Guide to Lawson New South Wales Australia

Lawson is the main village of the mid Blue Mountains, 730 metres up and about 13 kilometres east of Katoomba. It has a small shopping centre, a public swimming pool, a hotel that has traded since the coaching days and, within walking distance of the station, some of the most accessible waterfalls in the mountains.

Known For

• The South Lawson waterfall circuit
• Fern gullies and falls on the north side
• A handy stop half-way up the mountains

The mid-mountains villages see far fewer visitors than Katoomba and Leura, and the tracks here are often empty on weekdays. The bush is wetter and more sheltered than the cliff country higher up, with creeks, ferns and tall trees.

Things To Do in Lawson

South Lawson Waterfall Circuit

From the car park on Honour Avenue, a loop of about 2.5 kilometres visits four waterfalls on Lawson and Ridge creeks: Adelina, Junction, Federal and Cataract falls. It takes around an hour and a half, with some steps and creek crossings, and is good for children. The falls are best after rain.

North Lawson Walks

On the other side of the highway, tracks from the end of San Jose Avenue lead to Dantes Glen, Fairy Falls and St Michaels Falls in a deep, shady gully, and on to Frederica Falls. Allow one to two hours.

Village and Markets

The shopping strip was rebuilt back from the highway when the road was widened. A community market is held at the public school on the third Sunday of the month. The outdoor pool on the highway opens in the warmer months.

Where To Stay

Lawson has little visitor accommodation beyond a few bed and breakfasts and holiday houses.

Wentworth Falls and Leura, ten to fifteen minutes up the highway, have much more.

Eat & Drink

The Blue Mountain Hotel, by the highway, serves pub meals, and there are a few cafes and takeaways around the shops.

History

The place was first known as 24 Mile Hollow and then as Christmas Swamp. After the Blue Mountain Inn opened in 1848 the district took that name, and so did the railway station built in 1867. Blue Mountain proved confusing to strangers, and in 1879 it was changed to Lawson after the explorer William Lawson.

Getting to Lawson

Lawson is about 90 kilometres from Sydney on the Great Western Highway, an hour and a quarter by car. Blue Mountains Line trains stop here, and both waterfall walks start within a kilometre of the station.