This is an easy adventure walk for the family with a bit of history thrown in. The first 900m of the track is easy and without any steps. The last 200m is a bushbash. You can also enjoy the amazing Wallace Lookout.
Wallace Brothers Traction Steam Engine
In 1928, two brothers, Tim and Eric Wallace began coal mining exploration in the Grose Valley, bringing with them a Wallis & Steevens Ltd (yes, it does have 2xe) traction steam engine, which was used to haul the steel cables of an aerial ropeway they had constructed to haul coal and timber up from the Grose Valley.
The brothers drove the steam engine down Hat Hill Road in 1928.
Incredibly, the engine lies within the bush, but you have to know where it is to find it, as there are no tracks to it.
Around the old engine is lots of artefacts including bed frames, cables and assorted old stuff.
You can also visit Wallace Lookout. This lookout is amazing, but it has no safety barriers and the cliffs are very high. Here: https://w3w.co/powered.preheat.cured
KEY POINTS
- Distance: 2.4km return
- Time: 2-hour return PLUS browsing time
- Best time of the day: Any time
- Kid-safe: Yes with supervision
- Dogs on-leash: No
- Steps: None
- Accessible: No
- Heights: None, except for Wallace Lookout
- Must do rating out of 10: 8.5
ACCESS: Use the “What 3 Words” app on your phone, it will make life so much easier. Some people simply bushbash across the valley. The way we show below is easy, clean and the family can do it.
>> Direction photos are at the very end.
- Park your car at the Hat Hill Carpark: https://w3w.co/spud.intelligible.contesting
- Walk back along the road toward Blackheath for about 150m until you see a small trail going up the bank on the left. Photo 1 Here: https://w3w.co/tech.joyous.kinds
- Walk up that track for about 20m. It will join an old fire trail where you’ll turn left. Photo 2
- Follow that trail for about 200m until you see a small track on the left. Take that. Photo 3
- Follow that track down for about 150m until you see another small track veering to the left, don’t turn left, continue straight ahead. Photo 4
- Walk down the track until the track seems to run out in an open grassy area. Photo 5
- There is a track down the hill on the left. Don’t take that.
- This is where the bush bashing comes in. In line with the track you just walked in on, walk straight ahead through the bush for about 100m until you get to a track that goes left and right.
- The track to the left is well defined and takes you down to Wallace Lookout. It’s only about a 50m walk down the hill. https://w3w.co/powered.preheat.cured
- After visiting the lookout walk back up the hill and past the point where you joined the track. This is where there is more bush bashing.
- Walk straight ahead, initially along the faint track and then along the ridgeline for about 100m. The “What 3 Words” app will get you here. https://w3w.co/cartoonist.weathering.tirades
- RETURN, the same way.
ALL photos are original and ©
360° Virtual Tours
Wallis & Steevens Ltd
The bike needs a bit of work 🙂
Timber brake pads
Bed Head
WALLACE LOOKOUT
Wallace Lookout, Blackheath
Wallace Lookout 360° Virtual Tour
PHOTO GUIDES
>> Direction photos are at the very end.
- Park your car at the Hat Hill Carpark: https://w3w.co/spud.intelligible.contesting
- Walk back along the road toward Blackheath for about 150m until you see a small trail going up the bank on the left. Photo 1 Here: https://w3w.co/tech.joyous.kinds
- Walk up that track for about 20m. It will join an old fire trail where you’ll turn left. Photo 2
- Follow that trail for about 200m until you see a small track on the left. Take that. Photo 3
- Follow that track down for about 150m until you see another small track veering to the left, don’t turn left, continue straight ahead. Photo 4
- Walk down the track until the track seems to run out in an open grassy area. Photo 5
- There is a track down the hill on the left. Don’t take that.
- This is where the bush bashing comes in. In line with the track you just walked in on, walk straight ahead through the bush for about 100m until you get to a track that goes left and right.
- The track to the left is well defined and takes you down to Wallace Lookout. It’s only about a 50m walk down the hill. https://w3w.co/powered.preheat.cured
- After visiting the lookout walk back up the hill and past the point where you joined the track. This is where there is more bush bashing.
- Walk straight ahead, initially along the faint track and then along the ridgeline for about 100m. The “What 3 Words” app will get you here. https://w3w.co/cartoonist.weathering.tirades
- RETURN, the same way.
