Perched high above the valley the Narrow Neck Lookout offers breathtaking views. This isn’t just any lookout. It’s a window into history. Narrow Neck Lookout sits at the end of Narrow Neck a peninsula with cliffs on three sides. Early European explorers seeking coal and shale blazed trails here in the late 1800s. Imagine miners risking their lives clinging to the cliff faces. By the early 1900s hardy bushwalkers followed their path. They sought routes across the plateau down to the valley below.
Frank Duncan a bushwalker described the view in 1928. He and his companions stopped at Clear Hill the name for this area then. He wrote of the airy lightness the freedom from everyday cares. The view was one of the best he’d seen in all of New South Wales. He saw bush-clad ridges tortuous valleys winding into the distance.
Today the view from Narrow Neck Lookout is still magnificent. It stretches across Lake Burragorang. You can see the Black Range and Jenolan in the distance. Look closely. You might spot honeyeaters flitting amongst the banksias. These birds love the nectar-rich plants. In spring and autumn look for migrating birds. Even wedge-tailed eagles might put on a show.
Getting here isn’t easy. The Narrow Neck Plateau Trail is a 21.5km trek from Glenraphael Drive. A shorter but harder route starts at Dunphys Campground. It’s a challenging hike even for experienced bushwalkers. But the reward is incredible. The panoramic views from Narrow Neck Lookout are worth the effort. It’s a place where you can feel detached from the world. A place to appreciate the vastness and beauty of the Blue Mountains. So take a deep breath. Drink in the view. Let the beauty of Narrow Neck Lookout wash over you. This is a place of history adventure and unparalleled beauty. A place to remember.