If you are planning a Blue Mountains day trip by train, we recommend going on a Sunday, when transport in Sydney is capped at AU$2.70. By avoiding adulthood one adventure at a time, they hope to inspire others to do the same. What a fab guide! With so much natural beauty sprawled over the landscape, I found it overwhelming to try and plan what to do in just one day. It’s the best trip on offer to the Blue Mountains! First a little background information. The Skyway is 270m high, travelling from Echo Point, over Jamison Valley with views of Katoomba Falls. Lower Grose Valley: if you are a fan of camping in Australia, this is the area for you! The train costs around AU$10.00 each way and takes 2 hours. Visit iVisa.com to get your visa online. Though the vicious wind chilled our bones, the view of the magnificent cliffs made the cold seem trivial. It’s an action-packed trip with spectacular views, railway and cable car rides, forest walks, wildlife encounters, and more. Get yourself to Central Station and hop on the 1hour 50 minute train straight through to Wentworth Falls. After about an hour of driving through wide-open countryside, past remote towns, and along winding cliffside roads, we reached this hub of limestone caves. Mount Wilson Area: If you want to escape the tour buses, you will welcome the remote area of Mount Wilson. Wentworth Falls usually cascade down a 100m drop into the valley, but the wind kept whisking the water away. Alternatively you can check out the best restaurants in Katoomba here. We had a great time hiking through the wilderness, sleeping overnight in a cozy little tent, photographing some amazing sights, and driving through the pure, vast landscape. And for anyone interested in living and working in Australia for a year or more, check out my Guide To Working Holiday Visas In Australia (First and Second Year)! Take a hop-on hop-off bus tour of the Blue Mountains with a sightseeing pass valid for three days. A Blue Mountains day trip is the perfect escape from busy Sydney; however, planning a Blue Mountains itinerary is not an easy task as there is so much to see and do. We had our breakfast in the campervan and began our day around 7 am to beat the crowds. If you are on a budget, Katoomba is a great spot to buy picnic supplies as there are supermarkets such as Woolworths as well as numerous bakeries. Wentworth Falls Lookout, Wentworth Falls: "I would like to spend a day at Blue Mountains and..." | Check out 9 answers, plus see 1,174 reviews, articles, and 953 photos of Wentworth Falls Lookout, ranked No.1 on Tripadvisor among 13 attractions in Wentworth Falls. Blue Mountains Hop-on Hop-off Tour with Optional Scenic World Rides. Receive personalized service from your guide on a small-group tour with a maximum of 16 participants. 209 reviews. Instead, we jumped back in the campervan and continued our Blue Mountains day trip with stop number 2 which was only 15-minutes down the road. We did this trip in our own car. For us, it offered the most freedom and allowed us to stop at only the Blue Mountains attractions we wanted to see as well as spend as much or as little time as we wanted at each stop. From the endless wildlife to waterfalls it’s not surprising it’s one of the most popular day trips out of Sydney, so it’s essential you plan each stop to make the most of your day. The Blue Mountains on a tight budget using the public bus and bushwalking ; If you are planning to drive. Far am a gan translates to “where am I going” from the Scot’s language, Doric. To us, alfresco dining with wine in hand sounds like the perfect escape from the crowds at Echo Point. After studying the signs that outlined different trails, we chose the 3 hour round trip, moderate trail to Pulpit Rock from Govett’s Leap. Glenbrook Area: The perfect spot for a refreshing wild swim as well as a popular mountain biking destination. To book a Blue Mountains walk or hike package, book now online or call us on (03) 9597 9767. How to get to the Blue Mountains? Another option if planning your Blue Mountains day trip by train is to take a train from Sydney to Leura which is an equally popular town in the Blue Mountains national park. Your bus stops at 29 convenient locations, where you can hop off to visit mountain towns, snap photos from the Three Sisters and Echo Point lookouts, and more. We managed to narrow down the best Blue Mountain activities and the stops that are worth it, all of which we have explained in detail below. When we arrived at Mountain High Pies, we had high expectations (excuse the pun), and the pies definitely exceeded expectation. Looking for more things to do in Sydney on a budget? Spend the night at Katoomba YHA and wake up in the heart of the Blue Mountains. With the luxury to spend longer at the places you want to, and skip the ones … You will not regret hiring a car or taking your campervan as we did, as our Blue Mountains day trip was one of our favourite road trips in Australia, with our Great Ocean Road trip being a very close contender. The scene resembles something out of a dinosaur movie, as the dense landscape appears to be untouched by man. It is the perfect way to end the day after spending most of your time walking around the park, exploring different areas, enjoying the breathtaking scenery, and even feeding some of the animals in the area. Cheap travel tips, budget travel guides, volunteering stories, more! So we chose to camp overnight to avoid an early morning drive. Receive personalized service from your guide on a small-group tour with a maximum of 16 participants. Blue Mountains 1-Hour Trike Tour of Three Sisters. These are the best Blue Mountains bus tours we could find, based on reviews and value for money. A stop here is the perfect way to end your Blue Mountains day trip, before heading back to Sydney or continuing your NSW tour. If you are planning a Blue Mountains day trip by train, we recommend going on a Sunday, when transport in Sydney is capped at AU$2.70. They explained it was a perfect first stop if you are limited on time as you don’t have to walk for hours to reach incredible views. We had received some good recommendations for Jenolan Caves. Although the Pulpit Rock Lookout was a highlight from our Blue Mountains day trip, it did require some persuasion to get me down those steps as it was a tad terrifying if you’re not a fan of heights because it was very windy. Ride the world’s steepest incline railway, take a leisurely cable car across the valley or explore the many trails. For a weekend trip, it’s best to hire a car and enjoy the region at your own pace. All Inclusive Blue Mountains Small-Group Day Trip from Sydney. I have seen varying opinions on this, but I would like to know how long to spend in the Blue Mountains. However, we couldn’t mention Echo Point without mentioning Scenic World, which is an incredibly popular thing to do on a Blue Mountains day trip. All of this sent my brain into information overload. Itinerary 1 – Hit as many sites as you can in one day (limited walking) and lots … The day started early with a 2 hour drive from home to the Blue Mountains. So for anyone frantically trying to plan some activities for the Blue Mountains, unsure of where to start and hoping to explore on a budget, here is how my boyfriend and I spent a day in this beautiful, rugged, peaceful area. OUR DAY AT THE BLUE MOUNTAINS. However, you soon arrive at a viewpoint where you can take scarily narrow stairs down to a further viewpoint. But it had some colorful street art, an interesting antique shop, and a few cafes and restaurants. From our campsite, at Lake Wallace, it was only a 40-minute drive to the first stop in our Blue Mountains day trip. Pulpit Rock Lookout was hands down our favourite stop from our entire Blue Mountains day trip. We had the trail to ourselves most of the time. October 7th will always be a special date for us. We chose to do our Blue Mountains day trip tour by car, well campervan to be specific. Traveling to Australia?? Yes this is the second Harr, OUR NEW SITE IS LIVE It took us 4 mon, With 6ft 4 Daz I'm quite used to giants towering o, 16 Of The Best Day Trips From Melbourne, Australia, How To Plan The Perfect Yarra Valley Day Trip, The Ultimate Guide To Camping In Australia, Unmissable Things to do in Moray (For All Ages! Take a ride at Scenic World. If you want to beat the crowds, you may want to drive to leave to start your day trip early as possible. The train costs around AU$10.00 each way and takes 2 hours. You could always camp afterwards and spend 2 days exploring the Blue Mountains, with so much to see and do it is one of the most popular weekend getaways from Sydney. This is what we did and enjoyed lunch in the campervan at Echo Point (to make the most of the expensive parking!) It was only around 10 am, and we had to queue patiently for the best space along the platform to snap a photo or two. The camping packing list download link will be sent to your email address. The best part of this little camping expedition was looking upwards to see hundreds of sparkling stars illuminating the immense blackness of the night sky. Hi, my husband and I are visiting Sydney in July for about 8 days. It would be so disappointing to pack the car and drive all the way there for your hike to not be possible so check before you leave and be a responsible tourist and respect any closed tracks. We parked in the Blue Mountains Chocolate Company parking lot to avoid paying a parking fee. You maybe were not expecting your Blue Mountains day trip to include a bakery; however, the “number one pie in Australia” is in fact from Wentworth, in the Blue Mountains. To be honest, the parts of the walk we did manage were incredible, and it was a definite highlight of our Blue Mountains day trip. The train travels from Sydney to Katoomba which is the main hub of the Blue Mountains and home to the landmark, Three Sisters. Blue Mountains: A good way to spend a day outside the city - See 1,897 traveler reviews, 2,245 candid photos, and great deals for Katoomba, Australia, at Tripadvisor. Scenic World offers four ways (literally) to view the Blue Mountains – a skyway, walkway, cableway and railway. The best way to experience the Blue Mountains in one day is to combine a half-day hike along the Grand Canyon Walk in the northern part of the Blue Mountains, with a visit to several viewpoints along the Cliff Walk in the southern part of the Blue Mountains … Probably the most popular day trip out of Sydney is to the Blue Mountains that are about 100km west of the city. This did create impressive rainbows over the water that was flowing which we could’ve stood and watched all day. Explore the Blue Mountains the easy way on an all-inclusive, full-day tour from Sydney. You will also have access to Queen Elizabeth lookout which is a second viewing platform offering views of The Three Sisters. You can use the online Planner to plan your Blue Mountains day trip from Sydney to ensure you’ll make it to all attractions before the last train home. However, you can opt for an organised bus tour which will allow you to sit back and relax without arguing over sat nav directions, parking spaces or train time tables. There are numerous Blue Mountain bus tours to choose from which leave from Sydney, which will take you to the main attractions. The Sydney to Blue Mountains train is a great option if you’re on a budget or can’t drive. Now is time for a wee break in your Blue Mountains itinerary, depending on your budget there are numerous options for where to have lunch. One of our favourite road trips in Australia – I hope you get to visit one day! We packed all our own food and water to save money. Read more about this in my About Me page! So with the total freedom to go where you want, when you want. As mentioned above it is easy to travel to the Blue Mountains from Sydney by train or by bus. From the lookout, we could see miles of sloping greenery creating deep valleys surrounded by powerful cliff walls. We would like to go and see the major sites, enjoy the nature on a hike or 2, and in general just have a relaxing time. Blackheath: This is home to some of the most epic Blue Mountains walks, including Govett’s Leap and the Grand Canyon. According to Aboriginal folklore, a fierce battle broke out when the Nepean men tried to capture the sisters, so as a method of protection a witch doctor turned them into stone. Get all latest content delivered to your email a few times a month. The hikes in the Blue Mountains can be closed due to weather, wildlife or path upgrades. We will warn it is not a stop for the faint-hearted. We prefer to explore nature through hikes or trails simply because it’s cheaper and usually less crowded/touristy. Would this be a whole day, a half day, or multiple days? The express has fewer stops along the way, although it is only around 15 minutes faster. If you are travelling by car, parking is available directly at Echo Point, but it is expensive. Plus, you can upgrade to the Lyrebrird Pass to add a Scenic World unlimited ride pass. However, the endless (very loud) crowds did slightly spoil our experience at Echo Point. To make the most of your day, we recommend getting to Katoomba early in time to catch one of our first buses at 9:15am, or 9:45am. This is a great day trip to do from Sydney, as you can see some of that classic Australian wilderness. If you are planning your Blue Mountains day trip by train, Echo Point is only a 20-minute walk from Katoomba train station. Again, because we were the only ones there and to us, it was one of the best lookouts in the Blue Mountains. Tips on how to spend a day in the Blue Mountains while traveling near Sydney, Australia. After waking up early and having breakfast we drove about 15 minutes to Govett’s Leap Lookout, located right on the edge of Blackheath town. Fast forward to today, Echo Point is the starting point to some of the best hikes in the Blue Mountains. The Blue Mountains are located in Australia, west of Sydney. A self-guided Blue Mountains day tour. If you are a keen walker you can follow to Prince Henry Cliff Walk from Echo Point all the way there but it’s just as easy to drive. Then we walked about ten minutes to the lookout. A phrase muttered several times a day by this travelling twosome as they avoid adulthood one adventure at a time. After breathing a sigh of relief while filling up the car, we decided to stop at the Three Sisters Lookout before the winter darkness took over at 5:30pm. The track takes you to three lookouts – Jamison & Wentworth with the finale being Fletchers lookout. Get up close and personal with native Australian animals and then join a guide for fantastic Blue Mountains viewpoints and a trek through the forest. Located in the town of Katoomba, which is only 11km south of Blackheath, the Three Sisters is the most famous viewpoint in the Blue Mountains. After finishing the River Walk, we jetted up a quick 15-minute incline to get one last view of the limestone cliffs and Blue Lake. From how to get there to where to eat, we detail how to spend the ultimate day in Sydney’s Blue Mountains. Govetts Leap is located in the Blackheath area of The Blue Mountains National Park and was recommended to us by a local. On day two, the trip heads to the Jenolan Caves for a guided tour of Lucas Caves before travelling back to Sydney via Govetts Leap. Three days in Leura, Blue Mountains, NSW – travel guide Where to stay, eat and visit on a trip to Leura – take a long weekend and head for Australia's Blue Mountains. The train from Sydney Central to Katoomba takes a whopping 2 hours but is only $10 each way (£5.83), or just $5.81 if you have an Opal card (£3.40). Explore the Blue Mountains the easy way on an all-inclusive, full-day tour from Sydney. I’ll give a little information about how to get to the Blue Mountains from Sydney. It is worth visiting to explore Yerranderie – an old mining town which is full of history and fascinating buildings. Open every day of the year from 9am until 5pm, Scenic World in Katoomba is one of the most popular tourist attractions in the Blue Mountains. There was also significant damage here due to the 2019/2020 bushfires, so the landscape and wildlife needs time to recover and certain parts may be closed. Though we almost didn’t make it because the car almost ran out of gas before we found a petrol station. This gorgeous mountain range lies just west of Sydney and is full of rich green forests, towering sandstone cliffs, and scenic waterfalls. Before our day trip, we asked for recommendations from locals as well as researching numerous itineraries to make the most of our short time. Here’s how to spend 48 hours in the Blue Mountains. Thanks for reading my recommendations for how to spend a day in the Blue Mountains! Govetts Leap Lookout provided vast views of the endless gum tree forest (and that incredible blue hue.) How to Spend 3 Days in the Blue Mountains - Blue Mountains Travel Recommendations from Viator.com Popular: Booked by 10,202 travellers! Blue Mountains Walks – 3 Day Group Guided Blue Mountains Hiking Tour Blue Mountains Walks – 3 Day Self Guided Blue Mountains Walking Tour Blue Mountains Traverse Walks – 5 or 7 Day Self Guided Blue Mountains Walks. There are two types of Sydney to Blue Mountains train – regular or express. This oil mixes with water vapour and dust which reflects a bluey haze giving these mountains that famous colour. From Katoomba, you can also hop on the Blue Mountains Explorer which will drop you at more Blue Mountain attractions such as Scenic World and Leura Cascades. Unlike touring or national festivals, the Blue Mountains Music Festival is much more intimate without skimping on the talent. It should’ve provided views of a beautiful 180m drop waterfall, but during our Blue Mountains day trip the waterfall was dry. Prior to visiting the Blue Mountains last weekend, I dedicated a few hours to researching the area. The last stop on my Blue Mountains day trip from Sydney is always Scenic World. This post may contain affiliate links. This adventurous Blue Mountains Cave Tour includes navigating Lucas Cave, visiting Scenic World (rides at own expense) … However, Wentworth Falls was our favourite. However, if you are opting for a self-drive tour of the Blue Mountains, ensure you have all the road trip essentials packed in preparation for a safe, stress-free drive. If you're looking for lunch with a view during your Blue Mountains itinerary. We spent 4 days in Sydney and managed to see a show at the opera house for a BARGAIN price, we admired Sydney’s best beaches on the unmissable Bondi to Coogee Walk, and we enjoyed the Harbour Bridge views for AU$15.00, not AU$300.00 - read our Sydney itinerary to find out how! If you want someone else to do all the hard work, a Blue Mountains bus tour may be your best option. We hate spam but love helping others. If your budget is tight, then it’s hard to beat the … Our visit to Govetts Leap is a great example of why we recommend starting your Blue Mountains day trip early, as we were the only people there allowing us complete freedom to photograph the insane views and absorb the peaceful atmosphere. When the time came to begin our adventure, we ended up just picking a few random attractions from my messy notes and taking it one step at a time. If you can brave camping in Australia as a tip, to begin your Blue Mountains day trip as early as possible, we camped closer to the National Park the night before, so we only had a 40-minute drive in the morning. All without spending a penny. You can also catch an air-conditioned double-decker train that departs from Sydney’s Central Station. We do still feel it is a worthy stop on your Blue Mountains itinerary as the Echo Point visitor centre offered an interesting insight into the history of the rocks as well as hikes and maps of the area.