Jamison Valley
Jamison Valley is a large sandstone canyon in the Blue Mountains of New South Wales, Australia. It sits about 100 kilometres west of Sydney, a few kilometres south of Katoomba. The Gundungurra people are the traditional custodians of the land, with a history in the region spanning thousands of years. The valley was named by Governor Lachlan Macquarie after Sir John Jamison, a physician and landowner who visited the area in 1815. The famous naturalist Charles Darwin also visited in 1836 and walked along Jamison Creek to the valley edge; his route is now marked as Darwin’s Walk from Wilson Park, Wentworth Falls.
Coal mining began in Jamison Valley around 1872, and the Katoomba Scenic Railway was built to help move ore through the rugged terrain.
Geography and geology: Jamison Valley is a long, wide canyon formed mainly from sandstone. There are softer shale layers beneath the sandstone; over time erosion caused the rock to break and slide, creating the steep cliffs the Blue Mountains are known for. Mount Solitary is the only major peak in the valley, lying in the south and connected by a ridge to Narrow Neck Plateau and the Ruined Castle rock. East of Mount Solitary is Kedumba Farm. To the south, the valley drains toward the Coxs River and Lake Burragorang, the reservoir created by Warragamba Dam. A 3-kilometre area around the river and lake is protected to safeguard Sydney’s water supply, and a high-tension power line crosses the valley.
The northern escarpment is dotted with waterfalls such as Wentworth Falls, Leura Falls, Empress Falls, Vera Falls, Gordon Falls and Katoomba Falls. The valley is densely forested with eucalyptus, with occasional pockets of semi-rainforest in damp gullies.
Tracks and recreation: Jamison Valley is popular for bushwalking and camping. Tracks include Darwin’s Walk, paths in the Valley of the Waters, the Federal Pass, and routes near Leura and Katoomba. There’s also a route around to the Ruined Castle and Mount Solitary, which is more challenging and can take several days. Closer tracks along the escarpment are suitable for day trips, while Mount Solitary is a common camping spot.
Nearby attractions: Scenic World offers the steepest funicular railway in the world, the Katoomba Scenic Railway, and the Scenic Skyway, which travels over the valley and provides views of Katoomba Falls and Orphan Rock. The Three Sisters rock formation sits on the northern edge of the valley and is one of Australia’s best-known photo spots. The Giant Stairway leads down into the valley for nature walks.
Getting there: The nearest train stations are Katoomba, Leura and Wentworth Falls on the Blue Mountains Line. The Great Western Highway is the main road nearby. Katoomba Airfield is closed to regular flights but remains available for emergency services.
This page was last edited on 3 February 2026, at 06:51 (CET).