How to find the spectacular hidden rock arch just an hour’s drive from Sydney’s CBD that thousands of tourists are flocking to
- Thousands of hikers flocking to hidden archway just an hour’s drive from Sydney
- Hidden gem can be found by hiking through the Blue Mountains National Park
- Stunning sandstone arch is the result of the natural erosion of a collapsed cave
Thousands of visitors are flocking to a secret sandstone archway hidden away in the Blue Mountains National Park just an hour’s drive west of Sydney.
The picturesque Dargan Arch is just past the town of Bell and inside the boundary of the national park, on the eastern side of the Great Dividing Range.
The stunning sandstone archway is the result of a long collapsed cave and is difficult to find, so visitors to the landmark will have it all to themselves.
The stunning sandstone archway is just an hours drive west from Sydney’s CBD
Dargan Arch (pictured) is the result of natural erosion of a long-collapsed cave or overhang
Nature enthusiasts Joe & Cat from Walk My World told Daily Mail Australia they stumbled upon the hidden gem after finding a piece of tape stuck to a tree.
‘In the hiking world, that means there’s something interesting down there’, Joe said.
Dargan Arch can be found by turning off the highway at the historic town of Bell onto Sandham Road, and following the track back towards Dargan for 3.5km.
The walk from the carpark to the top of the arch is 730m, the first 550m a gentle slope down a fire trail.
The return hike is 1.5km long and is estimated to take just under 40 minutes, including time to snap some photos and explore the rockface.
Hikers should look out for two telegraph poles, a metal pole with some tape tied around, it and several piles of log debris.
As the trail gets steeper, Joe advises hikers to head left over a rocky area that will eventually reveal a ravine that gives an aerial view of Dargan Arch.
The view from underneath the rock offers another unique perspective of the natural archway
The walk from the carpark to the top of the archway is a total distance of 730m, the first 550m a gentle slope down a fire trail
‘I’ve been in Utah where canyons like that are really prevalent, but you don’t seem to see them here, so it was pretty cool,’ the avid hiker said.
‘You can walk right over the arch with ease as it’s nice and wide, even if you don’t like unfenced cliff edges, it’s unlikely you’ll have a problem with this one as you don’t need to go anywhere near the drop.’
The arch itself is only 15m long and can be easily climbed, with the view from underneath the sandstone rock offering a unique perspective.
‘It’s a great spot, it feels so quiet and untouched. If you love photography it also offers the chance to take some interesting shots’, Joe said.
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