An amazing Blue Mountains trip from Sydney, Australia

If you’re spending any time in New South Wales, I highly recommend taking a Blue Mountains trip from Sydney. For many travellers, Sydney is the starting point in Australia, and with just a two-hour train journey, you’ll find yourself in a place that feels worlds away from the bustling, coastal life of the city.

The Blue Mountains have to be seen to be believed. Huge views of uninterrupted lush scenery, impressive rock formations, miles and miles of hiking trails, stunning waterfalls, and adventure awaits those who decide to make the trip. They are named as such due to the blue haze that often blankets the landscape. You won’t regret making a trip here.

How long to spend on a Blue Mountains trip from Sydney

I visited the Blue Mountains as my third stop on my three week Sydney to Cairns trip. I actually ended up there almost by accident. Bus availability meant I had extra days to spend in this area and, as such, decided to make the trip. You can absolutely visit as a day trip, and if you wanted a guided tour there are plenty of options to choose from. Equally, it is easily possible to visit this area yourself. However, to get the most out of a Blue Mountains trip from Sydney, I would definitely recommend planning for at least a 1 night stopover.

How to get to a Blue Mountains trip from Sydney

By train

By far the easiest way to take a Blue Mountains trip from Sydney is by train. It is fast, efficient and cost effective. Hop on the train from Sydney Central, and take the two hour ride to Katoomba – the gateway to the Blue Mountains. Tickets cost between $6-$10 each way. You can tap in and out like you would around the city of Sydney, using either your Opal Card or a debit or credit card.

The train takes just under 2 hours, and leaves hourly – at 9 minutes past the hour each hour. Trains are more frequent on weekends, leaving every half hour at 24 minutes past. However, there are often rail works on the line at weekends, so do make sure to check before you travel. For the most up to date information check out the NSW Transport website.

The trains are double decker, and the most genius part is that the seats flip so can be changed to face each way. For the best views, head up to the top floor and sit on the left hand side on your way out to the Blue Mountains.

By car

factor in traffic and fuel costs and it is going to cost you more to hire a car. As well as potentially take you longer to reach the Blue Mountains, over taking the train. There are also accessible ways to get around the Blue Mountains by public transport when you arrive. So car hire might not be the best option.

Tour options

As mentioned earlier, if you want to remove the hassle from your day. You can look at tour options. Sites such as GetYourGuide and Viator have plenty of options to suit all your needs. These include coach pick ups from Sydney. As well as having access to other attractions, such as Featherdale Wildlife Park, that aren’t as accessible via public transport.

Where to stay on a Blue Mountains trip from Sydney

The Blue Mountains have three main towns Katoomba, Leura and Blackheath – all packed with charm. Katoomba is the biggest, has the most amenities and this is where the train from Sydney arrives into, so this is a great place to stay for a the night.

Getting around on a Blue Mountains trip from Sydney

If you are travelling on a Blue Mountains trip from Sydney via train, then the easiest way to get around once you are there is a hop on hop off bus! While this type of tourist attraction may come with immediate connotations, dispel them! This is one place where it actually works really well.

These buses drive in a loop around the Blue Mountains, and between Katoomba and Leura. It takes around an hour to do the full loop without getting off, and a bus runs every half an hour. There are 29 stops along the way which you can get on and off at. This means the biggest bonus to getting this bus is that you can do one way hikes. Get off at a stop, complete a hike, and then get back on the bus from a stop further along the trail. The bus provides you with a book outlining each stop, and the hikes you can do.

A major advantage over having a car, where you would have to return back to it each time. Additionally, they allow you to extend your pass. So book it for the first day you arrive in the Blue Mountains, and when you go and collect it from the office (right opposite the train station), say you are staying for 2 days.

Alternatively, there is a public bus, route 686, which you can catch for around $2 and it stops at some of the major places. Finally if you have arrived by car, it is easy to navigate your way around. There is free street parking in Katoomba and Leura, as well as most of the main sights

Scenic World

Scenic World is one of the big attractions in the Blue Mountains. While it sounds like a budget theme park, it is actually four ‘rides’, which take you through various vistas in the Blue Mountains: the Scenic Walkway, Scenic Cableway, Scenic Skyway, and Scenic Railway. Do you see a theme with the naming?

Each one seems to have broken some sort of record for distance, steepness, height etc. However, this is mainly because the area is limited to the Southern Hemisphere. Start with the Scenic Skyway, which takes you across a deep ravine, passing Katoomba Falls. There is a glass bottom, which reveals itself as you set off – so you can literally see the forest at your feet. From here, you can then take the rest of the attractions.

The Scenic Railway descends down towards the walkway. At an incline of 52°, it is the steepest railway in the world. And was orginally the tracks they used to haul the coal up from the mines. Scenic Walkway is a boardwalk through the base of the forest, and a very pretty stroll. It is also dotted with model dinosaurs, which kids might enjoy. Finally, the Scenic Cableway ascends over 200m on a 510m journey, with views of The Three Sisters and Echo Falls.

With your ticket you can take each ride as many times as you like, however it does get incredibly busy. With long queues, often over half an hour, and a lot of people on the rides meaning you can’t always have the best views. If you want to do it, make sure to get there first thing and early to avoid having to queue. Honestly, it feels like it doesn’t offer the best value ofr money and you can easily skip it in favour of stunning hikes.

What to see in on a Blue Mountains trip from Sydney

When visiting on a Blue Mountains trip from Sydney, make sure to visit these stunning sights. All of the following are accessible using the hop on hop off bus, either a quick walk or via a hike.

Three Sisters and Echo Point – Blue Mountains trip from Sydney

Echo Point is home to the famous Three Sisters. This is one of the most popular lookouts, as it is what the region is know for, so expect it to be busy. The Three Sisters themselves are an instantly recognisable set of three rock formations. Aboriginal legend tells the story of how three sisters, Meehni, Wimlah and Gunnedoo, were turned to stone by their father to protect them from danger. He then turned himself into a magnificent Lyre Bird, and in the process dropped his magic stick which he needed to turn them back. He has been searching for it ever since.

At the Three Sisters you can see other formations, which have collapsed over time. There is also a stair down to the valley floor, if you wanted to take a long hike along the bottom.

Katoomba Cascades to Katoomba Falls

If you only have time to do one hike, then this one might be an excellent choice. Start at the Cascades where you can get close to the water tumbling down. Hop across the stepping stones, and walk up the steps on the western side of the stream to the lookout above Katoomba Falls. From there you can walk to Reid’s Plateau for stunning views across the valley.

Honeymoon Lookout

A great intro into the area. Honeymoon Lookout is a quick stop to spend some time taking in the stunning views of the Blue Mountains. You can walk from there along the Prince Henry Cliff Walk towards Echo Point and the Three Sisters.

Leura Cascades to Gordon Falls

This walk takes you along the famous Prince Henry Cliff walk and offers some stunning views. The first section follows the Leura Cascades walk all the way to the base of the falls. You then run close to the clifftop all the way to Gordon Falls. For the best view of the falls, take a small detour to Bridal Veil View.

Leura

Leura is the perfect place to stop for a bite to eat and some shopping amongst the hikes. It’s a small village, with gorgeous gardens, heritage buildings and speciality shops, antiques, cafes and restaurants.

Elysian & Olympian Lookouts

Two stunning lookouts that are really close to each other, the Elysian and Olympian Lookouts offer some of the most awe-inspiring views of the Blue Mountains. Located near Leura, these lookouts provide sweeping views over lush valleys and rugged cliffs, with a sense of calm and quiet often missing from the busier tourist spots. Elysian Rock Lookout, in particular, feels wonderfully secluded and is perfect for unwinding while soaking in the beauty of the Jamison Valley below. Just a short walk away is Olympian Rock Lookout, where the scenery is equally breathtaking.

Narrow Neck Plateau

The Narrow Neck Plateau divides the Megalong Valley and the Jamison Valley. It is only a KM wide at it’s widest point, so offers good views over both sides. You can walk along the track; it is a there and back route. But there is also options to go down into the valley.

Devil’s Hole

Devil’s Hole is a rocky gully between two looming cliffs, with a boulder that has wedged between them. You have a couple of options to reach this spot: a short, direct track or a longer route that winds through the peaceful serenity of Nellies Glen. The routes are over fairly rocky ground, and will involve an element of scrambling. Take extra care when it has rained, as the rocks can be slippery.

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If you are heading to Australia, make sure to check out the Australia archives for all recommendations!

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