The Blue Mountains Camino Supporters (BMCS) is a social group that shares the wonderful spirit of the Camino through various events including its Blue Mountains Camino 5-Day walk.

Over five days, pilgrims walk up the Blue Mountains from Penrith (Emu Plains) at the base, to Blackheath, near the top. 

The Blue Mountains Camino 5-Day walk is a wonderful opportunity to experience the Camino spirit right here in Australia.   If you have walked a Camino and wish to rekindle the pleasures - and pain - of long distance walking with like-minded pilgrims, this walk is for you.  If you have never walked a Camino, but aspire to one day, this walk is the perfect opportunity to learn from others and experience a little of the 'Camino' spirit right here in Australia. 

Please be aware this is not a guided walk but rather a practice walk with a group of like-minded Camino pilgrims travelling up the Blue Mountains. You will be provided with a daily printed walk guide and route summary. The detailed maps are provided electronically, requiring a smartphone, tablet or laptop. We recommend using a smartphone for the duration of the walk.

All walkers are responsible for their own personal safety and well being.

AUTUMN 5-DAY WALK 3-8 MARCH 2025

The Autumn 5-Day walk starts on Monday 3 March with a welcome dinner and walker briefing and finishes with a celebratory lunch on Saturday 8 March. The walk will be hosted at Glenella in Blackheath with social activities (welcome dinner, evening Camino activities and celebratory lunch) held at Glenella.

ROUTE INFORMATION

On this uphill route you will walk on a variety of terrain - fire roads, bush tracks, pathways, pavement (including a section along the Great Western Highway), suburban roads.  There are steps and some steep sections.  There will be options to deviate from the direct route to include scenic tracks or points of particular interest.

Emu Plains, near Penrith, our starting point, is 27m above sea level, and Blackheath, our end point, is at 1065m. Distances walked each day are between 14km and 23km.  Although the distances don't appear long, each day will take approx 6-8 hrs, including breaks, due to the elevation gain and variable bush tracks.

The walk is a total distance of around 95km, starting at Emu Plains on Tuesday morning and finishing on Saturday at Blackheath around midday.

REGISTRATION FEE

The registration fee of $80 for the Autumn walk includes:

• Welcome dinner
• Celebratory lunch
• A printed planning guide
• Evening activities at Glenella
• Printed daily route overview and printed daily walk guide
• Walk routes including scenic options, in electronic format
• Blue Mountains Camino Supporters 5-Day walk credential 
• Access to the 5-Day info portal (you will be sent username and password once registered) with info on accommodation, what to pack and the downloadable maps.
• Daily pilgrim table
• Great Camino spirit!

GROUP LIMIT

The group size will be limited to 50 pilgrims for the Autumn 5-Day Walk. 

Glenella Albergue can accommodate a maximum of 25 pilgrims. Others will need to arrange their own accommodation. Please select your accommodation preference when registering for the Autumn 5-Day Walk.

CAMINO ACTIVITIES

A range of Camino related activities are offered to complement your Blue Mountains 5-Day walk experience:

• A gathering point for pilgrims to meet at the end of each day's walk (a cafe or pub)
• A credential and daily stamps 
• Evening Camino related activities at Glenella
• Shared meals and experiences at Glenella for all walkers.

All walkers are invited to participate in evening activities at Glenella whether or not they are staying at Glenella.

ACCOMMODATION 

Glenella

Glenella 'Albergue' in Blackheath is offering a 6 night accommodation package, arriving Monday, departing Sunday.  A maximum of 25 pilgrims can be accommodated.  Glenella has hosted 5-Day pilgrims for the past five years and offers a Camino like experience with a range of accommodation options. Glenella is a 4 minute walk from Blackheath Station.   

Other accommodation

Blackheath offers a range of accommodation options. If you would like to  stay along the route, there are accommodation options in villages along the way. Use the 5-Day walk planner to plan your bookings. A few options are listed on our 5DW portal if you would like to stay near fellow 5-Day participants. 

Accommodation information and a link to Glenella's booking page will be provided in your registration confirmation email.

HOSPITALEROS

Our very experienced hospitaleros and hospitalero trainers, Eileen and Richard are volunteering as hospitaleros at Glenella.  Eileen and Richard will support pilgrims during the week and organise evening activities.

TRANSPORT

Walkers catch the train from Blackheath (or wherever they are staying) to the starting point of the walk each day. Morning train times are listed on the 5-Day walk planner. Walkers return to their accommodation by train at the end of the walk each day.  Information about obtaining an Opal Card to use on the train will be included in in your registration confirmation email.

The daily walk guide includes information about stations along the route each day to exit early if needed.

TERMS AND CONDITIONS

• Participants are expected to be planning to walk a similar style pilgrimage in Europe or have walked a Camino (anywhere in the world).  The organisers have the right to cancel your registration if they believe your participation is not in the Camino spirit.
• Your safety is your responsibility. You must know your walking ability.  The organisers have the authority to withdraw you from any section of the walk if they believe the route is not suitable for you and that you may put yourself (or others) at risk.
• All our Blue Mountains Camino events are subject to change due to severe weather events.  If the organisers determine conditions are not safe for pilgrims the 5-Day walk will be cancelled or amended.  In that case your registration fee will be fully refunded.

CANCELLATIONS

Tickets are refundable up to 14 days prior to the walk. No refund is available if you cancel within 14 days of the walk commencement date.  To cancel your registration please email info@bluemountainscamino.au.

CONTACT DETAILS

Contact Event Organiser