Glen Davis sits at the end of the road in the Capertee Valley, surrounded by sandstone cliffs. It’s very remote and normally very quiet too, and that’s what makes it nice: you’re just beyond the Blue Mountains crowds here. Above the village, a short track in Wollemi National Park climbs to Glen Davis Lookout, where you look down on the ruins of the old works with the valley walls behind them.
About Glen Davis LookoutAbout
The sign at the start says it all: Glen Davis Lookout, 550 m, View of Works. The works are the brick ruins spread across the valley floor below, with chimneys and walls still standing among the trees. From the lookout you see them laid out in front of you, and behind them the flat-topped mountains and long cliff lines of the Capertee Valley.
Quick facts
- AddressGlen Davis Lookout, Wollemi National Park, Glen Davis, NSW 2846, AustraliaSee on the trip map →
- Phone receptionNo reception
- FacilitiesParkingLookoutsWalking TrailsNo Toilets
- 8.7/10Overall rated
- Good to know550 m walk up stone stepsToilets in Glen Davis villageNo fuel in the valley
- FeesFree
The Walk Up
The track is 550 metres long and climbs the hillside on stone steps through open bush. Near the bottom you pass an old rusted pipe lying beside the path, a first sign of the industry that once filled this valley. The steps are uneven in places, so wear proper shoes and take your time.
Facilities and Phone ReceptionFacilities & reception
The lookout itself is basic. There’s an unsealed parking area and a visitor information bay near the start of the track, and nothing at the top but the view. Toilets, picnic tables and barbecues are down in Glen Davis Park, near the village, so stop there before or after the walk.
There’s no phone coverage at the lookout or anywhere in the valley, and no fuel either. Fill up before you turn off the highway, and download your maps while you still have a signal.
Walks and Birdwatching
The light is at its best at sunrise and through the morning, when the sun is on the cliffs across the valley. If you want more than the short climb to the lookout, the Capertee River Trail starts near the same trailhead and follows the river under the sandstone cliffs, about 6 km return. There’s also a harder, uphill walk that links the Coorongooba Campground area with the lookout.
Bring binoculars. The valley is one of the best birdwatching areas in the country, with wedge-tailed eagles, lyrebirds and the rare regent honeyeater.
The Ruins and the Valley
Down on the valley floor, the brick ruins are worth a look from close by as well. Walls, doorways and window openings are still standing, with signs warning you to keep out. All around, the cliffs of the Capertee Valley rise above the trees, and the gravel road in gives you views of them the whole way.
Summary
Glen Davis Lookout is a short walk with a big reward: old ruins, tall cliffs and hardly anyone around. The remoteness is the point. You’re only just past the Blue Mountains, but the crowds don’t make it this far. For more places nearby, see our Capertee Valley guide.
A short walk up stone steps to a view over the ruins of the old Glen Davis works, with the cliffs of the Capertee Valley behind them.
It’s very remote and normally very quiet, just beyond the Blue Mountains crowds, and that’s what makes it nice. There are no toilets at the lookout and no phone reception or fuel in the valley, so come prepared.
- Travellers
- Hikers
- Day trips
Yes. It’s free and quiet, with a view you won’t find anywhere else. It’s a long way from anywhere, so combine it with a night at Coorongooba or another stop in the valley.
Recommended Gear for Glen Davis Lookout
Carry water storage for the walk, because Glen Davis is a long way from the nearest shop. A pair of binoculars lets you pick out the ruins and the cliff lines, and the valley is known for its birdlife. If you’re camping nearby, sort out your camping lighting before dark, and keep your tyre tools handy for the gravel road in.
