The Blue Mountains in Australia is a popular Sydney day trip destination, but my biggest tip for visiting the National Park is to NOT take a day trip from Sydney! The Blue Mountains are well worth spending more time here – several days if you can – in order to make the most of this beautiful place. If you’re considering a Blue Mountains day tour, let me share my tips for visiting the Blue Mountains by train from Sydney, including my pick of the best things to do in the Blue Mountains to keep you busy for several days.
What & Where is the Blue Mountains National Park?
Let’s begin with the basics. The Blue Mountains National Park is part of the UNESCO-protected Greater Blue Mountains World Heritage Area, in the New South Wales region of Australia, to the west of Sydney. The park covers more than 260,000 hectares and is the most visited national park in New South Wales.
If you’re wondering how the Blue Mountains got their name it is because the vast number of Eucalyptus trees in the park release droplets of oil, which together with dust and water vapour create a mist that hangs over the trees. When the hot Sydney sunshine comes into contact with the mist, the light bounces off the droplets and creates a blue haze.
How Long Should You Spend in the Blue Mountains?
While a Blue Mountains day trip from Sydney might be a popular option for many people, I have to tell you that is a HUGE mistake! There are far too many things to do in the Blue Mountains to cram into one day, so do yourself a favour and book at least one or two nights here to explore.
I spent 4 nights here and it wasn’t enough, so I would recommend at least two days in the Blue Mountains at a minimum, with three days being more comfortable – especially taking into account the journey time from Sydney if you come by train.
Everything I’ve mentioned below is based within a relatively small area, centred around Katoomba and Leura, it doesn’t even take into account any activities around Blackheath like the popular Govetts Leap, or anything in the Greater Blue Mountains area, so this really just scratches the surface.
The point is that however long you spend here it should definitely be more than a day!
A Blue Mountains Day Tour vs Train
If you can only spare one day in the Blue Mountains then either you should be prepared to get up early and take the train first thing in the morning to get you to the Blue Mountains early enough to make the most of the day, or take a Blue Mountains tour from Sydney which will include bus or coach transport.
However, instead of actually spending a full day in the Blue Mountains, the day tours only spend a few hours there. Tours usually include a visit to Echo Point to see the Three Sisters and a ticket to Scenic World, perhaps followed by lunch in Leura, then the tours leave the Blue Mountains to visit a wildlife park close to Sydney and finish with a ferry trip on the river.
While you will get to see Scenic World and the Three Sisters (the top attractions in the Blue Mountains), you will miss out on all of the other incredible things to do in the Blue Mountain National Park. However, if you don’t have any more time to spare a tour will whizz you around and get you back to Sydney quickly and easily.
These are some of the highest-rated Blue Mountains tours depending on what you want to include.
- From Sydney: Blue Mountains Full-Day Trip with Cruise: Includes a visit to Featherdale Wildlife Park, Echo Point, three rides at Scenic World and a cruise on the Parramatta River to Circular Quay in Sydney. There are various other tours with very similar itineraries to choose from, but this one has the most positive reviews.
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From Sydney: Blue Mountains, Scenic World All-Inclusive Tour: Another highly rated and popular tour which is a small, all-inclusive tour to the Blue Mountains on a day trip from Sydney with a guide. The tour includes a visit to Scenic World, the Three Sisters, Wildlife Park or zoo, lunch and a ferry cruise all in one day.
- From Sydney: Blue Mountains Nature and Wildlife Tour: Includes a visit to Featherdale Wildlife Park, Echo Point, and a guided bushwalk in the Blue Mountains to see a waterfall and lookout point instead of the rides at Scenic World.
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From Sydney: Blue Mountains Aboriginal Experience Day Tour: This unique Blue Mountains Tour allows you to discover the cultural roots of Australia’s First Nation People on an Aboriginal Tour. The expert Aboriginal guide will share local mythology and enlighten you on native bush foods and medicines during a 2-hour Catherine’s Walk through the Blue Mountains National Park.
FIND MORE BLUE MOUNTAINS TOURS
Blue Mountains Day Trip by Train
If you are backpacking Australia on a budget or prefer to travel independently then getting to the Blue Mountains by train from Sydney is straightforward and cheap. It is possible to do a day trip to the Blue Mountains by train, but it will mean a very early start (which is totally worth it!) and a late return back to Sydney, so spending more time here is better if you can.
How to Get to the Blue Mountains by Train from Sydney
When travelling independently, the best way to get to the Blue Mountains from Sydney is by train. The Sydney to Blue Mountains Trains run regularly on the BMT Blue Mountains Trainline from Sydney Central Station and take around two hours to Katoomba.
The trains are double-decker, with a few seats on the same level as you walk through the door, then with steps up and down to get to the main seating areas on the top or bottom level. The trains I took were clean and safe, and excellent value.
I loved the public transport system in Sydney, as you can just use a contactless credit card to swipe as you go onto the train platform and swipe off again as you get off the train. You can also buy an individual single ticket (which costs a bit more) or swipe on and off using an Opal Card which you might have if you’re spending a long time in Sydney.
The journey from Sydney to the Blue Mountains by train works like this too, you can just use a contactless credit card to swipe on and off the train and that will calculate the cost of your trip and deduct it from your bank account automatically. Just make sure you remember to swipe off when you get off the train otherwise you’ll be charged the maximum possible fare for your trip!
Visiting the Blue Mountains by train is a cheap and eco-friendly way to travel, with tickets costing less than $10 each way. Services arrive or depart from Central Station platforms 1 to 15. Currently, the first train from Sydney to Blue Mountains destinations leaves at 4.22am and is due to arrive in Katoomba 2 hours later at 6.22am. You can check the up-to-date Blue Mountains train timetable here.
When I visited there were maintenance works going on along the train line and replacement buses were used for part of the journey so it took longer than usual to get to and from Katoomba. Plan your trip on the Transport NSW website here.
You can also use your Opal card or contactless card for the public buses in Katoomba, as well as the train. This means that the train and buses in the Blue Mountains are included in the travel caps for the Opal card or contactless card payments for public transport in Sydney.
As of February 2024, During the week the travel cap is $17.80 a day for an adult, and if you travel at the weekend the travel cap is just $8.90 a day for an adult and $4.45 for a child.
So, you can take the train to the Blue Mountains then take all of the buses you want and it won’t cost you any more than $16.80 a day during the week or $8.90 per day at the weekend – bargain!
NB – If you are travelling directly to the Blue Mountains from Sydney Airport, the travel cap doesn’t apply for the journey from the airport as that is a more expensive route and charged differently. I bought a single Opal card ticket for my trip from Sydney Airport to the Blue Mountains and it cost me $27.20. I didn’t realise it at the time but just using my credit card to swipe on and off the train would have been cheaper. Ah well!
Getting Around the Blue Mountains By Public Transport
If you come to the Blue Mountains by train on a day trip or for a longer stay and don’t have a car there are a few options for getting around the Blue Mountains on public transport by train, bus and the Hop on Hop off Bus service, as well as hiking along the many walking trails.
Blue Mountains Trains from Town to Town
Once you arrive at your chosen destination, you can also take the train between the towns in the Blue Mountains. Some stations are very convenient, like Katoomba and Leura stations, which are close to the main streets. Others such as Wentworth Falls are further away from the town and attractions, so you might find the buses to be more suitable.
The buses also run more frequently, usually every 30 minutes or so whereas the train service is generally one per hour, so factor that into your planning too.
Public Buses in Katoomba
Public buses can take you almost everywhere you’ll need to go, and you just use your contactless credit card to swipe on and off the buses. As I mentioned earlier there are transport price caps in place throughout the Greater Sydney area, and buses in the Blue Mountains are included in that.
You can check the Blue Mountains bus routes here, some popular routes include:
Katoomba to Scenic World via Echo Point (Loop Service) – check the timetable here
Katoomba to South Leura (Loop Service) – check the timetable here
Katoomba to North Wentworth Falls (Loop Service) – check the timetable here.
There is also a taxi service in Katoomba too (Katoomba Taxis: 02 4782 1311) if you do get stuck!
Blue Mountains Explorer Bus Hop on Hop off
The Blue Mountains Explorer Hop on Hop off bus ticket is decent value if you’re staying for a few days. The ticket is usually valid for one day but you can extend it to cover the duration of your stay for free if you ask at the ticket office.
Children also ride for free when travelling with an adult so it’s a great option if you’re visiting the Blue Mountains with kids. Make sure you sit at the top on the left-hand side of the bus for the best views during the route.
I’d recommend booking your tickets in advance to avoid disappointment – the prices are the same on GetYourGuide as they are on the official website, but booking through GYG means I will get a small commission at no extra cost to you which helps me to maintain this website and keep content free for you!
The ticket doubles as a guidebook with suggestions and directions for walks at many of the stops. Tickets also include live commentary from the bus drivers as you trundle around the Blue Mountains, and there are some discounts available at selected local attractions, hotels and cafes too.
Blue Mountains Hop on Hop Off Tickets
Prices start from $29 AUD per adult, for a one hour sightseeing tour without getting off the bus, or $49 AUD for a full day hop on hop off bus ticket, which you can extend for free to use throughout your stay. I got the full-day pass >>>CHECK DETAILS HERE
The downside is that the first bus leaves Katoomba station at 9am, and runs on the hour until the last bus leaves at 4pm, so you need to time your days carefully to make the most of the buses and avoid getting stranded! To make the most of the pass make sure you’re in Katoomba before 9am ready for the first bus.
If you do miss the last bus in most cases you can hop on a local bus which run a bit later, but check to make sure they are available when and where you want them – Google maps is pretty accurate when it comes to that, or see the timetables I’ve linked to above.
Combined Scenic World and Hop on Hop Off Bus Ticket
If you plan to visit Scenic World you can also get a combined ticket to include the Blue Mountains Explorer Hop on Hop Off Bus and and entry ticket to Scenic World. >>>CHECK DETAILS & PRICES
Where to Stay in the Blue Mountains
I know you might have come here looking for information about a day trip to the Blue Mountains but I will say again that it really is worth spending the night here to explore more of this beautiful area.
There are some great places to stay in the Blue Mountains, and I recommend staying in Katoomba, as that is a central place to base yourself, close to the major attractions in the Blue Mountains. Katoomba is a nice little town with lots of shops and restaurants and an excellent selection of street art too!
The train from Sydney to Katoomba takes around 2 hours and Katoomba is a good transport hub with regular buses and trains to other Blue Mountains destinations, as well as the Blue Mountains Hop On Hop Off Bus.
Unique Blue Mountains Accommodation
No. 14 Lovel St
I stayed at No. 14 Lovel St which is a lovely eco-friendly guesthouse in Katoomba with a mix of private rooms and shared dorms. It is a great choice if you are looking for unique accommodation in the Blue Mountains or are visiting the Blue Mountains on a budget – I loved my stay here and definitely recommend it. Keep an eye open for my full review coming soon!
No. 14 Lovel St was first built in 1913 and still has some original features, and is painted bright yellow to welcome you home with a smile on your face! It’s about 10 minutes’ walk from Katoomba train station, located at number 14 Lovel Street in case you hadn’t guessed!
There is a fully equipped kitchen (including oven and pizza trays), a group dining area with sofas, a cosy library, and a terrace for chilling out and getting to know fellow guests. You can choose to book a dorm bed, a private room or even the whole house for a fabulous stay in the Blue Mountains.
No. 14 is run by Annette and Gavin, who I met at a hostel conference back in 2019, and they invited me to stay for a few days and made me feel right at home. From chatting with other guests I wasn’t the only one getting the “family” treatment, as Annette would offer to drive people to the train station or into town, as well as sharing her wealth of knowledge about the area.
Annette clearly knows her stuff, so much so that she actually wrote a book about the Blue Mountains called OUT OF THE BLUE, which you can buy at the guesthouse, online or at various outlets around the Blue Mountains to properly prepare for your Blue Mountains trip.
Blue Mountains Hotels
If you prefer a little more luxury you might prefer to stay at one of these hotels in Katoomba:
The Carrington Hotel
If you like classic hotels, The Carrington is a heritage-listed refurbished manor offering elegant rooms and old-style glamour in the lounge. Breakfast is included in the rate and you have lots of places to eat in Katoomba to choose from for your other meals as well as the bar and restaurant on-site.
Lilianfels Blue Mountains Resort & Spa
Lilianfels Blue Mountains Resort & Spa is a grand country house just a few minutes’ walk from the Three Sisters viewpoint at Echo Point. There is a spa on-site (reservations recommended) so you can have some R&R after a long day hiking! It’s a 25-minute walk from the station so I’d advise a bus or taxi journey to and from the hotel.
CHECK PRICES & AVAILABILITY
The Best Things to Do in the Blue Mountains
Now to convince you to spend longer than a day in the Blue Mountains! As I mentioned earlier there are so many fabulous activities and attractions in the Blue Mountains that you could stay here for a week and still not do everything. Here is my pick of the top things to do in the Blue Mountains for you to choose from:
Scenic World
The top attraction in the Blue Mountains is Scenic World. All of the day tours to the Blue Mountains come here and it’s definitely worth a visit BUT it gets very busy, so you’ll want to get here as soon as it opens to beat the crowds and so you can be first on all the rides!
The Unlimited Discovery Pass day ticket to Scenic World includes as many times on the rides as you like that day, so take your time and make the most of it, especially if you are spending a weekend or several days in the Blue Mountains.
Prices start from $50 AUD per adult, with child tickets starting from $30 (kids under 3 go free). Entry times vary from 9am to 10am, with closing times between 4p, amd 5pm.
I suggest buying your ticket online, either individually from Scenic World or as part of your Hop on Hop Off Bus Pass.
This means you can catch the first Blue Mountains Hop On Hop Off Explorer Bus at 9am (or taking a public bus) to get there as close as you can to opening time at 9am or 10am depending on that day’s opening times. If it opens at 10am then you could go to the Three Sisters first although it might start to get busy by the time you arrive here.
Whenever you do arrive, jump off the bus at Skyway East Station where you can take the Skyway cable car across the Valley to the main entrance and pick up your Scenic World wristband.
Take a peek through the glass floor of the Skyway and get incredible views of Katoomba Falls and Mount Solitary as you cross the valley.
Once officially inside Scenic World, head over to the Blue Mountains Scenic Railway to go down into the valley on the steepest railway in the world (which is more like a roller-coaster than a train!) Getting here early gives you a good chance to bag the front seat like we did, or wait a while to choose your favourite spot.
Down in the valley take a walk around the wooden pathways, learning about the mining history here – and spot dinosaurs along the way. I think the dinosaurs are a temporary exhibit but there is usually something to keep kids of all ages entertained.
We took the cableway back up which seemed to be what everyone else did too so that was quite busy, then we stayed on to go back down into the valley and get a better spot by the window, and took the scenic train back up – again getting a seat at the front!
It was getting busy by this time but I was so glad to have had a whole morning here to get the best out of everything. Keep an eye on the time so you can be back at the bus stop either for the 11.17 am or 12.17 pm Hop on Hop Off Bus depending on how long you spend here. Alternatively, if you finish before that check the public bus timetables.
Scenic World has also recently launched Indigenous Experiences where you can discover Gundungurra Country with an indigenous guide and learn more about the culture of the people who lived here long before white settlers arrived. Tickets for this special tour are limited and include all Scenic World rides and time to enjoy the rest of the park after your tour. >>>CHECK DETAILS AND PRICES
Echo Point Lookout & The Three Sisters
The Three Sisters is a striking rock formation, made up of three stone towers standing in a row on the tip of a cliff and is probably the most famous place in the Blue Mountains along with Scenic World.
If you’re taking the Hop On Hop Off bus, the first bus is at 9am from Katoomba and I’d recommend either getting off at stop 6 (Honeymoon Lookout) and following part of the Prince Henry Cliff Walk path to the Three Sisters and Echo Point Lookout, or just going straight to Echo Point to see the Three Sisters as that’s the most popular stop.
Alternatively, if you visit Scenic World first, take the bus around the loop from Scenic World to get you back here.
There are several viewpoints here to enjoy the beautiful scenery as you look out onto Jamison Valley. Queen Elizabeth Lookout just underneath Echo Point was my favourite, but follow the trails and see where they take you.
If you’re feeling energetic you can descend the Giant Stairway but as its name suggests there are A LOT of stairs to head down into the valley.
Hiking in the Bue Mountains
There are some fantastic hikes in the Blue Mountains, taking in clifftop trails, walking through the Jamison Valley or exploring waterfalls and lookouts. If you are into hiking then you are spoilt for choice here!
There are Blue Mountains walking trails suitable for all ages abilities, from flat paved boardwalks to beautiful viewpoints, to steep steps into and back out of the valley. My knees couldn’t handle heading down into the valley on foot, but if you have some major hiking in mind then you’ll need to allocate more time to hiking and less to exploring – or spend even longer here!
Some of the hikes take less than an hour, whereas others can take all day depending on your fitness levels and stamina. If you set out to do some hiking and head down into the valley, if you can’t face the walk back up the steps then you could buy a ticket for Scenic World to transport you back up!
TOP TIP: Before you head out on any hikes, check to make sure the trails and Blue Mountains lookouts you want to visit are open – with the fires and floods over the best couple of years some trails are sadly closed until they can be made safe again.
Katoomba Falls & Katoomba Cascades
One of my favourite easy walks in the Blue Mountains was an accessible pathway to Katoomba Cascades and the viewpoints to see Katoomba Falls and Orphan Rock. You can get here either by walking along the Prince Henry Cliff Walk from Scenic World or Echo Point, or hop off the bus at Cliff Road Lookout and walk there from the road.
From the Cliff Road Lookout, follow the path to the Cascades. Here you can get a close up view of the waterfall as it tumbles down the rocks. There are stepping stones to get across the water, or a bridge if you’re not feeling brave enough!
Follow the pathway alongside Kedumba Creek to a selection of Lookouts, including the Duke and Duchess of York Lookout and the Watchtower Lookout where you have great views of the valley and the Skyway Cable Car, and to Katoomba Falls Lookout for a lovely view of Katoomba Falls as it tumbles into the valley.
The pathway and Katoomba Cascades are also lit up for evening walks so you can watch the sunset from the lookouts and walk back after dark, something you definitely can’t do on a Blue Mountains day trip! I loved walking along the path among the greenery, and the view from the Katoomba Falls Lookout as the sun set and the Sulphur Crested Cockatoos squawked below us before coming in to roost.
Join a Jewellery Making Class
Did you know you can also take a jewellery-making workshop in the Blue Mountains? I joined Fran at Ladybird Design Creative to make some gorgeous silver earrings which I am so proud of! I loved the whole process, from designing what the earrings would look like to cutting and shaping the silver and adding a flourish of coloured beads.
Fran offers various creative workshops from silver jewellery (earrings, a ring or pendant) and sip and paint classes, to making beeswax wraps in her home and studio in Wentworth Falls. Check the website for private classes or to see what workshops she has running while you’re in town.
Explore Street Art in Katoomba
Katoomba has a lot of street art to explore on Beverly Place and around the Cultural Centre, as well as a gorgeous mural in the tunnel under the train line.
Beverly Place is home to the Katoomba Street Art Walk, which makes use of the back side of buildings which would normally be quite an ugly area and turns it into something dynamic and beautiful, with all sorts of graffiti designs and murals.
The Gully
Be sure to take a walk around The Gully, which used to be an Aboriginal settlement before the people were evicted and their homes destroyed to make way for a race track. It has now been officially recognised as an Aboriginal Place where you can take an Interpretive Walk and learn about the people who used to live there.
The Gully is about 10 minutes’ walk from central Katoomba and is a nice break if you want some peace and quiet.
Birdwatching in the Blue Mountains
One of my favourite things about hiking and being in nature is spotting the wildlife in the area. The birds in Australia are so different to the ones I know from the UK, so seeing even common Australian birds was fascinating for me.
The Blue Mountains is home to the lyrebird, which is known for its ability to mimic sounds and for the male’s impressively long tail plumage. I think I may have spotted a female but the closest I got to a male was hearing noises around me and spotting this statue!
I did however see plenty of white sulphur-crested cockatoos, and a black cockatoo, as well as a bright red and blue Crimson Rosella, and some pink Galahs. You might also see a wedge-tailed eagle and a variety of other birds as you explore – don’t forget to bring some binoculars if you are keen to spot everything you can!
Stargazing
One of the best things to do in the Blue Mountains at night is to gaze up at the stars. I was hoping to do this on my last day in the Blue Mountains but sadly the weather ruined that plan, it was too cloudy and rainy to see anything so the tour was cancelled.
Of course, on a clear night you can look up and see the beautiful night sky, but with a star gazing tour like this one you’ll also have access to a professional-grade telescope and someone to explain just what you’re looking at! You can book a star gazing tour online, the meeting point is at Wentworth Falls so you’ll need to arrange a taxi to get there and back.
Visiting The Quaint Towns in the Blue Mountains
Leura
Leura is a lovely little town with quirky shops and more great Blue Mountains restaurants and cafes. There are antique and second-hand shops as well as unique stores like Bilingarra – Indigenous Art and Culture, which is well worth a visit for a special souvenir of your time in the Blue Mountains. They sell a variety of art and handmade items from Aboriginal artists and craftspeople.
If you want to grab some food on the go to eat later, Leura Gourmet is a fabulous deli with some meal options to take away such as spinach and filo pie and tiramisu.
If you prefer to sit down and eat, I loved Leura Dumplings (next door to Josophan’s Fine Chocolates which sells incredible brownies and chocolates), or how about afternoon tea in a teapot museum at Bygone Beautys?
If you can’t stretch to a full afternoon tea, at least treat yourself to a buy-one-get-one-free cream tea, with a serving of two delicious scones, jam and cream and a hot drink, if you have a voucher from the Hop On Hop Off Bus or Annette’s “OUT OF THE BLUE” book.
Katoomba
As well as the street art in Katoomba, it is worth wandering around the town, browsing in the shops and getting something to eat. There are a couple of supermarkets here to stock up if you want to cook something yourself, or there are some excellent restaurants in Katoomba to choose from too.
For lunch I had a delicious falafel wrap from Cedar Take Away, and you can’t go wrong with a pizza from Station Bar and Woodfired Pizza. Their delicious pizzas have some unique toppings like saltwater crocodile or roast duck, alongside classic favourites with vegetarian, vegan and gluten-free options available.
If you fancy a drink in the evening you could head to the classic Carrington Hotel for a glass of bubbly in front of the open fire (on a cold day that is delightful!) or have a cocktail or two at Bootlegger Bar, which has a rooftop bar and live music at the weekends.
Other Fun Things to Do in the Blue Mountains
Trust me when I say there is something for everyone here. While the Blue Mountains is known for hiking and lookout points, you certainly won’t get bored here – even if you don’t want to hike at all!
If you’re feeling adventurous you could try out some of the following Blue Mountains activities that I didn’t have chance to try!
See what I mean? There are just too many fabulous things to do in the Blue Mountains to fit into two or three days, let alone a single day trip! I hope this article has persuaded you to not just take a day trip to the Blue Mountains and has given you some ideas to plan your own Blue Mountains itinerary by train.
While some places are definitely easier to visit if you have a car, visiting the Blue Mountains by train is a great way to explore the area in an eco-friendly and budget-friendly way!
