Hi,
I've just got back from a 3 day hike around Jamison Valley in the BMs (with my 12 yo nephew on his first overnight bushwalk) around a similar route to the one Jonnosan linked.
Day 1: We took the train to Wentworth Falls Station, then initally followed the route Wildwalks shows but in reverse to Kedumba Valley Road, via Darwins Track, Wentworth Falls, Rocket Point, Holdern Road, Kings Tableland Road, and to Kedumba Valley Road. We lunched at Cleary's Memorial/Lookout, and continued down the road to the Maxwells Farm site and the campsite at Kedumba crossing for the night. This was about 20km and 6 hours for the day, most of it on gravel roads and fire trail. There's fire rings and a composting toilet at the campsite, with clean-ish water available in the creek that drains into Kedumba River. Also a zillion roos grazing and poo to match.
Day 2: We crossed Kedumba River which is about 15cm deep at the moment, and walked up the fire trail for about 2.5km, the turned onto the signposted Maxwell's Track which links to the Mt Solitary track after about 4-500m. We continued up to The Col, and along Mt Solitary and lunched at the lookout and campsite at Singajingawell. Noted a very small trickle of water in the creek, though there may be more a little further down. We stopped at Chinamans Gully and Mevilles Lookout, and I took a walk down to the lower end of the creek which was amost completely dry, but I found a couple of small pools of clear water near the lower campsite. We camped the second night under the casuarinas at the western end of Solitary just above Koorowall Knife Edge. Not being sure of the amount of water around on Solitary, we took enough from Kedumba crossing for the overnight, but it looks like there'll be a little water to be found up there for the next week or two only unless there's rain. About 8km walk for the day, took us about 5 hours all up.
Day 3: We took the track down the Koorowall and past the base of the Ruined Castle, where Parks have recently installed a couple of shelters with picnic tables with water tanks, and composting toilets. I didn't check but I doubt if there's any water in the tanks as yet. Our original plan was to continue round past the the landslide to the Scenic railway, and take it then the bus up to Katoomba Railway Station and train back to Sydney. Instead we went up the Golden Stairs where we'd arranged a lift the night before. About 9 or 10km for the day, and 3 hours walking.
So:
Public transport: check.
Campfires: check for both nights.
Spectacular views: check.
Campsite with starry views check (BYO clear skies).
No water carrying: hmm, OK for Day 1 with drinking water only, but I'd carry water for the next 2 days to be safe.
Maps needed: Katoomba 8930-1S and Jamison 8930-2N.
As well as the Wildwalks site, check also
http://www.dingogap.net.au/navigation/scenery/bluemountains/kedumba_main.html.
