Yandhai Nepean Crossing - Penrith

Yandhai Nepean Crossing, is a pedestrian and cyclist bridge between the Penrith and Emu Plains side of the Nepean River officially opened on 28 October 2018 by the Premier Gladys Berejiklian and Stuart Ayres, Member for Penrith. The crossing is Australia’s longest single clear-span bridge, measuring 284m in total length with a 200m main span across the Nepean River. It replaces the undivided footpath next to the roadway on the nearby Victoria Bridge.

The word ‘Yandhai’ contains elements of Darug language, and means ‘walking in past and present’. ‘Nepean’ has been kept in the name to signify the bridge’s place. ‘Crossing’ (instead of bridge), signifies both the bridge’s modern purpose and the historical use of this location along the river as a significant crossing.

 The new crossing gives a much improved bridge to bridge circuit walk of 6.4km via the Penrith Valley Bridge


See my earlier post



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Penrith - Nepean River Walk

This walk started on the western side of the Nepean River at River Road Reserve Emu Plains, crossed over the Nepean Valley Bridge to Tench Reserve, a popular picnic spot on the eastern side of the river.

About half way along River Road Emu Plains, is the Penrith Regional Gallery (below). This was once a small rural property that became the home of artists Margo and Gerald Lewers. Their daughters donated the site, buildings and gardens along with an art collection to Penrith City Council. We stopped here for refreshments at ‘Café at Lewers’, which has a pleasant outlook of the cottage garden.

Lewers Gallery Emu Plains

The front door of Lewers Gallery and a sculpture by Sonia Farley, made from Banksia wood from the collection at Penrith Regional Gallery & The Lewers Bequest

Eastern Water Dragon

Rail bridge over Nepean River, Penrith

                                 Walk location map                                                                   


We turned away from Tench Reserve at Jamison Road and walked on to Panthers Leagues Club.
There is a limited bus service from here, see Blue Mountains bus services.

There is also another walk along the river, under the Victoria Bridge (road) and the adjacent 1907 Rail Bridge (see above photo) past the weir reserve. This walk is a short distance from Penrith shopping centre.

Nepean Belle have boat cruises that extend into the Nepean Gorge.

Mount Portal Lookout

 This walk is in the Glenbrook section of the Blue Mountains National Park.

Portal Waterhole is on a looped side track off the Mount Portal lookout road.

The Lower Blue Mountains begins here, as it rises abruptly on the western side of the Nepean River.

Mt. Portal Lookout

Mount Portal Lookout overlooks the Nepean River and the Cumberland Plain south of Penrith.
We walked from Glenbrook station, but the lookout can be reached by 4WD.

Tunnel View Lookout

Tunnel View Lookout is a great vantage point with views across to the main western rail line between Lapstone and Glenbrook and of Glenbrook Gorge below. The lookout is only a stroll from the road.

Glenbrook Gorge

WildWalks information Tunnel Lookout  and Mt. Portal Lookout

Glenbrook Sector Map

My thanks to our walk leader John M.