DAY TRIP FROM SYDNEY
The Blue Mountains
On Sydney’s back doorstep, the World Heritage–listed Blue Mountains are a must-see. A dense green canopy gives way to deep valleys, chiselled sandstone outcrops and quaint mountain towns.
Great For…
yDon’t Miss
Echo Point’s clifftop viewing platform, for killer views of the craggy Three Sisters.
8Need to Know
Trains (
%13 15 00; www.transportnsw.info) run hourly from Sydney’s Central Station to Katoomba (two hours). Blue Mountains Bus (%02-4751 1077; www.cdcbus.com.au) also links towns.
5Take a Break
Katoomba’s Station Bar & Woodfired Pizza (%02-4782 4782; www.stationbar.com.au; 287 Bathurst Rd; pizzas $18-26; 
hnoon-midnight; 
W) has good things: craft beer, pizza and live music.
oTop Tip
The Blue Mountains can get surprisingly chilly, even in summer: bring warm clothes.
Head for the Hills
The Blue Mountains’ foothills begin 65km inland from Sydney, rising to an 1100m-high sandstone plateau riddled with valleys eroded into the stone. There are eight connected conservation areas in the region, offering truly fantastic scenery, excellent bushwalks (hikes), Aboriginal engravings and all the canyons and cliffs you could ask for.
Although it’s possible to day-trip from Sydney, consider staying a night (or longer) so you can explore the towns, do at least one bushwalk and eat at some of the excellent restaurants.
Mountain Towns
In order of approach from Sydney, here’s a rundown of the main Blue Mountain towns.
Glenbrook
From unassuming Glenbrook you can drive or walk into the lower reaches of Blue Mountains National Park; this is the only part of the park where vehicle entry fees apply ($8). Six kilometres from the park entrance gate is the Mt Portal Lookout, with panoramic views into the Glenbrook Gorge, over the Nepean River and back to Sydney. Red Hands Cave (www.nationalparks.nsw.gov.au) houses an Aboriginal rock art gallery: it’s an easy 7km walk from Glenbrook Information Centre (%1300 653 408; www.bluemountainscitytourism.com.au; Great Western Hwy; h8.30am-4pm Mon-Sat, to 3pm Sun; W).
Wentworth Falls
As you head into Wentworth Falls, you’ll get your first real taste of Blue Mountains scenery: views to the south open out across the majestic Jamison Valley. The village itself is pleasant for a short potter along the main street. The falls (Falls Rd; 
dWentworth Falls) that lend the town its name launch a plume of spray over a 300m drop.
Leura
The Blue Mountains’ prettiest town is fashioned around undulating streets, well-tended gardens and sweeping Victorian verandas. Leura Mall, the tree-lined main street, offers rows of country craft shops and cafes for the daily tourist influx. Southeast of Leura, a sharp, triangular outcrop narrows to the dramatic Sublime Point (Sublime Point Rd) lookout with sheer cliffs on each side.
Katoomba
Swirling, otherworldly mists, steep streets lined with art-deco buildings, astonishing valley views, and a quirky miscellany of restaurants, buskers, artists, bawdy pubs and classy hotels – Katoomba, the biggest town in the mountains, manages to be bohemian and bourgeois, embracing and distant all at once. The must-see Echo Point lookout and Three Sisters rock formation are here (both on Echo Point Rd). Echo Point Visitors Centre (%1300 653 408; www.bluemountainscitytourism.com.au; Echo Point Road; h9am-5pm) has the local low-down.
The natural history exhibits at the Blue Mountains Cultural Centre (%02-4780 5410; www.bluemountainsculturalcentre.com.au; 30 Parke St; adult/child $5/free; h10am-5pm Mon-Fri, to 4pm Sat & Sun) are also worth a look. On the edge of town is the Blue Mountains’ most touristy attraction, Scenic World (%02-4780 0200; www.scenicworld.com.au; Violet St; adult/child $43/23; h9am-5pm), a cable car offering spectacular views.
Blackheath
The crowds and commercial frenzy fizzle out considerably 10km north of Katoomba in neat, petite Blackheath. The town measures up in the scenery stakes, and it’s an excellent base for visiting the Grose and Megalong Valleys. Memorable lookouts around town include Evans Lookout (Evans Lookout Rd) and Govetts Leap Lookout (Govetts Leap Rd), plus there are trailheads for some top hikes; contact the Blue Mountains Heritage Centre for info.
Blackheath is also the gastronomic centre of the region, with some excellent restaurants. For Blackheath’s best coffee, head to Anonymous (www.anonymouscafeblackheath.com.au; 237 Great Western Hwy; meals $15-20; h7am-3pm Mon, Wed & Thu, to 4pm Fri & Sat, from 7.30am Sun; W), then take a journey around the culinary world at Cinnabar (%02-4787 7269; www.cinnabar.kitchen; 246 Great Western Hwy; share plates $26-38; h5.30-11pm Wed-Sat; 
v). Fumo (%02-4787 6899; www.fumorestaurant.com.au; 33 Govetts Leap Rd; mains $35-38; hnoon-3pm & 5.30-10.30pm Fri-Sun) combines Australian meats with Japanese sauces to memorable effect with a range of creative flavours.
uWorth a Trip
An hour beyond Blackheath are the amazing Jenolan Caves (www.jenolancaves.org.au), one of the most extensive, accessible and complex limestone cave systems in the world.
Blue Mountains National Park
What is known as the Blue Mountains is actually a sandstone plateau riddled with steep gullies eroded by rivers over thousands of years.
Initially thought to be impenetrable, the mountains were first crossed by European explorers in 1813. On this epic quest, Gregory Blaxland, William Wentworth and William Lawson followed the mountain ridges up over the top; today their route is pretty much traced by the Great Western Hwy.
More than three million visitors a year visit the scenic lookouts and waterfalls of Blue Mountains National Park (www.nationalparks.nsw.gov.au), the most popular and accessible section of the Greater Blue Mountains World Heritage Area. There are bushwalks for everyone, from those with limited fitness to the downright intrepid, lasting from a few minutes to several days.
Bushwalking
For tips on walks to suit your level of experience and fitness, call the National Parks’ Blue Mountains Heritage Centre (%02-4787 8877; www.nationalparks.nsw.gov.au; Govetts Leap Rd; h9am-4.30pm; W) in Blackheath, or the information centres in Glenbrook or Katoomba. All three sell a variety of walk pamphlets, maps and books.
As you’d expect in such rugged terrain, there are hazards: walkers get lost, bushfires flare up and there are definitely snakes in the grass. Emergencies are relatively rare, but it pays to get some up-to-date advice from the visitor centres before you propel yourself into the wilderness. The Katoomba police and the national parks and information centres all offer free personal locator beacons and it’s strongly suggested you take one with you, especially for longer hikes. Whatever you do, take plenty of water; it can get powerfully hot here, and the steep gradients can dehydrate you fast.
The two most popular bushwalking areas are the Jamison Valley, south of Katoomba, and the Grose Valley, northeast of Katoomba and east of Blackheath. Top choices include the Golden Stairs Walk (Glenraphael Dr) in Katoomba and the Grand Canyon Walk (Evans Lookout Rd) at Blackheath.
One of the most rewarding long-distance walks is the 45km, three-day Six Foot Track from Katoomba along the Megalong Valley to Cox’s River and on to the Jenolan Caves. It has campsites along the way.
Tours
Blue Mountains Adventure CompanyAdventure
(%02-4782 1271; www.bmac.com.au; 84a Bathurst Rd, Katoomba; abseiling from $185, canyoning $275; h8am-6pm Oct-Mar, 9am-5pm Apr-Sep)
Opposite Katoomba station, this competent and very welcoming set-up offers year-round abseiling, canyoning, bushwalking and rock climbing. They’ll leave any day with bookings of two or more people. Good lunches are included on full-day trips.
Blue Mountain BikesMountain Biking
(%0432 699 212; www.bluemountainbikes.com.au; 207 Katoomba St, Katoomba; half-day routes $98, bike hire 2/4/7 days $165/250/350; h8am-8pm)
Good-quality mountain-bike hire for a variety of set routes, including a friendly pre-ride set-up and briefing session. Options range from beginner-appropriate ridge-top jaunts between Katoomba and other towns to serious downhill runs. You can also take bikes for set periods and explore your own paths. Bookings essential, and not all options are available every day.
Aboriginal Blue Mountains WalkaboutCultural
(%0408 443 822; www.bluemountainswalkabout.com; tour $95)
This full-day Indigenous-owned and -guided bushwalk starts and finishes at Faulconbridge train station. The walk (there are some potentially slippery descents, so bring decent shoes) takes in some sacred sites and delves into Aboriginal spirituality and creation stories. There’s also good information on various plants and their edible and medicinal uses.
High ‘n’ Wild Australian AdventuresAdventure
(%02-4782 6224; www.highandwild.com.au; 207 Katoomba St, Katoomba; abseiling $150-260, canyoning $250-290, rock climbing $190-250) 
S
Based at the Blue Mountains YHA, this outfit runs daily tours, offering abseiling, rock climbing, canyoning and various bush-walking and survival courses.
Blue Mountains Explorer BusBus
(%1300 300 915; www.explorerbus.com.au; 283 Bathurst Rd, Katoomba; adult/child $50/25; hdepartures 9.15am-4.15pm)
Significantly better than its average city equivalents, this is a useful way to get around the most popular attractions. It offers a hop-on, hop-off service on a Katoomba–Leura loop. Buses leave from Katoomba station every 30 minutes and feature entertaining live commentary. Various packages include admission to attractions.
Tread Lightly Eco ToursTours
(%0414 976 752; www.treadlightly.com.au; most walks $145 per person) S
Has a wide range of guided bushwalks and 4WD tours that emphasise the region’s ecology. The company makes an effort to be sustainable and also operates some night walks to see glow-worms.
Bells Line of Road
This stretch of road between North Richmond and Lithgow is the most scenic route across the Blue Mountains and is highly recommended if you have the time and your own transport. It’s far quieter than the main highway and offers bountiful views.
Bilpin, at the base of the mountains, is known for its apple orchards. The Bilpin Markets are held at the district hall every Saturday from 10am to noon.
Midway between Bilpin and Bell, the Blue Mountains Botanic Garden Mount Tomah (%02-4567 3000; www.bluemountainsbotanicgarden.com.au; h9am-5.30pm Mon-Fri, from 9.30am Sat & Sun) S
F is a cool-climate annexe of Sydney’s Royal Botanic Garden where native plants cuddle up to exotic species, including some magnificent rhododendrons.
8Did You Know?
The purple haze that gives the Blue Mountains their name comes from a fine mist of oil exuded by eucalyptus trees.