Blue Mountains Abseiling
The Blue Mountains National Park is one of the most stunning places in the world- at only an hour and a half from Sydney, it’s the perfect escape from the city for a few days. The Blue Mountains are also ancient- over 300 million years old, putting America’s Grand Canyon to shame at a mere 6 million.
The Blue Mountains offer 2,690 km² of dramatic cliffs, waterfalls, bushwalking tracks, valleys, and picturesque towns- it really is unlike anywhere else. Although there are many scenic lookout points, the best way to explore is to really immerse yourself in it through some epic Blue Mountains adventure activities such as bushwalking (hiking), abseiling, canyoning, or mountain biking. (There are both summer and winter canyoning options, as this activity generally involves getting wet.)
I recently spent a morning abseiling in the Blue Mountains, in Katoomba, with a fantastic company called High and Wild– I would really recommend them. (I visited as a full paying guest, and my review is based solely on my own experience.)
They were 100% focused on safety and were really friendly and welcoming- all good qualities in a company that is going to encourage you to climb backward down a very large cliff.
Here’s a run-down of what Blue Mountains abseiling is like!
What is abseiling?
Abseiling, or rappelling, is defined by Wikipedia as a “controlled descent off a vertical drop, such as a rock face, using a rope.” Anchors and ropes are used to slowly and safely move down the mountain or cliff face. Generally, another person will be at the bottom of the cliff, helping to belay you down, although experienced abseilers have self-belay devices.
Why would anyone want to send themselves off a perfectly dangerous cliff, one might ask? Good question. This was only the second time I’ve done it, but I’d say it is an amazing adrenaline activity- you push yourself both mentally and physically, and it’s an incredible feeling of accomplishment.
It’s also a fun way to immerse yourself in nature and the natural environment- we spend so much time on our phones and screens but when you’re rappelling yourself down a cliff, you find that your mind is intrinsically focused only on the rock face, a vital break from the modern world we live in.
High and Wild
While spending a weekend in Katoomba at the Blue Mountains YHA, I booked in with High and Wild for their half day abseiling experience. If you’re staying at the YHA, the company is actually based in the hostel, which is super convenient as you can just walk downstairs and you’re there and ready for your trip! They also offer a $10 discount for full day tours to all YHA guests.
Arriving at their offices, I was introduced to our friendly and experienced guides for the day, Darren and Tom. After our group of maybe about 12 filled out some paperwork, we loaded up into the van and set off.
Blue Mountains Abseiling
It was only a 5-min drive from the YHA down to our abseiling location, where we were then set up with our abseiling gear: helmet, harness, and a glove for your dominant hand. After some safety instructions and demonstrations of how to abseil, we were ready to start off with an easy 5m cliff, before moving on to a 15m and 30m.
The 5m was a great way to start off and get a feel for the activity. This particular rock face wasn’t quite at a 90-degree angle, so it wasn’t too intimidating and was beneficial from a training perspective.
After conquering the 5m, we moved on to what was my favorite of the day- the 15m cliff. Just a few hundred feet or so away from the first cliff, this majestic and spectacular cliff can be found. It was by far the best spot of the day for photographs and makes for a truly iconic Blue Mountains snap. Looking at it from a distance, it was hard to believe we were actually going to scale down it- check out the section below for what it was like to descend. I’d imagine this area, just off Glenraphael Road in Katoomba, would be one of the most popular abseiling locations. Blue Mountains National Park never fails to disappoint, no matter where you are, however.
There was more than enough time for everyone in our group to go at least twice on each abseil- that being said, once was enough for me when it came to the next, and highest, challenge.
As we went through the day, Darren also told us more about the history of the land and the connections to the land and the Aboriginal peoples who have called it home for so long.
Going bushwalking while you’re in the area? Here’s our top Blue Mountains hiking safety tips.
Don’t look down
The 30m abseil was next. This bad boy was terrifying.
To call it a 30m cliff is a little misleading, as it was actually about 80m in total. However, there was a ledge at the 30m mark, which is where we stopped. The majority of this cliff was also an overhang, meaning instead of having your feet on the rock and working your way down, you were freely hanging, working your way down with your rope and the help of the belayer below.
My rope kept getting twisted, which is apparently a normal thing. This meant I ended up spinning around quite a few times as I was hanging off the cliff. Did it provide 360 views of the mountains? Yes. Was it fear-inducing? Yes. I would be lying if I didn’t say I closed my eyes a few times.
As a human being, instinct tells us that we are not supposed to be suspended off jagged cliffs, floating down the air, even though we know logically that we’re safe. It certainly provided a huge adrenaline rush and worry as to whether or not I’d ever touch terra firma again.
That being said, it was a really incredible challenge and I am so glad I did it. Landing safely and watching others come down after me was really powerful, and we should all push ourselves out of our comfort zone, at least sometimes.
Note: This was my experience at this particular location, but I am sure the locations visited may vary, depending on which tour you’ve booked.
What is abseiling like?
To me, and I think for most, the hardest part is mental- the first act of stepping backward off a cliff ledge and lowering your body into an almost seated position. It definitely feels unnatural and scary- taking that first step back off the ground and onto the cliff below was nerve-wracking each time.
However, once you get going, it’s really enjoyable. Working my way down, the mental puzzle of deciding where to place my feet, and the continuous pulling of my rope, to provide slack as I descend, is both fun and challenging, not to mention unbelievably beautiful.
What’s my High and Wild review? Top notch. They were a fantastic company and super safety-conscious. Would I do it again? Definitely!
How much fitness is required to abseil in the Blue Mountains?
I think most people with at least an average level of fitness should be fine to abseil in the Blue Mountains, or anywhere. However, what goes down, must go up. Or something like that. Meaning, once you successfully abseil to the bottom, you need to make your way back to the top.
Some of the walks back up were a bit steep, so make sure you’re ok with this before committing to going down- as Darren said, the elevators aren’t being installed ‘til tomorrow.
How to save money on Blue Mountains adventure activities
If you’re wanting to try out an abseiling adventure, good choice! However, I totally get that excursions and tours can be expensive when you’re on a budget or travelling. Here are two ways to save a bit of money when booking:
As mentioned, all YHA guests booking receive a discount of $10 for a full day or $5 for half day tours, as well as a free continental breakfast. This, as well as the convenience of being in the same building, makes for a great reason to stay at the YHA Blue Mountains if you’re planning a few days in Katoomba.
If you are booking somewhat last-minute, High and Wild offer special discount days, all of which are indicated on their website. The half-day abseiling I booked was part of a Sunday special and was reduced to $100, instead of $150, which is a massive saving and really great value. Larger discounts are available for full-day tours, which also include lunch.
Blue Mountains YHA
The Blue Mountains YHA is an amazing option for those thinking of a Blue Mountains getaway, especially if you want to explore with High and Wild. It’s super close everything in Katoomba, as well as Echo Point and the Three Sisters. There’s really fast, free wifi throughout the whole property, and spacious common areas and kitchen, including an outdoor giant chess board and a few cozy fireplaces. I stayed there for two nights and really enjoyed my time there.
It’s a heritage property, originally built in 1910 as a guest house, and later converted into a ballroom and entertainment venue known as the Wentworth Cabaret. After seeing the art deco architecture and design of the building, which remains today, you can only imagine the wild and wonderful parties and shows that would’ve happened here in the swinging 1920s and ‘30s. The former ballroom is now one of the YHA’s common areas, and I love that it still retains the charm and design of a bygone era.
The property later became leased to a bible college in the 1960s before a thorough restoration by the YHA, opening as the Blue Mountains YHA in 2001. It’s now a great Blue Mountains budget accommodation option, for all ages. Although you can do a Blue Mountains day trip from Sydney, there’s seriously so much to see and do in the area- if you have time, definitely try to visit for longer than a day trip.
If you visit in July, they have a really fun Yulefest evening, or Christmas in July, which is worth coming up for, or other special events throughout the year.
What else to know before you go
- Wear good quality sneakers or trainers, ideally with a solid grip- you don’t want to slip going up or coming down. Also, bring along water and sunscreen. After the third abseil, the climb back up to the top is through some heavy brush, (especially if you make a wrong turn and get a bit lost, not that I did this…) so you may want to consider long pants to protect from scratches.
- Obvious, but if you bring along a camera/phone, make sure it is secured to your body in some way if you’re taking it on the abseil with you. Or, ask someone else on the tour to take some photos as you’re abseiling down, then do the same for them in return. It is way too scenic in the Blue Mountains to not have a photo of yourself to prove you were there!
- If you aren’t staying at the YHA, you can still park there for your adventure, or there is also street parking next door. If you’re coming by train, it’s about a 10-minute walk from Katoomba Station, just down Katoomba Street, the main drag in town.
- Looking for some other great adventures when you’re back in Sydney? Why not check out the BridgeClimb, Ku-ring-gai National Park, or ocean swimming at Manly.