When it comes to incredible sunset spots in the Blue Mountains you really are spoilt for choice. We’ve been to so many different places but still barely scratched the surface, so we will be adding more places to this post over time. The vast majority of our recommends are really quick and easy to get to, so you don’t have to worry about long walks back in the dark.
The views are nothing short of spectacular and if you happen to get a really colourful sky, it is just magical.
When it comes to locations, we have all the major spots that you really shouldn’t miss, as well as some less well known gems that you will probably get all to yourself.
Here are the most beautiful sunset spots in the Blue Mountains.
-
1. Lincoln’s Rock - Wentworth Falls
2. Sublime Point - Leura
3. Boars Head Climbing Area - Katoomba
4. Cahills Lookout - Katoomba
5. Hargraves Lookout - Blackheath
6. Fort Rock - Blackheath
7. Honeymoon Bridge - Katoomba
8. Wind Eroded Cave - Blackheath
9. Princes Rock - Wentworth Falls
10. Sunset Rock - Mount Victoria
11. Mount Blackheath - Blackheath
12. Peckman’s Plateau - Katoomba
The most beautiful places to watch the sunset in the Blue Mountains
1. Lincoln’s Rock
Location: Wentworth Falls
Walking required: Less than a minute
Lincoln’s Rock used to be a bit of a hidden gem but the secret is fully out now, but that doesn’t take away the fact it is a must visit. The rock plateau that you watch sunset from is vast, and there’s plenty of room to spread out and get your own uninterrupted view.
This is the place you will probably have seen many times on social media, with the jutting out rock which makes for a great photo - it is completely unfenced though, so be careful and don’t do anything outside of your comfort zone.
The views out to the Jamison Valley are just fantastic and there are only layers of mountains between you and the setting sun.
As well as the main plateau there is also a small cave which offers perfect framing for the sunset.The cave is a wonderful place to sit and relax but it’s only really suitable for a few people.
If you’re visiting on a weekend you will probably want to get there a little while before sunset so that you guarantee your spot. Note that getting into the cave requires climbing up a large rock with footholds.
More details on the cave can be found in this post.
2. Sublime Point
Location: Leura
Walking required: a couple of minutes, some stairs
Sublime Point is another beautiful spot to watch the sunset. The large railed viewpoint overlooks the Jamison Valley and it looks particularly special when bathed in golden light. It is quite a popular spot on the weekends and there isn’t anywhere to sit down and relax.
For that reason we usually head for the rocky area to the right, just a minute before the main viewpoint. It is an unfenced cliff edge but it’s wide and offers the chance to sit down and watch the sunset in total seclusion.
We’ve never seen anyone else at this spot and you get the same wonderful sunset view as at the main lookout.
It’s one of our favourite things to do when visiting Leura.
3. Boars Head Climbing Area
Location: Katoomba
Walking required: 5 minutes, some stairs
The Boars Head Climbing Area is one of our favourites of all the sunset spots in the Blue Mountains. The views are expansive and it’s quite fun to watch the headlights of the cars as they move along Narrow Neck Road - from here it looks like they are driving along a little hiking trail!
You also get a great look at the Boars Head, which is a popular rock climbing spot, and if you’re visiting on a weekend you’ll probably see a couple finishing up for the day.
The only downside to this spot is that it can be ferociously windy, even if other parts of the mountains are not. I would bring extra layers even in summer just in case!
4. Cahills Lookout
Location: Katoomba
Walking required: 5 minutes, some stairs
Cahills Lookout is very close to Boars Head, but is much more well known. There are several different railed viewpoints and incredible sunset views over Narrow Neck and the Megalong Valley. You will likely share it with a few landscape photographers at the least, as it’s a great place for photos.
However, it has the same downside as the Boars Head and that’s the wind. We’ve yet to visit on anything other than a very windy day and the chill factor is high! Definitely bring some layers just incase!
5. Hargraves Lookout
Location: Blackheath
Walking required: 1-5 minutes
Hargraves Lookout is an absolute beauty, with layers of mountains as well as the picturesque farmlands of the Megalong Valley. The first viewpoint is less than a minute’s walk from the car park and offers fabulous views.
You can also continue on the little trail to the left of the viewpoint which takes you down some stone stairs and along the rocks to a second railed viewpoint. I actually prefer the first lookout to the second, but it’s worth seeing both.
When you’ve visited the railed viewpoints, if you want to linger, there is a long rocky platform (unfenced) which you can sit and relax on. It’s a great spot for a sunset picnic and allows you to get more comfortable than standing at the railed areas.
6. Fort Rock
Location: Blackheath
Walking required: 600m each way from Gordon Avenue, Blackheath
Fort Rock was a chance discovery for us as we came across it when walking the excellent Porters Pass Track. It just so happened that we were passing by at golden hour and it became one of our new favourite sunset spots.
Once you climb up onto the rock (there are plenty of footholds and it’s nice and grippy) you have uninterrupted views of the Kanimbla Valley. This area is also a favourite haunt of Yellow-tailed black cockatoos and you’ll regularly see them flying overhead.
You get a direct view of the sun slowing setting and if you have clear skies the entire valley will turn golden. It’s a lovely spot and not very well known so it’s likely you won’t have to share it with anyone else.
7. Honeymoon Bridge
Location: Katoomba
Walking required: 500m each way, a couple of stairs
Honeymoon Bridge is such a spectacular spot, not only do you get the perfect sunset view over the Jamison Valley, but you also get up close to one of the iconic Three Sisters. The little bridge feels like it’s straight out of a fairytale.
Whilst it can be quite busy during the day (it’s just a short walk from the incredibly famous Echo Point), when it comes to sunset it really quietens down. Although there is nowhere to sit down, it’s one of those places that is just so beautiful that I don’t even mind!
Our favourite way to reach it is via a really fun and gorgeous bushwalk along the Dardanelles Pass Track. If you choose to do the same you will have to finish the last 2km of the walk in twilight! If not it’s an easy paved stroll from Echo Point.
8. Wind Eroded Cave
Location: Blackheath
Walking required: 100m each way
Wind Eroded Cave is a giant overhang with walls that look just like honeycomb. They glow a deep gold as the light hits them at sunset. It's a wonderful and quiet spot to sit, relax and watch another spectacular Blue Mountains sunset.
You can either climb up the rock (which is easy and grippy in dry weather) and sit and watch from there or climb up on top of the cave. For me, the cave itself feels very special, so even though the sunset view is slightly obscured by trees I prefer to sit inside the cave.
Sunset from within the cave
Sunset from above the cave
If you want a true uninterrupted view, then you will want to climb up to the top of the cave. To do this follow the worn path alongside the base of the cave and up into the bush. From here it's more of a bush bash, but it takes less than five minutes - just make sure you wear shoes with grip as some of the soil is loose.
9. Princes Rock
Location: Wentworth Falls
Walking required: 10 minutes
Princes Rock is a well known lookout, but not a well known sunset spot. The views over Mount Solitary and the Jamison Valley are sublime, and even more so during the soft light of sunset. Although you can also see Wentworth Falls, that is in the opposite direction to the sunset.
Although the walk to the lookout does require going downhill on several staircases, it is more than worth the effort.
If you’re looking for some more adventures in the Wentworth Falls area, we have you covered in this post.
10. Sunset Rock
Location: Mount Victoria
Walking required: a few minutes
Sunset Rock is a fantastic place to watch the sunset, with lots of large rocky ledges to sit and relax on (all unfenced but you don’t need to go near the edge).
The view out over the Kanimbla Valley is vast and it’s a really peaceful place to watch the sun go down.
It’s always been very quiet when we’ve visited, but if there are other people around, there are so many different rocky areas just a few minutes further along from the main lookout that you will easily find your own private spot.
This lookout is not signposted but you park at Beaufort Avenue and then walk for a few minutes until you see the rocky viewpoint on your left.
11. Mount Blackheath Lookout
Location: Blackheath
Walking required: just a minute
Mount Blackheath Lookout is a beautiful spot to watch the sunset, overlooking the picturesque Kanimbla Valley. It’s just a few steps from the car park to the main viewpoint (and a second one is in construction a few minutes walk away).
Although you can watch the sunset from the main lookout, we prefer walking just a few steps down the hill towards the cliffs for a more secluded experience. It is unfenced but you can stay well back from the edge and you feel much closer to the view.
Mount Blackheath is also a launch site for paragliders, so as well as the official lookout, you can also explore some unofficial spots which offer slightly different perspectives on the view.
12. Peckmans Plateau Lookout
Location: Katoomba
Walking required: 5-10 minutes
The entrance to Peckmans Plateau Lookout is located opposite Cahills Lookout, yet no one seems to visit! We actually only paid attention to it ourselves after some heavy rain when we wanted to check out Bonnie Doon waterfall, which you can see from this lookout.
In regards to the waterfall view, it turned out to be a bit disappointing because it’s so far away. That was all forgotten when we realised we’d stumbled upon a great sunset lookout and there wasn’t a soul around, even on a busy Saturday evening!
As well as the waterfall you also get great mountain views and there are some large rocks to sit on as you watch the sun slowly drop behind the peaks.
The walk to the lookout is easy and almost entirely flat, although there are a few stairs at the end. It also passes a lovely picnic spot.
This post may contain affiliate links, meaning at no additional cost to you, that we will earn a small commission if you click through and decide to make a purchase. This helps towards the costs of running our website. Thanks for your support.
