Blue Mountains, Australia Travel Guide
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The Blue Mountains are located in New South Wales, Australia. It's got plenty of hiking trails with incredible views, a eucalyptus forest, waterfalls, and gorgeous villages dotted throughout the national park. With so much to explore, I recommend staying a few nights, but if you're limited on time you can visit on a day trip from Sydney.
Brief Overview of Blue Mountains Australia Travel Guide
How to Get to the Blue Mountains Australia?
The easiest way to visit the Blue Mountains if you are coming from Sydney is by train. You can catch the Blue Mountains Line from Central Station and in around 2 hours you will arrive in Katoomba. Katoomba is your main hub for the Blue Mountains, it's where most people choose to stay and only a short walk or bus ride to the famous lookout Echo Point, home to the Three Sisters.
From Katoomba, there is public transport to help you explore. I recommend the hop-on hop-off service on the Blue Mountains Explorer Bus. You could alternatively rent a car and drive which would give you much more freedom to explore the area at your own pace.
Wentworth Falls
Where to Stay in the Blue Mountains Australia?
If it's your first visit to the area and y I recommend staying in Katoomba as the town has everything you may need for your trip; shops, cafes, restaurants, train station and a tourist office.
Hostel- YHA Blue Mountains Katoomba
Only a short walk from the train station, with helpful staff and a chilled atmosphere.
Motel- Blue Mountains Heritage Motel
Located centrally in Katoomba with clean and comfortable private rooms.
Walking Trails in the Blue Mountains Australia
Echo Point -> Katoomba Falls
This is the trail I would recommend if you are on a day trip, it begins at the infamous Echo Point viewpoint (Three Sisters). It takes about 1hr 30 as a round trip and there are plenty of viewpoints along the way. It's also very simple to follow with signs leading you the whole way. If you have some time and energy once you back to Echo Point, I recommend heading down to what's known as Honeymoon Bridge, you'll get some great views, just prepare for a lot of people and a lot of stairs.
Leura Cascades -> Gordon Falls
Olympian Lookout
This walk was magical and likely my favourite, I would say it should take 2 hours to return following the given route, however, there are quite a few steps on this trail. You will start in a picnic area and from there just follow the signs down to Leura Cascades, once you have taken in the beauty of the cascades you're looking for the sign saying, Prince Henry Cliff Walk. Make sure to watch out for the viewpoint signs on your way as sometimes it requires you to pop off the trail slightly.
My favourite viewpoint in the whole of my trip is on this walk, Olympian Lookout, the view of the Jamison Valley, out to Mount Solitary is just incredible. So don’t miss that viewpoint as it was so much quieter than other spots I stopped at, I was the only person there.
Following the path onwards to the Gordan Falls lookout, you made it! If you fancy extending the walk, you can take a short but steep walk to the Pool of Siloam (a small pool at the base of a waterfall), just head to Gordan Falls Reserve and you should see the signs for Pool of Siloam, it's worth it if you ask me.
Wentworth Falls Overcliff/Undercliff Trail
Another simple trail, taking around 1hr30 at a leisurely pace. The highlights of this walk are the overhangs, bushwalking, and the stepping stones, for an adult child like me the stepping stones provide so much entertainment. You can start at Wentworth Falls picnic area and make your way to Fletchers Lookout where you will get your first view of the falls, then you are on to the undercliff section of the walk. Expect to see some gorgeous views and walls dripping in fern and moss.
Once you reach the Den Fenella Creek intersection you are onto the overcliff part of the walk. After walking past some more lovely viewpoints you will get to the uphill portion of this walk, heading up to the Conservation Hut, where you can stop and grab some grub. Before heading back to your starting point by following the shortcut track there is another option. You can take a detour down to Empress Falls, be warned it's a steep detour but worth the adventure.
If you're looking for more of a challenging walk around Wentworth Falls, you could always opt for the Wentworth Pass trail, read about this here.
Things to Do in the Blue Mountains Australia
Three Sisters
Visit the Three Sisters
The Three Sisters is an iconic landmark of this national park. These unusual rock formations are recognised as a place of special cultural significance to Aboriginal people. You’ll find a great view of the Three Sisters at Echo Point Lookout, only a short walk or bus ride from Katoomba train station.
Explore more at Scenic World
Home to the world's steepest railway line, a skyway, cable cars, and a beautiful walkway on the floor of the national park. It’s a good way to see the Blue Mountains National Park from above and below, however, it’s not the most budget-friendly activity.
Visit Leura
If you love quaint little towns then this is the place for you. There are many shops and cafes there’s a lot to keep you busy. Take a trip to Josephine’s Chocolate Shop where everything tastes and smells divine. My personal favourite was the milk chocolate honeycomb slabs which I demolished in about 2 minutes (someone please get me more).
There are plenty more towns to be explored in the Blue Mountains such as Blackheath, Glenbrook and Mount Tomah
Experience a Sunrise in the Blue Mountains
This was one of my favourite activities whilst staying here, it was just stunning. Be prepared to be up early but don't worry as you can always go back to bed for a few hours if you are feeling sleepy after. I can't say exactly where I watched the sunrise, but it was just to the right of Echo Point and the Three Sisters.
Let me know your favourite walking trail or activity in the Blue Mountains, Australia in the comments below.
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