Blue Mountains

The Blue Mountains rise abruptly from Sydney's western sprawl, a sandstone plateau carved into deep gorges where eucalyptus forests release the blue haze that gives the range its name. You'll find the iconic Three Sisters rock formation in Katoomba, the region's main town, where cliff-edge walking tracks lead to lookouts over the Jamison Valley. The air is noticeably cooler than Sydney, especially in winter when fireplaces crackle in guesthouses and mist clings to the valleys until mid-morning.

Most visitors base themselves in Katoomba or Leura for two nights, enough time to walk the cliff tracks, ride the Scenic Railway into the valley, and explore a few villages. Day trips from Sydney are common but feel rushed. The region stretches 60 kilometres east to west, so you'll need a car to reach trailheads beyond the main towns. Trains run from Sydney's Central Station to Katoomba in two hours for around $10 each way, but local buses are infrequent and hiking trails start well outside walking distance from stations.

Getting around

A car gives you the most freedom to reach lookouts and trailheads scattered across the plateau. Parking is free at most attractions, though Echo Point in Katoomba fills by 10am on weekends. If you're relying on public transport, the Blue Mountains Explorer Bus runs a hop-on loop between Katoomba and Leura from $49 for a day pass, stopping at major sights. Taxis are scarce outside Katoomba. The towns themselves are walkable, but distances between villages like Blackheath, Leura, and Wentworth Falls are 5 to 15 kilometres, too far to walk comfortably with steep descents and climbs on the valley trails.

What to see

The Prince Henry Cliff Walk connects Katoomba Falls to Gordon Falls along the escarpment edge, offering valley views without the knee-punishing descents. For a longer walk, the National Pass track at Wentworth Falls takes you behind the waterfall on a cliff-hugging path carved in the 1900s. The Scenic World complex in Katoomba runs a cable car, skyway, and the world's steepest railway into the valley floor for $55, though purists prefer hiking down the Giant Stairway for free. Leura's tree-lined main street has antique shops and cafes in heritage buildings, busiest on weekends when Sydney day-trippers arrive.