Beautiful Blue Mountains Day Trip from Sydney
A Blue Mountains Day trip is the perfect way to escape from Sydney and enjoy the majestic mountain scenery, with eucalypt forests, waterfalls, fresh air and bushwalking just 90 minutes from the city. I love to visit the Blue Mountains to unwind and immerse myself in nature and I’ve been countless times since I was a little girl.
The pretty villages of the Blue Mountains are full of antique shops, gift shops, art galleries, and quaint tea rooms where you can enjoy a classic English “Devonshire Tea”. If you’ve been in Sydney for a few days, a Blue Mountains Day trip is a great addition to your itinerary. Whether you’re visiting Sydney alone or with friends, you’ll be glad you made the effort.
With a day in the Blue Mountains, there’s time to see the highlights, be awed by the stunning views and enjoy the unique village atmosphere. But where should you go and what is the best way to get there from Sydney?
Here’s how to plan the best Blue Mountains day trip.
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Highlights of a Day Trip to the Blue Mountains
The stunning lookouts at:
- Echo Point & the Three Sisters at Katoomba
- Wentworth Falls
- Govett’s Leap Blackheath
- Antique shops, gift shops, art galleries, cafes & tearooms at Leura, Blackheath & Katoomba
- Bush walking in the Blue Mountains National Park
- Scenic World Katoomba
Getting there
The best way to get to the Blue Mountains from Sydney is by car and it takes around 90 minutes to reach Katoomba in the upper Blue Mountains on the Great Western Highway. Driving a car will give you flexibility and make it easier to get from place to place.
But you can easily catch a train or book a day tour from Sydney if you don’t have a car. The Blue Mountains are an easy day trip from the city and well worth the effort.
I often break the drive in Glenbrook at the base of the mountains for the free toilet facilities to the left of the highway (near the park). The Black Cockatoo Bakery at Lawson also makes a good stop if you’re hungry on the way to the Blue Mountains from Sydney.
Best Things to Do on a Sydney to Blue Mountains Day Trip
Katoomba
Visiting Katoomba and the Three Sisters at Echo Point should not be missed if it’s your first visit to the upper mountains. Echo Point is the most famous lookout in the Blue Mountains and the sweeping views over the Jamison Valley and the unique sandstone rock formations known as the Three Sisters are simply spectacular.
Another highlight of a day trip to the Blue Mountains is bushwalking in the National Park and some lovely trails begin at Echo Point in Katoomba.
My favourite is the Prince Henry Cliff Walk to Katoomba Falls. This walk follows the cliff tops and delivers breathtaking views. It’s a moderate-grade hike that is 3 kilometres long and it takes me around an hour to walk to Katoomba Falls from Echo Point, 2 hours return.
From Katoomba Falls Lookout it’s possible to continue hiking down Furbers Steps into the Jamison Valley. This steep Grade 3 track takes you to the base of Katoomba Falls where you can stop for a picnic and enjoy the cascading waterfall before exploring the lush green eucalypt forests of the Jamison Valley.
The climb back out of the valley is steep and challenging but it’s fun to catch the Scenic Railway back to the top and save the legs.
**Check that the scenic railway is running before you leave.
From Echo Point, another option is to follow the clifftop path in the other direction towards Leura. It takes around 30 minutes to reach Olympian Rock where you can see the other side of the Three Sisters. Climb the stairs to the road and catch the Blue Mountains Explorer bus or walk to Leura shops and station (30 minutes).
You can also begin the Clifftop Walk at Katoomba Falls (near Scenic World) and follow the clifftop path to Echo Point in Katoomba and Olympian Rock in Leura. There are stunning views of the Three Sisters along the way. For this option catch the bus from Katoomba Station to Scenic World and allow 2 – 3 hours for the hike.
Scenic World Katoomba
Visiting Scenic World is the most touristy way to spend a day in the Blue Mountains but the scenery is spectacular and I loved riding on the Scenic Railway and Scenic Skyway. The views are simply breathtaking.
TIP: Scenic World can get very busy on weekends and school holidays. Visit on a weekday to avoid the tourist crowds but check that Scenic World is open on the day you’re visiting.
Katoomba Village
Head back to Katoomba Village for a bite to eat. The historic Carrington Hotel is one of my favourite places in Katoomba for a drink or a pub meal. I like the atmosphere and the pretty Art Deco windows in this lovely heritage hotel.
Nearby the Pomegranate Café is another good choice for a meal close to Katoomba Station or grab a burger and a craft beer at the Mountain Culture Brewery (Thursday to Sunday).
Leura
The pretty village shopping centre at Leura is a popular stop on a day trip to the Blue Mountains. Spend some time browsing the art galleries, gift and antique shops and enjoy the pretty heritage cottages and English Gardens.
Call in at the Bygone Beauty’s Treasured Teapots Museum & Tea Rooms for a classic English “Devonshire Tea” or stop for a meal at The Red Door Café. Stock up on delicious treats at Leura Gourmet Café & Deli or Josophan’s Fine Chocolates.
If you’re visiting in spring (September to November) call in at the Everglades Historic House and enjoy the lovely gardens at their best and full of spring colour.
Wentworth Falls
Wentworth Falls is another spectacular place to visit on a Sydney to Blue Mountains day trip. From the car park in the National Park, there are several lovely short walks and lookout points at Wentworth Falls.
Enjoy stunning views from Princes Rock and Jamison Lookout and follow the National Pass walking trail to the top of the waterfall. On the other side of the stream, the National Pass Trail descends via a very steep staircase to the base of Wentworth Falls.
Embedded in the sandstone cliff are historic pictures from 1912. The views here are truly incredible but the path is very steep in places and can be slippery so take care.
The return walk to the Princes Rock Lookout takes around 20 minutes from the car park and, from the train station, it’s a 30-minute walk to Wentworth Falls National Park.
Blackheath
Higher up in the Blue Mountains, the quaint village of Blackheath is worth visiting on a day trip from Sydney. Blackheath is about 15 minutes from Katoomba by car.
In Blackheath Village, stop for lunch at the old Victory Theatre Cafe. The outside of the Victory Theatre is decorated with colourful street art by designer Jenny Kee and inside there’s an antique shop that’s worth browsing.
Another of my favourite lunch stops is the Bakehouse on Wentworth for a freshly baked pie.
But the main attraction in Blackheath is Govett’s Leap, a stunning lookout with expansive views of the Grose Valley and a completely different outlook to Echo Point in Katoomba. There are 2 waterfalls at Govett’s Leap and the escarpment views are magical in the late afternoon when the sandstone cliffs reflect the golden afternoon sunlight.
From the Blackheath National Park Centre, walk to Govetts Leap on the Fairfax Trail (30 minutes). This gentle walk is especially delightful in late winter (July / August) when golden wattle bushes flower and in spring (September / October) the bush pops with red waratah flowers.
TIP: Spring is the best time of year to visit the Blue Mountains and my favourite time to go.
On the other side of the ridge from Govett’s Leap, Evans Lookout offers another perspective of the impressive Grose Valley. The walk to the beautiful Grand Canyon begins at Evans Lookout and it’s one of my favourite bushwalks in the Blue Mountains.
The Grand Canyon hike takes around 3 hours and the circuit track has some steep sections with a solid climb out of the valley at the end of the trail.
Bus Tours to the Blue Mountains
The easiest way to get to the Blue Mountains is to join a day tour from Sydney. You’ll see all the main sights but you’ll also be on a tight schedule travelling with a busload of other tourists and visiting the most popular and most crowded places.
Another good option is to catch a train to Katoomba and join the Blue Mountains Explorer Hop-on-hop-off bus. This large red bus stops at all the most popular places in Katoomba and Leura and makes it easy to get around. There’s more choice and freedom with this option.
Blue Mountains by Train & Bus
For independent and budget travellers, visiting the Blue Mountains by train and bus from Sydney is also a good option. It’s the cheapest way to spend a day in the Blue Mountains and allows more freedom than a tour bus.
Trains leave regularly from Sydney’s Central Train Station on the Blue Mountains Line. The journey from Sydney to Katoomba in the upper mountains takes just over 2 hours.
The Blue Mountains train stops at Wentworth Falls, Leura, Katoomba, Medlow Bath and Blackheath and the following local buses run between the villages.
#686 blue bus from Katoomba Train Station to Echo Point and Scenic World (& Katoomba Falls)
#698 loop bus from Katoomba Train station to Blackheath & Govett’s Leap
#695 loop bus from Katoomba Station to Leura Station
#685 loop bus from Katoomba to Wentworth Falls
You can pay for public transport using an Opal card or opt for contactless payment with Visa, Mastercard or American Express on all metro trains and buses. Just remember to tap on and tap off.
Taking public transport will give you more control of your Blue Mountains Day trip but you may have to wait around for buses and trains and will probably walk a lot. But it’s a good way to avoid the crowds, save money and see the highlights of Katoomba, Leura and Wentworth Falls if you start the day early and plan well.
What to Pack
- Hiking boots or solid walking shoes
- Warm jacket & scarf
- Sunhat, sunscreen & sunglasses
- Water
- Camera
Final Thoughts: Is a Blue Mountains Day Trip from Sydney Worth it?
Yes, a day trip to the Blue Mountains is definitely worthwhile. The scenery is simply breathtaking! Whether you take a bus tour from the city, drive a car, or use public transport, you can enjoy the impressive views and the fresh mountain air. The beautiful Blue Mountains are an easy day trip from Sydney and well worth visiting.
A day in the Blue Mountains is enough time to be awed by the stunning views and enjoy the quaint village atmosphere but there’s so much to do so I suggest staying for a few days if you have the time.
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