Is a Day Trip to the Blue Mountains Worth it?

Wondering if you should take a day trip to the Blue Mountains from Sydney?

While planning my first visit to Australia, I admit I was a bit overwhelmed by all the things I wanted to see. One place stood out to me as a must visit experience – the Blue Mountains National Park. Lots of people recommended we take a day trip to the Blue Mountains from Sydney because it’s only an hour and a half away from the city and you can see several highlights in just one day.

When you have limited time to visit a place and want to see everything, it’s difficult to decide, right? Should we take a full day out of my Sydney itinerary to visit the Blue Mountains, or not?

Why Take a Day Trip to the Blue Mountains?

The Blue Mountains National Park is a UNESCO World Heritage Site in New South Wales. It’s a mountainous region west of Sydney and is part of a larger mountain range called the Great Dividing Range. The mountains are bordered by rivers on all sides and are thick with rain forests and eucalyptus trees. In fact, the aboriginal name for the area is actually “Colomatta” or “koala place,” because of all the eucalyptus.

One of the coolest things is that the eucalyptus trees emit a naturally occurring chemical or oil. Evidently, the high concentration of that oil in the forest creates a blue haze that is visible across the region. I was mesmerized by this, along with images of rock formations, sky rails, trains, and breathtaking views. So, I decided to do it! We didn’t want to rent a car and drive ourselves, so we chose a small group day tour – And what a great decision that was!

Day Trip to the Blue Mountains, Katoomba, & Featherdale

We considered hiring a driver or doing a private tour, but that all felt a bit expensive and not necessary. So we looked for a small group tour on a mini-bus rather than a giant tour bus. The Anderson’s Tours were highly rated and priced reasonably. This is the tour experience I’ll tell you about. Everything was included in the tour price – all entrance fees, lunch, and we even got a free photo with a koala!

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The tour included a terrific and knowledgeable driver/guide who works and lives in Katoomba, in the Blue Mountains, so his skills really added to the whole experience.

The Day Trip to the Blue Mountains

The mini bus picked us up at the back entrance of the Four Seasons Hotel in Sydney, near the Sydney Bridge, at 6:45 AM. We happened to be staying at that hotel, so it worked out great! They do offer other pick up points, as well.

We drove about 45 minutes into the Lower Blue Mountains and stopped in Glenbrook for a bathroom break and a quick coffee. We continued on for about 45 minutes to Katoomba which is the main town of the region and the seat of the Blue Mountains city council.

Katoomba & Scenic World – Some History

Katoomba, which means “shining falling water,” is a village in the Blue Mountains named for the waterfalls that cascade into the Jamison Valley. Jamison Valley is home to many rock formations, such as the famous Three Sisters, waterfalls, and lush rainforest. 

Katoomba sadly became the site of a horrible discrimination policy in the early 20th Century. In order to make way for white businessmen’s ventures, such as a coal mine, the Aboriginal families of the Blue Mountains were forced to leave the area and tragically, many of their mixed race children were stolen from them.  These surviving children are called “The Stolen Generation.”

Since 1945, however, the area has been converted into Scenic World, a tourist destination which allows visitors to experience and learn about the indigenous history and environmental beauty of the National Park. Part of Scenic World sits atop the Jamison Valley and the rest is down in the valley.

Scenic World Park in Katoomba

Scenic World is open 7 days p/week 10AM – 4PM & during school holidays 9AM – 5PM.

Included in your Anderson’s Tour is the entrance for all the Scenic World activities. You’ll take the Scenic Skyway across the valley gorge, then the Scenic Railway down into the valley floor, then you’ll walk on the Scenic Walkway, and ride back up on the Scenic Cableway. You guessed it, it’s all very “scenic!”

Scenic Skyway

We boarded a giant cable car that fits 84 passengers and boasts being the largest aerial cable car in the Southern Hemisphere. We soared 885 feet (270 meters) above the valley gorge where we got our first views of the Three Sisters rock formation, the Katoomba Falls, and the Jamison Valley. It’s a very short ride, about 5 minutes, and then you depart at the other end of the Prince Henry Cliff Walk to the Scenic World Top Station where you can use restrooms, buy food and souvenirs. This might not be an option if the winds are too gusty, but we were fine.

There’s a special option for riders to ride on the top of the cable car. Not for me, but it’s apparently offered a few times per week for a pricey ticket.

Scenic Railway

We were ushered onto the railway formerly used by the miners and now renovated for Scenic World passengers. This red train seats 84 passengers and once the overhead doors lock, you’ll drop at a 54 degree slope into the rainforest floor. This train holds the Guiness Book of World Record for being the world’s steepest passenger railway. Also a super short ride at about 2 minutes and covering over 1017 feet (310 meters). You have just enough time to shriek and then it’s over!

Scenic Walkway

When we exited the train, we were deep in the lush rainforest and able to walk on an elevated boardwalk. Our guide pointed out trees, plants, and gave some more history of the coal mines that were formerly operated down there. We did not see any of the unique animals that inhabit the forest, but heard about the famous Lyrebird. We were able to stop for lots of photo ops.

If you’re not on a tour, then obviously, you’d have more time to take longer walks and explore the paths. There are self guided loop walks – a 10 minute, a 30 minute, and a 50 minute walk.

Scenic Cableway

Our ride back up was on the steepest aerial cable car in the Southern Hemisphere. These cars aren’t as large as the Skyway but travel up at a 36 degree incline. You’ll catch aerial views of the Three Sisters and Orphan Rock. Another quick trip to the top station.

Echo Point and Three Sisters Overlook

We hopped back into our mini bus where we were taken to the magnificent overlooks of Echo Point and Three Sisters. The Three Sisters are the three 3000 foot tall rock formations that dominate the views from Echo Point. Yes, there were some crowds, but the platforms are plenty spacious for lots of people and their cameras. It’s all quite stunning. Because we had such a clear day, we were able to see the blue haze off in the distance.

Prince Henry Cliff Walk and Katoomba Falls

The Prince Henry Cliff Walk is the path along the top of the Jamison Valley. Our guide took us along the walk to the top of the steps that descend down to the base of the Katoomba Falls.This is the lower, smaller section of the 754 foot (230 meters) falls. We had time to walk around and take photos. This is when I was happy to have my waterproof hiking boots. The rocks were wet and slippery.

Back onto the bus for a quick stop at the cockatoo park. Yes, wild silver crested cockatoos are just flying around Katoomba, wreaking havoc.

Lunch was the next stop at a very sweet house called the One Orient Restaurant. It’s a cozy home with a fireplace and a pretty great menu. A big step up from the usual fare on these “lunch included” tours! 

Featherdale Wildlife Park

After lunch we drove about 45 minutes to the Featherdale Sydney Wildlife Park in Doonside. This is a park dedicated to educating, conserving, and protecting the native species of Australia. I can’t say enough about how great it is! It’s a low tech, simple park with lots of open space and hands on access to many animals.  Did I mention I got to touch a koala and feed a kangaroo?

Return to Sydney by Ferry

Following our time at Featherdale, we drove to a ferry stop on the Parramatta River and said goodbye to our driver. The sunset ferry took us back to the Sydney Harbor at Circular Quay. Honestly, I was kind of exhausted and was wishing we were being driven back to the hotels, but I changed my mood completely once we were on the calm water watching the magnificent sunset! It was perfect timing and lighting to cruise past the buildings of Barangaroo reflecting the sun’s brilliant oranges. We got back to Circular Quay about 5PM. Perfect ending to a great day!

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Frequently Asked Questions:

What are the things to do in the Blue Mountains?
The most visited spots are Katoomba, Scenic World, Echo Pint and the Three Sisters, Katoomba Falls, Wentworth Falls, and countless other hikes, lookouts and beautiful scenery.

What are the Pros to a day trip to the Blue Mountains from Sydney?
The easy access from Sydney, see a diverse set of sites in a short time, not much effort involved if you don’t want to take big hikes.

What are the cons of a day trip to the Blue Mountains?
One day might feel like a rushed itinerary resulting in limited time for hiking and exploring, and if you’re on a tour, you have time constraints at the locations. For instance, I would have liked to see Wentworth Falls as well as Katoomba Falls.

Is it cold in the Blue Mountains?
I visited in July, which is mid winter in the Southern Hemisphere. I was prepped with a long sleeve shirt, a sweater, and a  lightweight puffer jacket and felt perfectly comfortable all day. We were lucky to not have any rain and a very sunny day.

What is the legend of the Three Sisters?
One of the legend stories is that three sisters fell in love with three brothers. The families were from different tribes however, so the sisters were not allowed to marry the brothers. In response, a war began between the two families. The brothers then kidnapped the sisters and had them turned into stone by a witch doctor to keep them safe during the war. Sadly, the brothers and the witch doctor were killed during the war. Consequently, the sisters remain in stone to this day!

When is the Best Time to Visit the Blue Mountains?

I have heard that at times it is very cold in the Blue Mountains, but I would suggest you not worry about cold and go as long as there is some sun. I would have been a little disappointed if there had been significant rain blocking the views or wind limiting the ability to ride the sky rail.

The other factor to be aware of is the school holiday schedule. We visited during a July 2 week school holiday and it was definitely more crowded. It did not impact our visit, but I imagine the summer months of December to February can get very busy.

Blue Mountain Temps	Average High (°F)	Average Low (°F)
January	74	56
February	72	55
March	68	53
April	62	48
May	56	43
June	50	39
July	50	37
August	53	38
September	59	42
October	64	46
November	68	50
December	72	53

Where to stay in Sydney

The Sheraton Grand Sydney Hyde Park
The Sheraton is a luxury hotel in a great location across from Hyde Park in the Central Business District (CBD) and is very close to all the main sites in Sydney. The breakfast buffet is amazing and the staff were awesome. I loved the spa facilities too!

The Four Seasons Hotel Sydney is also a luxury hotel right along the harbor, very close to The Rocks and the BridgeClimb office. The Anderson’s Day Trip to the Blue Mountains picks up at the Four Seasons.

The Rydges Sydney Central This hotel has great reviews and is in a very central location.

Final Verdict: Is a Day Trip to the Blue Mountains Worth It?

In a nutshell…

100% Yes! Truly, this was a highlight of my visit to Sydney. I would have been so sad to pass on this excursion. I really love National Parks and their dramatic landscapes and the Blue Mountains National Park really delivered! From the iconic views of the Three Sisters and the famous Scenic railway and cable cars, to the cherished memories of koalas and kangaroos, I would add this day trip tot eh Blue Mountains to your “must do” list when you visit Sydney, Australia.

xx,
Carrie