Three Sisters above the Jamison Valley in Katoomba
Published on 08/14/2026 at 14:34 | Editorial responsibility: Rafael Müller, Editor-in-Chief AD HOC NEWS
On the edge of the Jamison Valley at Katoomba in Australia, Three Sisters rises as a sandstone trio cut from the cliff and framed by the Blue Mountains plateau. The formation sits beside Echo Point, where the rock towers and the valley floor meet in a single wide view.
Sandstone pillars on the Jamison Valley escarpment
Three Sisters stands on the north escarpment of the Jamison Valley in the Blue Mountains of New South Wales, with the pillars separated from the main cliff line by erosion in the sandstone. The formation is part of the Greater Blue Mountains World Heritage Area, a protected landscape of deeply cut valleys and wooded ridges that stretches across this section of the Great Dividing Range.Greater Blue Mountains World Heritage Area From the main Echo Point platform, the three pinnacles stand out against wide slopes of eucalyptus forest that run down to the valley floor.
The sandstone making up Three Sisters belongs to the Hawkesbury Sandstone unit, laid down by a large river delta system during the Triassic period, between about 230 and 250 million years ago.Hawkesbury Sandstone Over geological time, weaknesses in vertical joints and the action of wind, rain and runoff separated the pillars from the plateau behind, leaving three narrow spurs with steep faces above the valley.
Names, heights and Aboriginal stories
Each of the three pinnacles carries a name used in English-language descriptions: Meehni, Wimlah and Gunnedoo. The highest, Meehni, reaches 922 m (3,025 ft) above sea level, while Wimlah and Gunnedoo stand at 918 m (3,011 ft) and 906 m (2,972 ft) respectively.Meehni, Wimlah and Gunnedoo From Echo Point the differences in height are visible in the stepped profile of the formation as it projects from the escarpment.
Three Sisters is intertwined with stories from the Gundungurra and Darug peoples, the traditional custodians of this part of the Blue Mountains.Gundungurra and Darug peoples One well-known story tells of three sisters turned to stone by a clever man using a magical bone during a time of danger, with the change intended as a temporary protection. The man’s death meant the spell could not be reversed, leaving the sisters in rock form on the valley rim.
Echo Point, walking tracks and valley views
Echo Point sits on the plateau at Katoomba as the main structured lookout for Three Sisters, with a wide platform that opens the view south across the Jamison Valley and north along the escarpment. From here, railings and paved paths lead towards the start of the Three Sisters walk, an easy route that brings visitors closer to the formation and to further viewpoints along the cliff edge.Three Sisters walk Behind the main viewing area, information panels describe the geology, flora and stories connected with the site.
The broader Katoomba area forms part of Blue Mountains National Park, with additional walking tracks linking Echo Point to other points on the cliff line and down into the valley.Echo Point lookout Escarpment paths follow the rim through woodland and open viewpoints, while longer routes descend via stairways towards the forest below, offering changing angles on Three Sisters as the pillars shift against the skyline.
Visiting Three Sisters: what travellers from Western Europe should know
- Three Sisters stands near the town of Katoomba in New South Wales, west of Sydney, and is reached by road and rail links that serve the Blue Mountains region.
- The main Echo Point lookout and the Three Sisters walk use paved surfaces and formed paths, but approaches to other viewpoints involve stairways and uneven sections close to steep drops.
- The cliffs around Three Sisters carry forest that keeps its colour through the year, and valley mist or low cloud can change how far into the Jamison Valley the view extends.
- English is the official language and the currency is the Australian dollar.
- Entry requirements depend on your nationality; UK travellers can check the FCDO travel advice at gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice, Irish travellers the Department of Foreign Affairs at ireland.ie.
Searching for Three Sisters on social platforms
These links open searches for Three Sisters on each platform.
Frequently asked questions about Three Sisters
Where is Three Sisters in relation to Katoomba and Sydney?
Three Sisters stands at Echo Point near Katoomba in New South Wales, in the Blue Mountains west of Sydney, above the Jamison Valley escarpment.
What can visitors expect when viewing Three Sisters from Echo Point?
From the main lookout at Echo Point, visitors see the three sandstone pillars projecting from the cliff, with forested slopes and valley floor spreading beneath the escarpment.
What makes Three Sisters distinctive among Blue Mountains landmarks?
The named pinnacles Meehni, Wimlah and Gunnedoo combine visible height differences, Triassic sandstone geology and Aboriginal stories on a single valley rim, giving Three Sisters a strongly defined profile.
