930-3N) cover the entirety of the track. Or
106:Coxs River, 400 m (1,300 ft) approx
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348:Bain, Andrew; et al. (October 2006).
329:Goanna climbing a tree near Six Foot Track
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378:"Tourist Holiday, and Health Resorts"
237:There is a popular running race, the
130:Caves, escarpments, wilderness, fauna
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488:Guided tours for the Six Foot Track
466:, G McDougall, Kangaroo Press, 1992
404:"sixfoot track marathon – history1"
90:1,600 m (5,200 ft) approx
509:On Track Accommodation and Support
484:- maps, videos, photos, tracknotes
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504:Six Foot Track Marathon Website
499:Wall poster for Six Foot Track
452:"Six Foot Track walking track"
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384:. 11 October 1922. p. 4
293:The Explorers Tree, Katoomba
41:44.3 km (27.5 mi)
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305:The track at Nellies Glen
221:Royal Australian Engineers
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239:Six Foot Track Marathon
267:Track terrain profile
350:Walking in Australia
464:NSW Heritage Walks
200:Track description
140:was originally a
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186:NSW Governor
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142:bridle trail
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103:Lowest point
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413:28 February
252:(8930-1S),
335:References
217:Coxs River
111:Difficulty
61:Trailheads
244:Relevant
156:) to the
154:Australia
54:Australia
519:Category
250:Katoomba
171:Bathurst
146:Katoomba
67:Katoomba
46:Location
388:19 July
258:Jenolan
254:Hampton
164:History
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280:Images
175:Tarana
127:Sights
119:Season
114:Medium
80:Hiking
38:Length
144:from
415:2019
390:2022
358:ISBN
136:The
122:All
77:Use
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Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License. Additional terms may apply.
