Lincoln’s Rock, Wentworth Falls: Australian tourist destination closing down after going viral on social media

Lincoln’s Rock, one of the Blue Mountains’ most recognisable lookout points, will close to the public from Thursday amid growing safety and environmental concerns after going viral online.

The clifftop site at Wentworth Falls, west of Sydney, has drawn massive crowds in recent years, with visitors flocking to the unfenced edge for dramatic selfies and social media posts.

Known to locals as “Flat Rock”, and once a quiet local gem, the landmark now hosts swarms of tourists every weekend, leading to erosion, vandalism, and fears of a serious accident.

“Lincoln’s Rock will temporarily close from Thursday, January 22, for a minimum of three months,” Blue Mountains City Council said in a statement.

“The closure responds to serious safety concerns and environmental damage at this unfenced clifftop lookout, where visitors have increasingly ignored safety warnings despite recent improvements. Public safety is our absolute priority. The site will close for at least three months while we develop solutions to ensure safe access and manage the area’s rapid growth in visitation.”

Mayor Mark Greenhill said the lookout’s popularity exploded after South Korean pop superstar Jennie Kim from Blackpink shared photos from her 2023 Australian trip with her 80 million Instagram followers.

Mr Greenhill said he was deeply concerned about the site’s safety. “I don’t wait for someone to be killed before I act,” he said. “It’s too much. It’s too unsafe and it’s degrading the environment.”

“The growth has been so fast and so alarming that it has resulted in our infrastructure on the site unable to keep pace with the numbers that are going there,” he said.

“You can actually see a shiny white part on the rock where thousands of bums have literally worn away the rock.”

Local frustration has also been rising. Residents recently erected an unauthorised sign claiming the site was closed due to vandalism and neglect. Although it was swiftly removed, another appeared shortly after.

Like many scenic vantage points in the region, Lincoln’s Rock has no fencing. In 2019, a teenager fell 30 metres from the edge, suffering fractured ribs, vertebrae, and a broken shoulder blade.

In November, councillors voted to boost patrols during busy periods, increase signage, install temporary toilets, and establish an advisory group to manage the lookout long term.