McMahon's Point Ride, Wentworth Falls

McMahon's Point, Wentworth Falls

For never ending views across Lake Burragorang and the vast Blue Mountains wilderness beyond, you can't go past McMahon's Point Lookout. Grab a bike and hit the road from Wentworth Falls. This track follows an unsealed road from Wentworth Falls south along the cliff-line and makes for a spectacular cycling day trip. Of medium difficulty, with a number of steep climbs, it’s ideally suited to riders looking for a challenge.

Distance:
18km (one-way), 36km (return)

Time suggested:
2 hours each way

Difficulty:
Medium

Elevation climb: 626m

Location:
McMahon’s Point is in the Wentworth Falls precinct of Blue Mountains National Park.

The Trail:

McMahon's Point lookout is accessible via Kings Tableland Road which is an unsealed fire trail. The condition of the trail will depend on when it was last graded and the weather conditions. There are no locked gates blocking entry to vehicles so keep a lookout for trail bikes and cars.

Kings Tableland Road can be broken into smaller sections. You may choose to ride the entire 20km from the Queen Victoria Hospital to McMahon's Point Lookout (40km return), or you could drive part of the way and ride from;

• Andersons Trail (28km return), or
• Red Ridge Trail (20km return), or
• Battleship Tops (10km return).

An interesting area of historical note along the way is Battleship Tops. This was an Aboriginal meeting place where ochre paintings were found before vandals destroyed them. The area features signs with information on the history of the area as well as very interesting rock formations. A scramble to the top of the boulders on the southern side of the track afford the most magnificent views in all directions.

This is a long trail and is predominantly downhill for the last 5km to the lookout. The first 5km back are tiring so try it in sections if you are not an experienced trail rider. While it seems like a pleasant day out most of the way to the lookout, it feels a bit like hard work most of the way back.

The lookout has picnic tables and pit toilets for your comfort. When you arrive in the carpark you'll find a picnic spot up to the left, with an extended (if somewhat over grown) pathway to the higher lookout. Straight ahead from the carpark a lovely narrow trail will take you 800m through lush bushland to the lower lookout.

A word of caution:

Kings Tableland Road is open to vehicular access, so you will need to be wary of cars and trail bikes.

Getting there:

McMahon's Point lookout is in the Wentworth Falls precinct of Blue Mountains National Park.

By car:

• Take the M4 to the Blue Mountains and to Wentworth Falls.
• Turn left into Tableland Rd, which turns into Kings Tableland Road.
• Follow this road to the gravel section at Queen Victoria Hospital.
• McMahon’s Point is 18k from the old hospital, along Kings Tableland road (unsealed road).

By train:

• Take the train to Wentworth Falls, and begin the cycle from there (additional 7km).
• Depart the railway station on the town side.
• Turn left into Station Street and left onto the Great Western Highway.
• Proceed along the Highway then turn right into Tablelands Road.
• Follow Tablelands Road 4.3km until it turns to dirt and turns into Kings Tableland Road.
• The trail starts when the road to turns to dirt at the old Queen Victoria hospital.