Katoomba area

Park management activities

Biodiversity conservation

Rare species in this area include the dwarf mountain pine, smooth bush pea, broad-headed snake and Megalong Valley bottlebrush. Blue Mountains National Park plays an important role in conserving NSW’s biodiversity by protecting its vulnerable, threatened and endangered plants and animals. We work closely with Blue Mountains City Council and local partners on conservation activities, such as the Saving Our Species program, which monitors species’ habitat, distribution and population.

Developing visitor facilities and experiences

We’re committed to developing first-class facilities for the enjoyment and safety of visitors to Blue Mountains National Park, one of Australia’s most visited parks. In recent years, enhancements have been completed for Three Sisters walk and Den Fenella walking track. The area is also a hub for school excursions and international student tours that focus on environmental and cultural education.

Blue Mountains National Park has achieved Ecotourism Destination Certification, through Ecotourism Australia, recognising best practice sustainable tourism and visitation in protected areas.

Preserving Aboriginal culture

Blue Mountains National Park is dedicated to preserving its strong Aboriginal cultural values. Important Aboriginal sites in the Katoomba area include the Three Sisters Aboriginal Place and Kings Tableland Aboriginal Place. We work closely with the Gundungurra Aboriginal Heritage Association to protect these registered heritage sites, under an Aboriginal joint management agreement.

Managing weeds, pest animals and other threats

Reducing introduced species is an important part of our work to protect the integrity of water quality, native plants and animal biodiversity. Volunteer bushcare groups work in the Valley of the Waters and sections of Prince Henry Cliff walking track.

Historic heritage in our parks and reserves

The historic heritage of Blue Mountains National Park is preserved through a variety of NPWS programs that embrace its past. We preserve tracks and lookouts that have been in use over 100 years to keep them safe for the enjoyment of future generations.

Managing fire

NSW is one of the most bushfire prone areas in the world due to our climate, weather systems, vegetation and the rugged terrain. NPWS is committed to a program of fire research, fire planning, hazard reduction, tracking weather patterns such as lightning storms, and community alerts. This helps to reduce property risk while also recognising the important role of fire in native plants' lifecycles. The Enhanced Bushfire Management Program (EBMP) is in place in the Katoomba area. This fire management program supports response teams of highly trained rapid response firefighters, who can respond to 100% of remote wildfires within 30mins of detection.

Understanding landscapes and geology

Geo conservation efforts and research play an important role in protecting the World Heritage-listed landscapes and geology of Blue Mountains National Park. Rehabilitation and maintenance works is ongoing, to limit the impact of erosion, pollution and degradation to these ancient landscapes. The effects of climate change and visitation are also monitored to preserve the area’s delicate ecosystems.

Report illegal dumping

It's illegal to dump rubbish, household waste, green waste, construction waste, tyres, or vehicles in NSW national parks and reserves. You can help by reporting it anonymously. If you see illegal waste that has been dumped, or is in the process of being dumped, please take a photo and report it through the Report Illegal Dumping online form, or phone 131 555.