Lincoln's Rock Temporarily Closed Due to Tourist Surge

An Australian council will close an immensely popular tourist lookout after social media fame triggered a surge of visitors, raising fears the site is being "loved to death". Once known only to locals, the spot has now been totally transformed. Blue Mountains City Council said Lincoln’s Rock at Wentworth Falls attracts hundreds of daily tourists who sit on the cliff edge to recreate a viral image. But from Thursday, it will temporarily shut the site for three months to prevent a tragedy. Council Mayor Mark Greenhill said the dramatic spike in popularity can largely be traced back to one moment online. In 2023, K-pop star Jennie from the South Korean girl group Blackpink shared photos of herself at the lookout with her more than 80 million Instagram followers. It lured a large number of Korean and international tourists in response. Greenhill said Lincoln’s Rock had already been growing in popularity, but the post took things to another level. "I don't wait for someone to be killed before I act on concerns about safety," he told the ABC. "It's too much, it's too unsafe, and it's degrading the environment." Blue Mountains locals earlier vowed to take action against disruptive tourists, which they say bombard the area in "uncontrolled" numbers, wreaking havoc on the landscape and "exacerbating congestion". The dilemma is one many traveller hotspots around the country — and around the world — are facing, with local authorities struggling to strike a balance between supporting local needs while reaping the benefits of tourist income. Do you have a story? Contact newsroomau@yahoonews.com Lookout already being 'worn away' The mayor said the physical toll on the site is already visible. "The growth has been so fast and so alarming that it has meant our infrastructure on the site can't keep pace with the numbers that are coming there," he said. Greenhill said there's actually now a divot in the rock from the sheer volume of people who sit there. "You can actually see a shiny white part on the rock where thousands of bums have literally worn away the rock," he said. Council is also grappling with a rise in vandalism, with initials and names carved into the sandstone. But Greenhill said his biggest concern is safety. Lincoln’s Rock, like many lookouts across the Blue Mountains, is unfenced. In 2019, a teenage visitor slipped and fell about 30 metres from the cliff edge, suffering multiple serious injuries, including fractured ribs, cracked vertebrae and a broken shoulder blade. In response, councillors voted in November to trial a suite of measures aimed at managing visitor numbers and minimising damage. The plan includes deploying a ranger taskforce during peak periods for six months, installing extra signage and temporary toilets, and setting up an advisory group to guide longer-term decisions. Tourism clashes with locals and environmental concerns The move follows similar interventions by councils and park authorities around Australia, as social media drives unprecedented crowds to natural lookouts. Last year, the Gunlom Falls, an iconic spot in the Kakadu National Park in the Northern Territory, finally reopened after six years of being closed. It also battled similar issues. Earlier this year, in Western Australia, the government warned visitors to the picturesque Greens Pool and Elephant Rocks to behave responsibly as tourism levels climbed through the roof. From fencing and access restrictions at hazardous cliff sites in New South Wales, to timed entry, ranger patrols and infrastructure upgrades at heavily photographed viewpoints in Victoria and Queensland, local governments are increasingly stepping in to manage risk and protect fragile landscapes. Tensions around Lincoln’s Rock flared recently after an unauthorised sign, erected by frustrated locals, appeared at the site falsely claiming it was closed due to vandalism and neglect. Although it was quickly removed, a similar sign was later reported nearby.