Blue Mountains Camino Supporters Inc

04/10/2026

Blue Mountains Camino Supporters Inc have previously donated to Terra Nova Pilgrim House.

An exciting Pilgrim House update: we got new dryers!!!!!

A huge thank you to American Pilgrims On The Camino and Scott & Cindy for your generosity in making this possible!

We’re now even better equipped to serve pilgrims and get your laundry fresh and ready, so you can feel refreshed and renewed after your Camino.

14/09/2026

******Would you like a hospitalero/as experience in Australia?
5 - Day Camino Training Walk - 2027. ******

******Monday 8 to Sunday 14 March****
BMCS is seeking 2 people from our Camino community to be our hospitaleros at Glenella for the 5-Day Camino training walk in March 2027.

Ideally you will have;
Undertaken a Hospitalero course
Had experience as a Hospitalero along the Camino in Europe.
Completed a BMCS 5-Day walk
A desire to further the Camino spirit
Our hospis stay at Glenella at no cost and do not pay the walk registration fee.

If you would like to express your interest in being a hospi for the March 2027 5-Day Camino walk please message us for more details. BMCS 😀

01/09/2026

Glenella 'Albergue' base for the Blue Mountains Camino 5-Day Walk

01/09/2026

Save the Dates 9-10 January 2027 and start making plans to do the Way of St James Cygnet in Tasmania or join the Global Walk.

Registrations are now open for our Way to St James Cygnet Tassie and Global Caminos which occur on the 9th-10th January 2027!

To register for our Tassie Camino, click on this link:

https://url.au.m.mimecastprotect.com/s/dp6mCXLJYyuDOKKEI6fLLiW1ITZ?domain=events.humanitix.com

To sign up for our Global Camino, click on this link and click “ Going”:

https://www.facebook.com/share/1HqL2U3uBV/

We look forward to walking with you in Tasmania and across the world!
Buen Camino!

31/08/2026

It was surprisingly wonderful to have so many of BMC supporters (44) join us for our monthly walk, this time in Springwood. We know there are at least 7 regular supporters on their Camino, other pilgrimages or on non-walking holidays, and many more doing a long, long walk from Sydney.

Gathering at Manners Park in Springwood, a very excited group of walkers greeted each other enthusiastically with many returning pilgrims and others we hadn't seen for a while join us today

The Easy group of walkers numbered 20, for their 8km, 3 hour walk to the lush Birdwood Gully Loop walk and return via Buttenshaw Park. The Loop walk includes some rocky and uneven sections and as some found out, quite a few steps - what goes down must come up! Walk leader was Sharise.

There were 24 walkers in the Medium group, lead by Robert. The route was reduced to 9kms and took 3 hours including a rest break and for some a stop on the way back at the Love Local Market at Springwood Hub.
The walk commenced initially with an unexciting walk through the streets of Springwood and Valley Heights before joining the Valley Heights Fire Trail. This was lush in sections with waterholes and a couple of creek crossings and an abundance of early spring wildflowers were found on the trail. Before exiting the valley, we had a 'silent' (no talking) section to reflect and enjoy the forest and listen to the birds, or nothing. It was very peaceful. Elevation gain was about 160m.

Neither walking route went by a cafe and had to wait until return to Springwood village! The groups gathered for lunch at The Royal, it was too noisy to have a Meetup with guest speaker but meal were enjoyable.

Thank you to everyone who joined us, regulars and newbees, for the Springwood walk. Some stayed overnight in Springwood with supporters coming as far away as the Central Coast, Northern Beaches and the Sydney Basin as well as Blue Mountains villages. It was wonderful to see everyone.
Thank you to walk leaders and sweepers, to Sharise, Jacquie, Ann, Robert and Carlene for contribution of photos.

We look forward to seeing the many supporters who will make the journey to Canberra for our weekend of walking and dinners 25-27 September 2026.
Buen Camino

31/08/2026

For the July 2026 Camino training walk in Winmalee, it was a chilly start but it didn't take long for take off the layers once in the valley and amongst the beautiful, lush forest.

The Easy group of walkers did 10.3 km, taking about 3 hours. It was a scenic loop walk along the majestic Blue Gum Swamp Track and Shaws Ridge Firetrail. Walk leader was Johann

The Medium group of walkers were broken into 2 groups, walking 13km of some sections of quite steep firetrails taking around 4 hours. The same starting point as the Easy group but continued up to Bees Nest Hill Lookout from the junction of Blue Gum Swamp Track and Shaws Ridge Firetrail where the group was rewarded with spectacular views from the South Grose Head Lookout. Walk leaders were Robert and Tony.

The Easy group of walkers finished much earlier and had lunch at the Winmalee Tavern, by time the Medium group of walkers arrived, the Easy group had eaten and left!

Thank you Julia, Robart & Carene for photos, and to the sweepers of the groups.

31/08/2026

A reasonable group of 36 walkers gathered at Emu Plains in June for the BMCS monthly walk. There were several returning pilgrims, whilst many were still away on their Camino or other pilgrimages - so it was a lovely catchup!

Easy group of walkers numbered 16, they walked from Emu Plains Station down to the Nepean River. Stopping at the Orchard Cafe for coffee then crossed back over the river with a quick stop at Lewers Gallery before heading back to Emu Plains. The walk was 10.5kms taking about 3hrs including coffee stop. Thanks to Cath, Joanne and Sharise for the Easy group photos.

The Medium group of 20 walkers took a quick look (for group photo) at the Nepean River before heading towards Leonay and up to Knapsack Bridge, then climbed a lot of sandstone steps down and back up to Elizabeth and Marges lookouts. It was lovely to see the wild flowers along the tracks. After a morning tea break some continued down to the historic Lennox Bridge before rejoining the rest of the group via a rocky track to Knapsack Reserve then back to Emu Plains. The walk was 14kms taking around 4 hours.

Both groups met at O'Donoghues pub for a well-deserved lunch. Thanks to Paula, Ann & Carlene for the photos of the Medium group walk.

31/08/2026

Blue Mountains Camino Training Walk was held 2-7 March 2026. It's a 5-Day Walk from Emu Plains to Blackheath in the Blue Mountains.

The first comment on the Whatsapp group set up for the March ’26 walk was from Kathy: “Hi everyone! I’m going to be travelling from the Gold Coast. …..”

Wow, how good is that - someone travelling all the way from Queensland to participate in our Camino supporters 5-Day Walk! The group of 45 walkers came from far and wide - Canberra, Ballina, Newcastle, “the Shire”, Dubbo and the greater Sydney region, all driven by the desire to be ‘pilgrims’ for the week. They were welcomed heartily at our Monday evening briefing by hospitaleros Eileen and Richard, hosts Margaret and Rowan, and MC for the proceedings - BMCS admin team extraordinaire Sharise.

A quick map and navigation help session was followed by superb tapas prepared by Richard in the Glenella Albergue kitchen. Eileen curated an icebreaker to relax all the newcomers and the second or third time 5DW pilgrims. Then it was time to distribute the yellow welcome bags with goodies including a chocolate, a poem rolled into a scroll, the comprehensive guide booklet and keepsake 5DW fridge magnet.

Dinner followed - a delicious Spanish meal again prepared by Richard with the help of Catherine and kitchen volunteers. It was then time to get serious and talk about the route options and what the daily routine would entail. Those who had been nervous now relaxed and everyone seemed to be looking forward to the early morning 7.03am train trip to the start the next morning. To close out the excellent evening, people surrounded the dishwasher and helped clean and tidy up for the night - already demonstrating the pilgrim spirit from Day 0.

Day 1 dawned and pilgrims gathered at the Emu Plains train station for the first of Margaret’s daily pilgrim table and informational briefing. And with that, walkers headed off and the five days started. Over the 5 days pilgrims embarked on walking a section of the route each day, Camino style, finishing in Blackheath and starting and finishing at a train station each day. The route takes walkers through interesting places along the way, experiencing ‘worked’ muscles, talking, walking, sharing and supporting. The standard route aims to mimic the Camino Frances and covers mainly paved surfaces and fire roads. Scenic options are offered each day for those confident to walk on bush trails and ascend/descend steps. Options are available to challenge everyone.

In the evening, activities ranged from engaging sessions hosted by hospitaleros Eileen and Richard, pub meals and a movie night. The Saturday celebratory lunch was a fitting finish to the week. A 'boccadilla' buffet with a wrap-up led by Sharise concluded the week long Camino training walk. Credentials were now filled with pages of stamps from Blue Mountains villages from Emu Plains to Blackheath. The week's activities ended with a social evening barbecue and trivia on Saturday night, with plenty of laughter and sangria.

What a fantastic event! Thank you to everyone who participated and made it a true pilgrim experience in Australia - walkers, organisers and the BMCS admin team. Gratitude to all.

Words by Rowan and Margaret Bouttell
Photos: Thank you Adrienne V and Rowan.

27/08/2026

Deb & Justin were guest speakers at BMCS Katoomba Camino Meetup in May 2026, when the stars aligned wirh their visit from Melbourne.

Listen to their chat with Dan Mullins - My Camino Podcast from 14 July.

What would an underwear think of the Camino?

Check out an illustrated book "Meriam & Oden's Guide to Walking the Camino: An Underwear Exposé" by Australian pilgrims, Deb and Justin Hansen. It is a funny but true guidebook about the Camino, what to do and not do. If you have walked on the Camino, you'd laugh and at the same time say "yes, that's true!"

You can also listen to an interview by Dan Mullins with Deb and Justin on My Camino the Podcast 14 July.

27/08/2026