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

View of the Three Sisters rock formation in Katoomba
View of the Three Sisters rock formation in Katoomba cc licensed photo by eliduke

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 World

Regular 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

Reviews

Rated 4.7 out of 5 Star Rating

5 Star Rating It is about a 20-30 minute walk from Katoomba station. Considering the time it takes to wait for the bus, I thought it would be faster to walk, so I went to Echo Point and Scenic World instead of taking the bus. Echo Point was very beautiful and spectacular. It was the most amazing view I have ever seen and it was a great experience. I saw three rocks called the Three Sisters and there was a small rock next to them and I wondered if they were with their children. There were a lot of people, but the view was clear and we were able to take pictures quickly. Very neat experience. Very nice.
Yoshi - 3 months ago

Show More
Show Less

4 Star Rating It's nice up here and not too crowded. I went at the end of December around 6pm and it was quite windy. Nevertheless, super nice scene! Parking took a little bit of time to find though as most of the street parking got taken pretty quickly, but we circled around twice and found a spot.
Bel L - a month ago

Show More
Show Less

5 Star Rating The Eco Point Lookout at the Three Sisters is a breathtaking vantage point in the Blue Mountains of Australia. Nestled amidst lush greenery, it offers a panoramic view of the iconic Three Sisters rock formation, a marvel of nature. The lookout provides an opportunity to immerse oneself in the natural beauty of the region, with well-maintained walking paths and informative plaques detailing the area’s rich indigenous history. The stunning vista, especially during sunrise or sunset, is nothing short of mesmerizing. Visitors can relish the tranquility and take stunning photographs, making it a must-visit destination for nature enthusiasts and anyone seeking a tranquil escape.
Siddhartha Maharjan - 4 months ago

Show More
Show Less

5 Star Rating It was a nice nature view It is about a 25-35 minute walk from Katoomba station. Considering the time it takes to wait for the bus, and the local bus only works from 0930am to 0500pm. We thought it would be faster to walk, so we went to Echo Point. Echo Point was beautiful and spectacular. It has an amazing view and it was a great experience. Saw three rocks formations called “the Three Sisters”. There were a lot of people, but the view was clear and we were able to take pictures quickly. Highly recommended to visit.
Gilbert - 4 weeks ago

Show More
Show Less

5 Star Rating Beautiful lookout spot. Gorgeous photo opportunity of nature and the valley. A very peaceful place to be awed by the natural beauty! A few different walks and routes to do from here, just make sure to bring your bug spray as there's a lot of flies! Definitely a good starting point for the blue mountain hikes!
Thomas Hughes - 2 months ago

Show More
Show Less

Directions

Intercity Train and Bus Line Nearest Station Walking Time
Intercity - Blue Mountains Line Central to BathurstCentral Station35 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

Click&Go Map and Route Finder with public transit, walking, driving or cycling directions. Get up-to-the-minute transit times for your route.

Finding Your Route - Please Wait

Photo Gallery

Video

Please provide consent and/or disable ad blocker to view the video.


Sydney Hotel Deals

Book Now, Pay Later
Price Matching
2,563,000+ Properties Worldwide
24/7 Support
booking.com logo
Booking.com sale banner link

Visiting Sydney?
Here's why we use Booking.com for our hotel bookings.
Best Selection
Daily Deals
Price Matching
Pay at the Hotel
24/7 Support
Share on Pinterest
Share on Pinterest
Help us grow! Please Share
Thanks for Visiting!