Sydney Day Trip to the Blue Mountains and Katoomba
Experience the exhilarating scenery of the Blue Mountains and exploring the picturesque town of Katoomba with this highly recommended day trip from Sydney
If you would like to escape the city for a day and explore the beautiful countryside that surrounds Sydney, this one-day trip to the Blue Mountains is outstanding.
You begin with an enjoyable 2-hour journey by train from Central Station in Sydney that takes you west right through the spectacular Blue Mountains National Park. This scenic train ride is almost half the fun. You will want to get an early start, so you have time to enjoy the day.
When you get to Katoomba, exit the railroad station to the south and walk straight south along Katoomba Street. Here you will find all kinds of boutique shops, coffee shops and little restaurants to explore. You may want to stop and enjoy lunch along the way before continuing to the lookouts.
As you continue south on Katoomba Street, it becomes more residential. Keep on walking until you get to a fork in the road. Take the right-hand fork onto Katoomba Falls Road. This leads to Katoomba Park. When you get to Cliff Drive, there's two options. Going left leads you to Echo Point Road and the Echo Point Lookout where you will enjoy spectacular views of the Blue Mountains and a close up view of the Three Sisters rock formation. Continuing straight for a short distance leads to Katoomba Falls lookout point. Many trails leading from the south side of the roads here explore the cliffs and mountains of this spectacular geological region. Please be very careful on these trails as they lead to the edge of tall cliffs.
Continuing just a little further west along Cliff Drive past Katoomba Falls Lookout you come upon Scenic World. This is an attraction you may well wish to visit. Ride the Scenic Skyway, a cable car with a glass floor that will slowly transport you across the 700-metre ravine a breathtaking 270 metres above the rainforest. You can also ride the Scenic Cableway, which takes you right down into the rainforest of the valley below. From there you'll explore the sights, flora and fauna from a 3 kilometre long raised boardwalk. Both the ride and the boardwalk are wheelchair user accessible. Last, but not least, is the Scenic Railway, the steepest inclined railway in the world. It will take you on an exciting 415-metre drop to the valley floor and the Scenic Walkway below. There are admission charges for the above rides, but they offer packages that include either 1, 2 or all three rides. See their website at the above link for up-to-date pricing.
Whether you visit the above attraction or just explore the trails and viewpoints on your own you will be treated to many fabulous views.
The walk from the railroad station to Katoomba Park and the Scenic World Attraction is about 2.5 kilometres or just over 35 minutes each way without stopping. Walking to Echo Point Lookout takes a little longer.
If you prefer the added value and convenience of a guided tour to the Blue Mountains we would strongly recommend the Blue Mountains Day Trip and Riverboat Cruise. This highly rated small group tour transports you to the Blue Mountains on a minibus. It includes hotel pickup, a morning tea and a two course lunch, admission to Scenic World including the Cable car and Railway ride, entrance to Featherdale Wildlife Park followed by a scenic river boat cruise along the Parramatta River back to Circular Quay.
Facts For Your Visit
Fee: No, unless visiting Scenic WorldThe Three Sisters Hours:
Opening hours may differ on holidays
- Monday: Open 24 hours
- Tuesday: Open 24 hours
- Wednesday: Open 24 hours
- Thursday: Open 24 hours
- Friday: Open 24 hours
- Saturday: Open 24 hours
- Sunday: Open 24 hours
Address: Prince Henry Cliff Walk, Katoomba NSW 2780, Australia
Phone: (02) 4780 5000
Official Website: The Three Sisters
The Three Sisters Reviews
Rated out of 5
Gorgeous views for days! Must visit before scenic world trip. The drive itself is beautiful. It can get really chilly and windy, so wear warm clothes and a beanie. There's a gift shop too to browse around. Many hikes and blue mountains walks start from here.
Parking can be a pain on the weekends, no free parking though. If you want the views with no crowd go to 'The Lookout Cafe' sip your warm hot chocolate or coffee and enjoy the outdoorsy seating. The breakfast options here are great too. Can't wait to visit again!
Roopa Fernandez - 2 weeks ago
Majestic view. Nature is wonderful. You can see why they call this area the Blue Mountain. Trees from as far as the eye can see. The three sisters rock formation is just a bonus.
This lookout point can get crowded especially the one at the top so try other viewpoints which are a short walk away from the main one. Bring sunglasses and windbreakers because it is chilly here.
If you are afraid of heights or has vertigo, avoid moving towards the edge of the platform because the sheer size, scale and height of the view can make you dizzy.
Rock Merjudio - a week ago
Spent a couple of nights in the Blue mountains and visited this place at sunrise and sunset. Absolutely stunning view,
It's funny you look down the mountains, not up..
Gorgeous Panasonic view of the Blue Mountains,
Can do a few walks to numerous view spots as well
Finding a car park can be a daunting task despite hefty fees unless visiting early or late
S KC - 2 months ago
Seeing the Three Sisters in the Blue Mountains was awe-inspiring. These iconic rock formations stood tall, shrouded in mystery and Aboriginal legend. As I gazed at them from Echo Point, the scenery was simply stunning, with the Jamison Valley stretching out below. The interplay of light and shadow on the cliffs was mesmerizing. It was a moment of pure wonder, capturing the essence of the Blue Mountains' beauty and spirit.
Gabriel Lira - a month ago
This place is truly amazing for soaking in the breathtaking views of the 3 Sisters in the Blue Mountains. For an unforgettable experience, time your visit just before sunset to witness the landscape come alive with stunning hues. A must-visit destination for nature lovers and adventurers alike.
pritiprabha sahoo - a month ago
Directions
| Intercity Train and Bus Line | Nearest Station | Walking Time |
|---|---|---|
| Intercity - Blue Mountains Line Central to Bathurst | Central Station | 35 minutes (less with bus) |
How to get to The Three Sisters by Intercity Train and Bus
Take the Blue Mountains Line Central to Bathurst train from Sydney Central Station for the enjoyable 2 hour journey from Sydney to Katoomba Station in the beautiful Blue Mountains and follow the walking directions above. If you wish you can considerably shorten the walk by taking a #686 Blue Mountain Bus south to Echo Point Rd Near Birdwood Ave. To catch this bus exit the train station to the south and go right (west) to Parke Street. The bus stop is around the corner to your left on Parke Street (directly across from the Fire Hall).
Map & Instant Route Finder
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Photo Gallery
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The exhilarating Scenic Skyway cable car attraction in Katoomba cc licensed photo by eliduke -
Photo Credit: D-Stanley - cc license via Flickr -
Photo Credit: D-Stanley - cc license via Flickr -
Photo Credit: salman.javed - cc license via Flickr -
Photo Credit: dlerps - cc license via Flickr -
Photo Credit: serilium - cc license via Flickr
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