Coxs Cave
Coxs Cave
Tucked away near the edge of Mount Piddington, this short hike might not boast the scale of the bigger Blue Mountains tracks, but what it offers is a real sense of stepping into the slower rhythms of the bush. Whether you’re a local looking to explore something different or just passing through Mount Victoria with a bit of spare time, this little trail delivers far more than you’d expect from its modest stats. This is Coxs Cave.
Quick Details
Length: 1.6km
Elevation: 140m
Grade: Easy with one moderate ladder climb
Best season: Year-round
Suitable for kids: Yes — although young kids probably shouldn’t be on the ladder
Starting the Trail
The Little Adventurers were back hiking with us this week, and with the cold, wet weather, we settled on a short track close to home. After parking at the Mount Piddington lookout, we headed off down the hill to walk the circuit anti-clockwise. There are quite a few tracks in this area, but they’re well signposted and easy enough to follow.
At the first junction, we took the track to the left, then the track to the right at the second — this is the most direct route to Coxs Cave. That way, if the boys had had enough after the cave, we could return the same way instead of completing the circuit. Not sure what we were worried about — they were bouncing with energy the entire way.
The first section took us through classic dry forest — it’s what most of us picture when we think of a typical Aussie bush track. On the day we visited, it had just finished raining, so the “dry” bushland wasn’t so dry, and the track was a little slippery. We took it slow — mostly because the boys kept finding hollows in trees and fallen logs and wanted to check whether anything was living inside.
We like encouraging their exploration of things like this on hikes. We were both much the same way when we were kids — and still are now, really. So we give them space to stop, poke around, and discover things for themselves. Hopefully, in time, that curiosity will grow into a deeper appreciation for wild places — much like it did for both of us.
As we got lower down the hill, the forest began to shift — the eucalypts gave way to ferns and mosses, and that cool, green hush of temperate rainforest we love so much in the Blue Mountains. As we rounded a large boulder, the scenery grew greener and damper. With dappled light filtering through the canopy above, it felt like walking through a fairytale.
We reached the final staircase of worn stone steps and could see the Coxs Cave ladder at the bottom. The boys had been excited about the ladder all morning, and when they finally saw it, they pretty much ran down the steps with shouts of “I’m climbing up first!”
We paused at the base for a snack, while the boys looked up at the ladder and tried to shake it to see if it would move. “It’s pretty strong,” they declared, after their rigorous five seconds of testing. As they debated the engineering merits of the ladder, I followed the sound of water behind us and found a beautiful little weeping wall tucked just off the trail. It would probably be dry without the recent rain, so it was a lovely surprise.
Climbing the Ladder
Just like we encourage exploring the forest floor, Jess gives her boys the freedom to try things on their own when they’re confident. The eldest wanted to climb up solo. The youngest asked for a bit of help — so help was given.
The ladder is solid — fixed at the top, bottom, and midway by steel arms anchored into the rock. It doesn’t actually lead to the cave itself, but it does bring you to a higher section of the wall where the trail continues. The top of the ladder finishes at a low overhang — seriously, anyone taller than the Little Adventurers will need to duck.
Coxs Cave
Once we were all at the top, the trail took a couple of sharp switchback turns before opening out to the cave itself. From here it’s quite steep and a bit of a scramble — not the easiest or cleanest route when it’s wet. Some old steps are still in place, but they’re worn down and slick.
Once you manage to clamber up to the base of the stone wall, there’s a small flat-ish section to stand or sit on — not a lot of space, but enough. This is where you want to be to really appreciate Coxs Cave. What we loved most was the height and arch of the ceiling — it gives the space a quiet, cathedral-like feel.
There’s a narrow ledge on the right that leads around the outside of the cave. I followed it on a previous visit to see if it went anywhere — it doesn’t. The track gets dicey pretty quickly, so trust me: it’s not worth venturing out there.
Looking out from the back of the cave gives you a beautiful view through the trees to the cliffs beyond. It’s a great spot to sit for a while and soak it all in. We’ve only ever seen a couple of other people on the trail on previous visits, so chances are you’ll have the place to yourself.
Who is Cox, and why is this his cave?
As far as we know, George Henry Cox never clambered down here with a muesli bar, a headtorch, and a long ladder. The cave was named in his honour around 1879 — a nod to his time in NSW Parliament and his connection to fellow politician William Piddington (of Mount Piddington fame). Piddington once owned land on the summit and apparently cleared trees to improve the view. They sat beside each other in Parliament — and now, their names sit beside each other on the map.
Back to the Trail
Scrambling back down the slope to the cave entrance was a bit of a challenge given how muddy it was — but we got there in the end. At the ladder, both boys were keen to climb down on their own. After a quick reminder about keeping three points of contact, they were both back on the ground in no time, already asking if there were any more ladders to climb.
We decided to take the longer way back to the car — the wind was freezing but there’s no fun in ending an adventure early. So we continued down the hill and to our left, around a stone wall. As we rounded the next bend we were met with a wide view of the valley. We paused to point out the cliffs in the distance to the boys — roughly where we’d gone abseiling a few weeks back.
This stretch of trail is beautiful — winding alongside the stone wall through the forest. There’s a large fallen tree to climb over, but nothing too difficult. We spotted a crevice in the wall. “Is that another cave?” cried the boys. No idea... go check. “It’s cool, but not as cool as the one with the ladder.”
The stone wall drops away as we walk through the forest next to Fairy Bower Creek. The trail leads up to a small bridge crossing the creek and if you’re not paying attention you might presume that’s the way to go — I did on my first visit here. But the trail over the bridge will lead you to Fairy Bower near the Great Western Highway — not the Mount Piddington car park.
Turn left at the bridge. A short walk up the hill brings you to a clearing and a small waterfall. I’ve tried figuring out its name — even asked a few others (thanks Lance, Rob, and Ask Roz). Some sources call it The Grotto, but it’s unclear whether that’s the actual name or just a description. So for now, I’m calling it the-waterfall-that-must-not-be-named.
It’s a gorgeous little spot with a picnic table tucked into the clearing. Sadly, it was too cold to linger long, so we all voted to head back to the car and make our way to One Tree Hill Café in Mount Victoria — to warm ourselves by the fire and sip hot chocolate.
Getting There
Coxs Cave is just outside Mount Victoria, with the trailhead starting from Mount Piddington.
From the Great Western Highway, turn onto Mount Piddington Road, then left onto Sylvania Street, right on Apex Avenue, and left again on Mount Piddington Road. The road loops around the summit — there’s an awkward right-hand turn to reach the top, or you can park along the roadside.
Tips and Tricks
There are quite a few tracks around here that take you past gorgeous lookouts along the clifftops, as well as a few caves. It’s a great area to explore.
The tracks in this area are dog-friendly — just maybe leave the ladder climbing to the humans.
Mount Piddington summit offers great views of the valley and is a great place to see the sunset.
