Hitting the Blue Mountains: The journey from the guts of Sydney CBD to Katoomba takes roughly 90 minutes via the M4 Motorway and allows you to check out all the little towns of the Blue Mountains by car. With the express service, regular trains from Central Station will get you to Katoomba in under 2 hours. From there, you can catch public buses or jump on the Blue Mountains Explorer Bus to get around all the major sights.
What to see
What to see in the Blue Mountains
The Three Sisters
Three Sisters is a must-see for those visiting the Blue Mountains for the first time. This iconic rock formation is located in the Echo Point area of Katoomba and has a fair bit of Dinkum Aboriginal legend behind it. It is said that the sisters Mini, Wimla, and Gunnedu fell in love with three guys from a neighboring mob but didn't get permission for marriage. A big carcass started and the elder turned the sisters into stone to keep them safe, but then knocked it out and no one could bring them back.
These days, the Three Sisters show different sides of their beauty depending on the season and time of day, and in the evening, they are lit up until 11:00 pm for a little evening quiz.
Echo Point
Perched on the cliff's edge in Katoomba, Echo Point lookout is the starting point for heaps of top-notch walks and spots to check out the Three Sisters. Take a short stroll to get a good look at them, or if you're up for a challenge, have a crack at the Giant Stairway, which takes you down nearly 1,000 steps to the valley floor. If you've got the time, the Prince Henry Cliff Walk is worth a go, connecting Echo Point to Leura Cascades, with some beautiful little waterfalls along the way.
Wentworth Falls
Wentworth Falls is a top little village in the Blue Mountains with some of the best bushwalking tracks around. Tuck into a feed at one of the historic cafes, have a stickybeak at the antique shops, or set off on an adventure hike. From the village, head down Falls Road to the leafy Wentworth Falls picnic area and the nearby track. The track is a bit steep but definitely worth it, taking you past Jamison and Wentworth lookouts before you get to Fletchers for a cracking view of Wentworth Falls as it tumbles 100m down to the valley floor.
Best time to visit
The Blue Mountains look stunning any time of the year, and the best time to visit depends on what you're after.
- Summer's usually warm but a bit cooler than Sydney, which is nice. If you're keen on bushwalking, late summer's a good bet.
- Autumn's a ripper time to visit, with the leaves turning orange-red and the days getting cooler, perfect for hiking.
- Winter's when it's all happening, with cold nights perfect for cozying up by the fire. There are heaps on in winter, including Yulefest, where you can have a Christmas in July experience at heaps of places around town.
- Spring is when the gardens look their best, and the warmer weather is great for getting outdoors.
A Blue Mountains Tour is a fantastic way to experience this World Heritage-listed area's breathtaking scenery and unique attractions.