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It is now possible to walk from Parramatta to the Blue Mountains following the extension of Western Sydney’s longest recreational walking trail, the Great West Walk, by another 80 kilometres.

The length of the Great West Walk now totals 140 kilometres and offers a journey through some spectacular scenery and historic locations.

Mapped out by members of The Walking Volunteers community group, the stunning trail winds through some of Western Sydney’s most iconic urban landscapes, protected woodlands, public parklands, local river systems, Australia’s oldest architecture, and on into the Blue Mountains past dramatic escarpments, down undulating valleys, by rivers, waterfalls and cascades, historic buildings, manicured gardens, charming villages, and unequalled mountain vistas.

Members of The Walking Volunteers group will undertake an inaugural nine-day trek of the new 80-kilometre stretch of the Great West Walk from Katoomba to Emu Plains, finishing at the Yandhai Bridge crossing at the Nepean River, Penrith, at 3:00 pm Wednesday 24th August 2022.

The NSW Minister for Infrastructure, Minister for Cities, and Minister for Active Transport, Rob Stokes will join The Walking Volunteers on day four of their walk and officially launch the new Katoomba-Penrith section at 3pm, Friday 19th August 2022 at the Woodford Academy (90-92 Great Western Highway, Woodford).

Minister Stokes notes “whether you walk 30 minutes or 30 kilometres along this incredible trail, projects like this offer immeasurable community benefits.

“This is a great way for families across Greater Sydney to get out and be active, while leaving more money in hip-pockets”.

Blue Mountains City Mayor, Mark Greenhill enthused “we are ecstatic that the Great West Walk now traverses the breath-taking scenery of the Blue Mountains.

“The 80km walk through the Blue Mountains is the perfect end to a journey that starts in Parramatta – although walkers may decide to start in the Blue Mountains and head down, rather than up the 1,000m elevation. 

“Either way, the walk will offer an exceptional walking experience.”.

Western Sydney Regional Organisation of Councils (WSROC) President, Barry Calvert added “the 80-kilometre extension to the Great West Walk delivers new links in Sydney’s Green Grid, an open-space interconnecting network that helps keep Greater Western Sydney cool, encourages healthy lifestyles, enhances biodiversity and promotes ecological resilience.

“With ongoing support from both NSW Government and local stakeholders, the Great West Walk has emerged as a significant piece of regional ‘green infrastructure’, supporting local active transport trips, recreational opportunities, and improving quality of life in the region through urban heat reduction and biodiversity improvements – and leaving a lasting legacy for future generations to enjoy.

“WSROC commends landholders Blue Mountains City Council and NSW Parks and Wildlife Services who made possible this latest extension to Great West Walk, and other landholders along the entire 80-kilometres of this glorious route including Blacktown, Parramatta and Penrith City Councils, Parramatta Parkland Trust and Western Sydney Parkland Trust, whose cooperation and dedication to this project has created a fantastic community asset that will promote active lifestyles and provide us with plentiful opportunities to explore some of the most spectacular landscapes Greater Western Sydney has to offer.

“I would especially like to thank The Walking Volunteers for their tireless work in mapping the route and providing ongoing support in bringing this project to life.”

The Walking Volunteers secretary, Bill Avery shared “the inaugural Great West Walk from Katoomba to Penrith is the fulfilment of a dream the Walking Volunteers have had for many years to proof-walk and provide online maps for a walking route from Parramatta to Katoomba.

“This walking route is part of a 1,500 kilometre network of walking routes around Greater Sydney that The Walking Volunteers have proof-walked and mapped over the last eighteen years.

“Over 900,00 people have accessed these maps since 2019 when we made them available to freely download onto smartphones, tablets and PCs.

“We hope that our maps will encourage more people to visit and re-visit the Blue Mountains including the lesser-known sections that have so many reminders of our Indigenous and colonial history.”

For details of the Great West Walk - including interactive maps of the walking trails – go to greatwestwalk.com.au 

For Maps see walkingvolunteers.org.au/maps/

Image top: Great West Walk Centennial Glen view; image above: Great West Walk Knapsack Viaduct view lower Blue Mountains

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