Cliffs, Creek Flats and Open Country in Megalong Valley

Overview

Megalong Valley sits on the western side of the Blue Mountains, below the sandstone escarpment near Blackheath. What makes it feel different from the plateau above is the contrast in country. Steep cliff lines and forested slopes drop into a broad valley floor with open paddocks, creek flats and pockets of bush, giving the area a far more spacious, pastoral feel than many parts of the mountains.

The valley also forms part of the wider Blue Mountains landscape shaped by both sandstone country and a granite batholith, which helps explain the shift in landforms and vegetation across the area. That mix of escarpment, footslopes, creek lines and granite country gives Megalong Valley its own distinct character within the region.

Highlights

The big draw here is the valley’s scenic shape. From the escarpment above, Megalong opens out as a wide rural basin ringed by cliffs, with Mount Blackheath rising nearby and long views across fields, forest and the broken edge of the plateau. It is a landscape of strong contrasts, where enclosed gullies give way to a much broader and more open valley floor.

Another standout is the meeting of different landforms in a relatively compact area. Sandstone slopes, moist gullies, creek corridors and granite country all come together here, which gives the scenery more variety than a quick glance from the rim might suggest.

Best Time to Visit

Spring is a particularly rewarding time to be here, when the valley is usually green and flowering species are easier to notice. Mid to late spring is also the main flowering period for the critically endangered Megalong Valley bottlebrush, which blooms from about mid-November into early December in suitable swampy habitat in the eastern valley.

Outside spring, cooler months generally suit walkers who prefer milder daytime temperatures, while the open nature of the valley means light, weather and seasonal colour can shift the feel of the place right through the year.

Plants and Animals

Megalong Valley supports a mix of vegetation communities tied closely to its varied geology and topography. Below the escarpments there are footslope forests, while the granite country carries its own forest and woodland types. Along sheltered watercourses and moist slopes, the vegetation can shift again, with a softer, wetter understorey and occasional rainforest elements.

One of the valley’s best known plants is the Megalong Valley bottlebrush, a critically endangered species confined to a small part of the eastern valley around Megalong Creek and Nellies Glen Road. The surrounding plant communities also include swamps, woodland and open forest, reflecting how much ecological variety is packed into this one valley.

Culture and Heritage

Megalong Valley has recognised local heritage that includes historic rural properties, a church, former station buildings and old industrial sites, reflecting the valley’s long pastoral and settlement history. The Six Foot Track also passes through the valley on the line of an 1884 horse track, linking the area to one of the Blue Mountains’ better known historic routes.