Imagine Mark Foy standing right here. He was a successful retailer in the late 1890s. Foy gazed out over this very view from Tuckers Lookout. This is a truly magnificent view of the Megalong Valley.
Tuckers Lookout offers sweeping views over the Megalong Valley and Shipley Plateau. One minute you are surrounded by scrub. The next you are on a rock outcrop.
The Hydro Majestic walking track network is nearby. William Hargraves developed the tracks in 1893. He was Chief Clerk in Equity of NSW and a Blackheath pioneer. Mark Foy purchased the land in 1903. He established the iconic Hydro Majestic Hotel. He also constructed an additional 5km of walking tracks outside the hotel grounds.
The Hydro Majestic walking track system was extensive. It totaled some 18km in length. These tracks were made to the highest standards of construction. They embody significant aesthetic values. They blend with the natural landscape features. They contain the most extensive dry stone walling features in the region. The network is a rare example of a very extensive privately constructed walking track complex. Most of it is over 100 years old. It has survived virtually fully intact to the present time.
The Wonderland Track is close to Tuckers Lookout. It meets the Sunbath Track. The name of this track is fairly obvious. It ends at an enormous but surprisingly shallow concrete pool. Presumably, water was piped down from the Hydro Majestic Hotel. This was part of the hydrotherapy options they offered guests.
The Valley Farm Track is magnificent. It is as scenic as any of the more popular Blue Mountain passes. The track passes a climbing area. It descends steeply beneath Tuckers Lookout.
There is more Megalong Valley views as the track reaches the edge of the cliffs. The rusted remnants of the old safety barriers add to the charm. A narrow slot provides the first safe passage through the cliffs. A wooden ladder is in remarkably good condition. This is despite missing a few slats. Jim Smith noted the ladder was protected from bushfires by the tunnel. This is the oldest wooden ladder in the Blue Mountains walking track system.
Having traversed this narrow cleft, a sturdy metal ladder allows access down the next vertical section of the cliffs. A narrow ledge followed by a set of stone steps leads to small drop. Then there is another magnificent slot through the cliffs. Explosives were used to blast away parts of the cliff when the path was created. It runs between the Hydro Majestic and the Megalong Valley.
The Colosseum Track follows the base of the tall cliffs. The Colisseu Track is in an impressive condition. This is considering its age and minimal maintenance. It is a very scenic walk.
There are ever-changing views of the towering cliffs above. There is the occasional view of the Megalong Valley below. The Colosseum has the most elaborate dry stone wall construction in the region. The use of dry stone walls here transcends the merely functional. The Collosseum should be considered as a sculptural work of art. It is an example of Earth Art or Land Art. It has echoes of Italian Renaissance gardens. It is similar to some of the work of Frederick Law Olmsted.
The Sunbath Track meets the Glen Rosa Track. It heads for the edge of the cliffs. There are some great views from the edge of the cliff. It is above The Colosseum. There are some interesting rock formations too.
The Wonderland Track is for the most part quite well defined. The terrain is generally good. All of the old safety barriers are now in a state of disrepair. This means the huge drops are no longer fenced in any way.
Marks Tomb is a cross between a cave and an archway. It is not an actual tomb. Mark Foy wanted to be laid to rest here.
So, as you stand here at Tuckers Lookout, take in the view. Remember the vision of Mark Foy. Envision the history beneath your feet. Let the stories of the past enrich your experience.