Vale of Avoca lookout is located in the Lower Grose Valley area of Blue Mountains National Park. To get there:

From Richmond:

• Head northwest on the B59 Kurrajong/Bells Line Road towards Lithgow
• Cross the Hawkesbury River then turn left onto Grose Vale Road
• Follow for 7km then turn left onto Cabbage Tree Road and drive 3km
• At the end of the sealed road, continue 1.5km on Vale of Avoca fire trail to the top carpark, at the gate
• From the gate at the carpark it's a 140m walk to the lookout.

Road quality

• Mixture of sealed and unsealed roads

Vehicle access

• 2WD vehicles (no long vehicle access)

Weather restrictions

• All weather

Parking

• Parking is available at the gate at the end of the fire trail.
• Street parking is also available at the southern end of Cabbage Tree Road, a 1.5km walk or bike ride to the lookout.

By bike

Mountain bike access to Vale of Avoca lookout is only available via public roads.

By public transport

From Richmond, take the 680 bus Grose Valley/Grose Wold loop service to the corner of Grose Vale and Cabbage Tree roads. It a 4.5km walk along Cabbage Tree Road and Vale of Avoca fire trail to the lookout.

• The nearest public toilet facilities are located in Kurrajong village, 7.5km along Grose Vale Road, or 10km south at North Richmond.
• There are no rubbish bins at the lookout, so please take all rubbish with you.

Carpark

• Vale of Avoca lookout factsheet
• Vale of Avoca lookout map (1.4MB pdf)

Disability access level - hard

Access to the lookout is via a wide, unpaved path that travels slightly uphill for 100m. The last 40m is via low natural sandstone platforms, which may be difficult to access for wheelchairs, prams and visitors with limited mobility.

• Vale of Avoca lookout Vale of Avoca lookout offers glorious views across the deep gorges and wilderness of the Lower Grose Valley, in World Heritage-listed Blue Mountains National Park, near Richmond.

• Vale of Avoca lookout Vale of Avoca lookout offers glorious views across the deep gorges and wilderness of the Lower Grose Valley, in World Heritage-listed Blue Mountains National Park, near Richmond.

• Vale of Avoca lookout Vale of Avoca lookout offers glorious views across the deep gorges and wilderness of the Lower Grose Valley, in World Heritage-listed Blue Mountains National Park, near Richmond.

Animals

• 

  Koala (Phascolarctos cinereus)

  One of the most renowned Australian animals, the tree-dwelling marsupial koala can be found in gum tree forests and woodlands across eastern NSW, Victoria and Queensland, as well as in isolated regions in South Australia. With a vice-like grip, this perhaps most iconic but endangered Australian animal lives in tall eucalypts within a home range of several hectares.

• 

  Yellow-tailed black cockatoo (Calyptorhynchus funereus)

  The yellow-tailed black cockatoo is one of the largest species of parrot. With dusty-black plumage, they have a yellow tail and cheek patch. They’re easily spotted while bird watching, as they feed on seeds in native forests and pine plantations.

• 

  Common brushtail possum (Trichosurus vulpecula)

  One of the most widespread of Australian tree-dwelling marsupials, the common brushtail possum is found across most of NSW in woodlands, rainforests and urban areas. With strong claws, a prehensile tail and opposable digits, these native Australian animals are well-adapted for life amongst the trees.

• 

  Common ringtail possum (Pseudocheirus peregrinus)

  Commonly found in forests, woodlands and leafy gardens across eastern NSW, the Australian ringtail possum is a tree-dwelling marsupial. With a powerful tail perfectly adapted to grasp objects, it forages in trees for eucalypt leaves, flowers and fruit.

• 

  Wedge-tailed eagle (Aquila audax)

  With a wingspan of up to 2.5m, the wedge-tailed eagle is Australia’s largest bird of prey. These Australian animals are found in woodlands across NSW, and have the ability to soar to heights of over 2km. If you’re bird watching, look out for the distinctive diamond-shaped tail of the eagle.

• 

  Swamp wallaby (Wallabia bicolor)

  The swamp wallaby, also known as the black wallaby or black pademelon, lives in the dense understorey of rainforests, woodlands and dry sclerophyll forest along eastern Australia. This unique Australian macropod has a dark black-grey coat with a distinctive light-coloured cheek stripe.

• 

  Sugar glider (Petaurus breviceps)

  The sugar glider is a tree-dwelling Australian native marsupial, found in tall eucalypt forests and woodlands along eastern NSW. The nocturnal sugar glider feeds on insects and birds, and satisfies its sweet tooth with nectar and pollens.

• 

  Superb lyrebird (Menura novaehollandiae)

  With a complex mimicking call and an elaborate courtship dance to match, the superb lyrebird is one of the most spectacular Australian animals. A bird watching must-see, the superb lyrebird can be found in rainforests and wet woodlands across eastern NSW and Victoria.

• 

  Eastern bentwing-bat (Miniopterus schreibersii oceanensis)

  Eastern bentwing-bats congregate in caves across the east and north-west coasts of Australia, in colonies of up to 150,000. These small Australian animals weigh around 13-17g and can reach speeds of up to 50km per hour. Eastern bentwing-bats use both sight and echolocation to catch small insects mid-air.

Plants

• 

  Flannel flower (Actinotus helianthi)

  The delicate flannel flower is so named because of the soft woolly feel of the plant. Growing in the NSW south coast region, extending to Narrabri in the Central West and up to south-east Queensland, its white or pink flowers bloom all year long, with an extra burst of colour in the spring.

• 

  Scribbly gum (Eucalyptus haemastoma)

  Easily identifiable Australian native plants, scribbly gum trees are found throughout NSW coastal plains and hills in the Sydney region. The most distinctive features of this eucalypt are the ‘scribbles’ made by moth larva as it tunnels between the layers of bark.

• 

  Grass tree (Xanthorrea spp.)

  An iconic part of the Australian landscape, the grass tree is widespread across eastern NSW. These Australian native plants have a thick fire-blackened trunk and long spiked leaves. They are found in heath and open forests across eastern NSW. The grass tree grows 1-5m in height and produces striking white-flowered spikes which grow up to 1m long.

• 

  Old man banksia (Banksia serrata)

  Hardy Australian native plants, old man banksias can be found along the coast, and in the dry sclerophyll forests and sandstone mountain ranges of NSW. With roughened bark and gnarled limbs, they produce a distinctive cylindrical yellow-green banksia flower which blossoms from summer to early autumn.

• 

  Waratah (Telopea speciosissima)

  The beautiful waratah is not only the NSW floral emblem, it's also one of the best-known Australian native plants. This iconic Australian bush flower can be found on sandstone ridges around Sydney, in nearby mountain ranges and on the NSW South Coast. The waratah has a vibrant crimson flowerhead, measuring up to 15cm across, and blossoms in spring.

• 

  Wonga wonga vine (Pandorea pandorana)

  The wonga wonga vine is a widespread vigorous climber usually found along eastern Australia. A variation of the plant occurs in the central desert, where it resembles a sprawling shrub. One of the more common Australian native plants, the wonga wonga vine produces bell-shaped white or yellow flowers in the spring, followed by a large oblong-shaped seed pod.