Fairfax Heritage Circuit Track

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Safer Bushwalks
Before you start any bushwalk ensure you;
• Tell someone you trust where you are going and what to do if you are overdue
• Have adequate equipment, supplies, skills & knowledge for the whole journey
• Consider the impact of weather forecasts, park/track closures & fire dangers
• Can respond to emergencies & call for help at any point
• Are healthy and fit enough for this journey
If not, change plans and stay safe. It is okay to delay and ask people for help.

Getting There

Start	(-33.6305082,150.3067277)
Mode	Bus Car (There is free parking available.)
Directions	From Great Western Highway, A32 Turn on to then drive for 40 m Turn slight right onto Govetts Leap Road and drive for another 2.3 km At roundabout, take exit 1 and drive for another 50 m

Track Notes

Getting started
From the front of the NPWS Heritage Centre, Blackheath, this walk heads along the concrete footpath gently downhill keeping the car park (and Govetts Leap Rd) to your right. The path leads to a 'Fairfax Heritage Track' sign at the lower end of the car park. The track leads left (following the sign), then immediately turns right at the 'The Fairfax Heritage Track' map signto follow the asphalt path. After 40m the path leads past a faint intersection with a dirt track and continues straight ahead winding through the wooded forest for another 100m to find a bench seat. The path bends sharply right and leads gently downhill for 140m where the track bends sharply left. The walk continues to gently meander for about 125m to another bench seat (on your left). Then the track bends sharply right and gently undulates up and down for another 330m to find another bench seat (on the left), just before a three-way intersection with a small dirt track (on the left) and a 'Woodland Retreat' sign. (The 'Woodland Retreat' side track leads about 15m to a small seat, this is a rough dirt track).
From the intersection, this walk leads down along the footpath, leaving the seat, sign and sidetrack behind (on the left). The path soon bends left and after 70m passes through (ignoring) a four-way intersection with a dirt trail. The path leads on for another 75m, bending a few times, to find another bench seat (on the left). From here the path continues to lead (gently undulating) through the forest for another 140m to find yet another bench seat (on your left). Here the track bends sharply to the right and leads gently downhill for 230m to passes through (ignoring) another four-way intersection with a dirt trail marked with a 'Rehabilitation Area - Please Keep Off' sign. The walk then continues downhill along the path for another 220m to find a few picnic tables, a stone picnic shelter at an intersection with a short ramp leading down to the signposted 'George Phillips Lookout' (on your left).....

Turn map	Directions & comments
	Start. After 15 m pass the "Blue Mountains Heritage Centre". W:www.nationalparks.nsw.gov.au Then find the "Free Beacon Hire" (15 m on your left). Free Beacon Hire Free Beacon Hire A Personal Locating Beacon is a hand-held device that, when triggered, sends a message to the emergency services with your location. The emergency services staff can then look at your trip intention forms and decide how best to help you. In the Blue Mountains, you can hire these for no charge, just complete this Trip intention form, and a borrowing form. The device can be picked up from: NPWS Office - Govetts Leap Rd Blackheath - 9am to 4pm 7 days Ph: 02 4787 8877 Katoomba Police Station - 217 Katoomba St Katoomba - Anytime Ph: 02 4782 8199 Springwood Police Station - 4 Jerseywold Avenue Springwood - Anytime Ph: 02 4751 0299 + - A Personal Locating Beacon is a hand-held device that, when triggered, sends a message to the emergency services with your location. The emergency services staff can then look at your trip intention forms and decide how best to help you. In the Blue Mountains, you can hire these for no charge, just complete this Trip intention form, and a borrowing form. The device can be picked up from: NPWS Office - Govetts Leap Rd Blackheath - 9am to 4pm 7 days Ph: 02 4787 8877 Katoomba Police Station - 217 Katoomba St Katoomba - Anytime Ph: 02 4782 8199 Springwood Police Station - 4 Jerseywold Avenue Springwood - Anytime Ph: 02 4751 0299 Then find the "Toilet Accessible" (15 m on your left). Toilet Accessible Toilet Accessible Signposted accessible and general use male and female toilets inside the National Parks Visitor Center. Access (whilst the center is open) via concerete ramp. + - Signposted accessible and general use male and female toilets inside the National Parks Visitor Center. Access (whilst the center is open) via concerete ramp. After another 20 m find the "Picnic Table" (10 m on your right). Picnic Table Picnic Table A series of picnic tables on flat grassy area behind the Visitor centre. No shade. Ramp access via back door of visitor centre. Seats are about 45cm high and tables are 75cm high. + - A series of picnic tables on flat grassy area behind the Visitor centre. No shade. Ramp access via back door of visitor centre. Seats are about 45cm high and tables are 75cm high.
	After another 30 m turn right.
	After another 10 m continue straight.
	After another 6 m turn left.
	After another 30 m turn left.
	After another 25 m continue straight.
	After another 380 m continue straight. Then to find the car park. After another 30 m find the "Wheelchair Rough" (15 m on your left). Wheelchair Rough Wheelchair Rough This walk leads through a gravel carpark for about 60m. The surface in unevean and erroded in places. The gravel is mostly compressed but the surface may soften after prolonged rain. + - This walk leads through a gravel carpark for about 60m. The surface in unevean and erroded in places. The gravel is mostly compressed but the surface may soften after prolonged rain.
	Turn left. After another 15 m find the "Picnic Shelter" (8 m on your left). Picnic Shelter Picnic Shelter Picnic shelters at the end of Govetts Leap Road. Seats are ~45cm high and benches 75cm high. Most shelters have an entrance ~1.2m wide with, and similar gap between table and wall. The largest shelter has an entrance wider than 4m, bench seating but no tables. + - Picnic shelters at the end of Govetts Leap Road. Seats are ~45cm high and benches 75cm high. Most shelters have an entrance ~1.2m wide with, and similar gap between table and wall. The largest shelter has an entrance wider than 4m, bench seating but no tables.
	Continue straight. After another 15 m find the "Toilet Accessible" (15 m on your right). Toilet Accessible Toilet Accessible Signposted accessible and general use male and female toilets. Access via concrete ramp, however, the top of the ramp is accessed via loose gravel carpark with some steep eroded sections. + - Signposted accessible and general use male and female toilets. Access via concrete ramp, however, the top of the ramp is accessed via loose gravel carpark with some steep eroded sections. After another 8 m pass the water tap (15 m on your right). After another 60 m find the "Parking Accessible" (15 m on your left). Parking Accessible Parking Accessible There are two signposted parking places at the lower end of the sealed Fairfax track. Specific parking bays are not marked with lines. The carpark has a loose gravel surfaces with some eroded sections. + - There are two signposted parking places at the lower end of the sealed Fairfax track. Specific parking bays are not marked with lines. The carpark has a loose gravel surfaces with some eroded sections. Then find the "Trip Hazard" (7 m on your left). Trip Hazard Trip Hazard A 5 to 10cm step between carpark and track. Access is between bollards that are 110cm apart. + - A 5 to 10cm step between carpark and track. Access is between bollards that are 110cm apart. After another 210 m find the "Picnic Shelter" (10 m on your left). Picnic Shelter Picnic Shelter Stone shelter at George Phillips Lookout. Timer slat bench seat (46cm high) around the inside wall. Two picnic tables (75cm high) with wheelchair access (no seats on one side). Access to shelter via 1.37cm gap in concrete wall. + - Stone shelter at George Phillips Lookout. Timer slat bench seat (46cm high) around the inside wall. Two picnic tables (75cm high) with wheelchair access (no seats on one side). Access to shelter via 1.37cm gap in concrete wall. Then find the "George Phillips Lookout" (9 m on your left). George Phillips Lookout George Phillips Lookout George Phillips Lookout, Blue Mountains National Park, provides stunning views east into the Grose Valley. The lookout offers views to Pulpit Rock, the horseshoe-shaped gorge and over the deep, green gorges of the Grose Valley to Mount Banks. The lookout is fenced and has a wheelchair accessible ramp. There are a series of picnic tables including a stone shelter just behind the lookout. + - George Phillips Lookout, Blue Mountains National Park, provides stunning views east into the Grose Valley. The lookout offers views to Pulpit Rock, the horseshoe-shaped gorge and over the deep, green gorges of the Grose Valley to Mount Banks. The lookout is fenced and has a wheelchair accessible ramp. There are a series of picnic tables including a stone shelter just behind the lookout.
	After another 200 m continue straight. After another 275 m find the "Seat" (20 m on your right). Seat Seat Timber slat bench seat on outside bend of path. The seat is 41cm high (2.1m wide, 30cm deep) with a 39cm high backrest. + - Timber slat bench seat on outside bend of path. The seat is 41cm high (2.1m wide, 30cm deep) with a 39cm high backrest. After another 90 m find the "Seat" (on your right). Seat Seat Timber slat bench seat on outside bend of path. The seat is 41cm high (2.1m wide, 30cm deep) with a 39cm high backrest. + - Timber slat bench seat on outside bend of path. The seat is 41cm high (2.1m wide, 30cm deep) with a 39cm high backrest.
	After another 130 m continue straight. After another 45 m find the "Seat" (6 m on your right). Seat Seat Timber slat bench seat on outside bend of path. The seat is 41cm high (2.1m wide, 30cm deep) with a 39cm high backrest. + - Timber slat bench seat on outside bend of path. The seat is 41cm high (2.1m wide, 30cm deep) with a 39cm high backrest. After another 275 m find the "Seat" (on your right). Seat Seat Timber slat bench seat on outside bend of path. The seat is 41cm high (2.1m wide, 30cm deep) with a 39cm high backrest. + - Timber slat bench seat on outside bend of path. The seat is 41cm high (2.1m wide, 30cm deep) with a 39cm high backrest. After another 270 m find the "Seat" (on your right). Seat Seat Timber slat bench seat on outside bend of path. The seat is 41cm high (2.1m wide, 30cm deep) with a 39cm high backrest. + - Timber slat bench seat on outside bend of path. The seat is 41cm high (2.1m wide, 30cm deep) with a 39cm high backrest.
	After another 85 m continue straight.
	After another 40 m veer left.
	After another 10 m continue straight.
	After another 6 m turn around.
	After another 6 m come to the end.

Terrain

Fairfax Heritage Circuit Track

Grading

	Class 1/6 Smooth & flat
Length	2.3 km
Time	50 min to 1 h

Quality of track	Smooth and hardened path (1/6)
Gradient	Flat, no steps (1/6)
Signage	Clearly signposted (1/6)
Infrastructure	Generally useful facilities (such as fenced cliffs and seats) (1/6)
Experience Required	No experience required (1/6)
Weather	Weather generally has little impact on safety (1/6)

Some facilities on route

Seat: There are 5 on route, on average they are 380 m apart with the largest gap of 1.3 km.

Order of key facilities on route

Item	From Start	Name & link to notes
Seat	1.3 km	Seat
Seat	1.4 km	Seat
Seat	1.6 km	Seat
Seat	1.9 km	Seat
Seat	2.1 km	Seat

Articles

NPWS Heritage Centre
National Parks and Wildlife Service Heritage Centre, Blackhealth, is a hub for the Blue Mountains National Park. It is signposted on Govetts Leap Road (past McLean Cr). Drop into the Heritage Centre to get advice and learn about the history of the park. You will also find information displays about the traditional owners, thing to do and the local flora and fauna. The heritage centre also has 2 signposted accessible car parks, a shop with souvenirs, toilets and snack food. There is a picnic area out the back and plenty of general parking.

George Phillips Lookout
George Phillips Lookout, Blue Mountains National Park, provides stunning views east into the Grose Valley. The lookout offers views to Pulpit Rock, the horseshoe-shaped gorge and over the deep, green gorges of the Grose Valley to Mount Banks. The lookout is fenced and has a wheelchair accessible ramp. There are a series of picnic tables including a stone shelter just behind the lookout.

Govetts Leap Lookout
Govetts Leap Lookout is named after the first European man to have enjoyed this view, William Govett, as an assistant surveyor in June 1831. Govetts Leap Lookout offers wonderful views over the Grose Valley and the spectacular Bridal Falls. The word `leap` is an old Scottish word meaning waterfall. The lookout is easily accessed from the car park, there are also toilets and picnic shelters nearby.

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