We dedicate practically the entire sixth day of our roadtrip along the east coast of Australia to the Blue Mountains National Park. But it could have been two or three whole days to get to know one of the most important corners of this huge park, which is located just 100 km north of Sydney. We tell you the options for Getting to the Blue Mountains from Sydney, how to tour the park, what to see and do, the best viewpoints and trails and more!
The Blue Mountains National Park is one of the most visited state parks in Australia, largely because of its strategic location very close to Sydney, which make it the perfect getaway to disconnect from the city. But also for its impressive viewpoints, its beautiful villages and its many trekking options.
One of the first impressions you have when contemplating the horizon between the pines as you ascend the road is to be facing the ocean. There is an optical effect that transform the whole panorama into blue and, perhaps for that reason it was decided to put that name.
Once there, don't expect thick forests, mud roads and lost villages. The whole area is full of villages of half mountain, urbanizations with quite exclusive houses, wide roads and coverage. Nothing to do with the idea we had!
And although this may take away a bit of charm from what should be an intact natural environment, when you only have a few hours to see the most important thing you end up thanking it.
The park is dotted with lookouts at the edge of the abyss and walking trails They run through the ravines, so bored you won't get bored. Here we tell you the ones you can't miss:
Lookouts:
- Wentworth Waterfalls: from the car park there are different paths with several viewpoints. Just 300 meters away is the Jamison Lookoutbut you can't miss the Wentworth Waterfalls Lookout and the Princess Rock Lookout. Between this set of viewpoints and the Echo Point is theSublime Point Lookout (we did not get to visit it).
Views from the Wentworth Waterfalls Lookout
- Katoomba: it is best to go first to the Echo Point Visitor Center and right there is the 3 Sisters Lookout. About 10 minutes down to the Giant Stairway, some stairs that reach the nearest Sister, which can be reached by crossing a bridge that is quite cramped. Then return to the car to visit two other viewpoints in this same town: the Eagle Hawk Lookout (Be careful because there are only a couple of parking spaces next to the road), and the Cahills Lookout, which gives you a new perspective of the whole valley. On the other side of town they recommended the Leura Lookout, although we did not go.
The imposing Three Sisters from the Echo Point
Our favorite corner, the Eagle Hawk Lookout
- Blackhead: in this town is the Govetts Leap Lookout, perhaps the most impressive viewpoint of all. The views are much wider than the others and do not miss to the right the trickle of water that falls into the void, the Bridal Veil Falls. In the immediate vicinity are also thePulpit Rock Lookout and the Evans Lookout, which is reached with different paths.
Views from the Govetts Leap Lookout
- Walls Lookout: we don't get to him Walls Lookout, although the views must be quite impressive. To access there is a dirt track of several km, and from the parking lot there are 30 minutes one way to the viewpoint.
Walking trails:
- Wentworth Waterfalls: perhaps the place with the best trekkings in the Blue Mountains. There are options for all tastes, from viewpoints to 20 and 40 minutes (round trip), to walks of several hours. We made a loop that combines several routes: first the Wentworth Falls Track to the Fletchers Lookout, then follow the Undercliff Track which passes through some galleries on the side of the rock and finally ascends the Princess Rock Lookout. In principle it is an hour and a half, although we finish it in something less. The path called National Pass (which begins after the waterfall) was cut at the time we went, although you can do the first part that passes through a corridor literally hanging from the rock above the void, which is to remove the hiccups.
Trail over the cliff on the Undercliff Track
- Katoomba: from the Echo Point you can reach the first of the 3 Sisters by the Three Sisters Walking Track.and reach the Giant Stairway and the bridge that gives access to a terrace on it. In addition there is a path that connects the viewpoint of the 3 Sisters with the Kiah Lookout and the Leura Cascades to the side, and to the Katoomba Falls by Prince Henry Cliff Walk, in the direction of Scenic World to the other. We didn't do it, we don't think it's very interesting if you have little time.
Bridge that gives access to the first of the 3 Sisters
- Govetts Leap: It is another place where several trails are born. There are two starting points: the one that goes to the left of the viewpoint (Pulpit Rock Track) and has a 30-minute one-way trip to Horseshoe Falls and several hours. And the one on the right (Cliff Top Track) which first reaches the top of the Bridal Veil Falls and the Barrow Lookout viewpoint (in about 30 minutes and about 500 steps!) and then continues to the Evans Lookout. I made the first 30 minutes and returned, the views are no better than from the main viewpoint next to the parking lot. Although most people opted for the path that goes to the left and not the one I made ...
Views from the Barrow Lookout
Botanical Garden
At the end of the visit if you have time you can go to the botanical garden. In addition to several gardens set in different parts of the world and the views over the Blue Mountains, there is a very interesting aboriginal art exhibition. It is also free!
Botanical garden of the Blue Mountains
You can visit the Blue Mountains National Park by car or rental van (for us the best option), as on an excursion organized from Sydney or by free. We tell you each option below:
In own car
If you are worried about encountering unpaved roads, mud tracks and stones, to visit the Blue Mountains you can rest easy. The road that goes up to Katoomba, the town where all the activity of this national park is concentrated, is a dual lane highway by sense. Big surprise!
The circulation is constant, not only for visitors but also because it is a quite popular residential area. Once you pass Katoomba, the road loses a lane and becomes a conventional road, but always in good condition.
The most interesting places are connected by the call Blue Mountains Drive (BMD), that you will surely go through parts, although it is best not to give too much importance and put the places you want to visit on the mobile and follow the directions of Google Maps. It has no loss.
We recommend loop, starting with the town of Wentoworth Fallsfollow for Katoomba and stop here at the Echo Point Visitor Center, where the viewpoints are on the 3 Sisters and collect some information. Then continue north towards Blackheath, and then cross the park through the Darling Causeway (from Mt Victoria to Bell), a road that crosses the entire park in height. There begin to descend until making the last stop in the Botanic Garden. In total from Sydney they are about 300 km and are easily traveled.
By free by train from Sydney
If you don't have your own car and prefer not to rent, it doesn't mean you can't visit the Blue Mountains. Since Sydney's Central Station there are trains very frequently that arrive directly to some station of the park, we recommend Katoomba, in approx. 2 hours. More info.
Then here are services from hop on hop off buses They stop at the most interesting points, in the area of Katoomba, Leura, and Wentworth Falls. The price is about $ 40 and you can buy it directly at the exit of Katoomba station.
There are also urban bus lines that have routes (some in loop) around the entire park. Some are
To travel by train you can get a single ticket ($ 17.60 round trip) or get one Opal card, it is free but the first minimum recharge is $ 20. In any case the maximum daily amount will be applied, if you travel from Monday to Saturday this limit is of 15,40$, but be careful because if you go on Sunday, the limit is only 2,50$.
→ Check train schedules and plan your trip
Organized tour from Sydney
Of course, you can also join a tour that leaves from Sydney and visits the Blue Mountains in one day, look:
In the parking lot of del Echo Point Visitor Center (viewpoints of the 3 Sisters) and the surrounding streets you have to pay at least the first hour it costs 4$, from there the price rises to $ 4.80 per hour, although if you are only going to see the main viewpoints, the time is enough. The rest of the car parks they are for free And, unless it's super high season, we don't think there's too much trouble. We went on a Saturday at the end of the southern summer and, although there were enough people, we always got a place (although twice the last place ...).
Although we had seen somewhere that the price for entering the national park was $ 8 per car, we did not cross any rangers booth or saw posters announcing prices or fines. More information in the official web.
It is a theme park that costs neither more nor less than $ 42 admission. From what we saw, its greatest attraction is a cable car that crosses an abyss from one point to another. It must be impressive, but what do you want me to tell you ... 42 dollars when the rest of the viewpoints are free!
If you travel in campervan like us, there is a super cool campsite and free shortly before arriving at Wentworth Falls. Is named Bulls Camp ReserveIt has construction bathrooms and even a cold shower. There is a lot of green area for those who carry a shop and plenty of space for vans and caravans.
If your idea is to sleep in some accommodation in the villages of the park, options are not lacking, although they are not completely backpacking. If you want to treat yourself, why not sleep in the Hydro Majestic, in theParklands Country Gardens & Lodges or in the Loxley On Bellbird Hill. Check out some offers:
We leave you a map with all the points of interest that we have been commenting on in the article, viewpoints, trails, etc. We hope it helps you!
So far our Tips for visiting the Blue Mountains National Park, how to get there from Sydney, what to see and do, the best viewpoints and trails and much more information to plan your visit.
Panoramic from the Cahills Lookout
