Author(s): Keith Painter

Blue Mountains Travel Guides

Leura & Katoomba, Blue Mountains

Do you want to see spectacular cliffs, cascading waterfalls, tranquil forests and fascinating birds? Then try the Federal Pass, one of the ‘must do’ tracks in the Blue Mountains.

You’ll find the Federal Pass (named to honour the federation of the Australian states on January 1, 1901) in the Jamison Valley below Leura and Katoomba. 

The original section of the Federal Pass extended from Leura Forest to Katoomba Falls. Fern Bower and Amphitheatre tracks have both been called part of the Pass. Later it was extended, first to the Scenic Railway and later to the Ruined Castle along the old mine tramway via the Landslide. (Some people prefer not to call these additions part of the Federal Pass.)

The entire Federal Pass from Leura to Ruined Castle would be a long summer day's walk! But it can be tackled in shorter sections because there is access from six different points: Leura Cascades, Fern Bower, The Giant Stairway, Furbers Steps, Scenic Railway or Golden Stairs.

Federal Pass was the third Pocket Pal published and contains 36 pages with 12 maps which cover 15.9km of walking tracks.