A Trip to the Blue Mountains

If you are planning a trip to Sydney you have probably heard about the Blue Mountains. It is Sydney's premier day trip, allowing you to experience ancient green landscapes, gorgeous waterfalls, quaint mountain villages and Australian wildlife in native environments.

There is enough to see and do here to consider an extended visit but if your time in Sydney is short then you can do it justice in just one day. The thing that most visitors struggle with is whether they should I take a Blue Mountains tour or plan their own visit independently? The answer to this really depends on what type of traveller you are and hopefully after reading this page you will know which way will work out best for you.

I should start out by saying I generally avoid tours like the plague, however, there are times when they are the best choice.

When should you consider a tour?

• Limited planning time - tours are great if you're planning time has been limited and you don't know much about the Mountains.
• When you are interested in learning more about the history and culture of the area They are a great way to learn more about the indigenous legends of the region
• When you want to do some walks and you don't have the required knowledge or equipment it can be great to have someone else to look after your safety.

There are many ways to experience the mountains. More than a 2 dozen tour operators offer day tours and special interest tours. I think the smaller operators who take groups of 20 or less are the best choice. Walking along these tracks in large groups means you won't really have much of a chance to hear the commentary or ask questions. Large groups also limit your time.

I have taken quite a few of these tours over the years and some that I have travelled with and enjoyed include Colourful Trips, Activity Tours and Blue Mountains Eco Tours. The choice comes down to which itinerary suits your interest best.

I have written a complete guide to how to choose the best Blue Mountains tour for your circumstances here.

The big red bus

I think the red bus is a great way to see the best of the mountains with minimum fuss. The tour offers live commentary with local expert drivers.

There are 29 stops around Katoomba and Leura. You can buy your ticket as part of a combined train package from Sydney or on arrival in Katoomba. The pass is valid for one day, however, they give free extensions if you are staying in the mountains for 3 days or more. The bus runs on a half-hourly schedule between 9am and 4.15pm.

Cost: Adults $50, Kids $25

Check out the website for lots of great walks and attraction information

Catching the Train to Katoomba

Going to the Blue Mountains by train is an option for those who like to be independent but you need to do your homework first. This is not an easy option for a one day tour. It works better for overnight stays.

Getting to the mountains is relatively easy just jump on a Mount Victoria train from Central railway station and a little under 2 hours later you will be in Katoomba - the main town of the area.

From here you can join on to one of the tourist services or if money is tight use the public bus system to get around. You can also walk from the station to the 3 Sisters lookout in about 20 minutes.

You can easily explore the villages of the mountains like Leura and Katoomba by train. Getting to sites like Wentworth Falls and Scenic World takes a little more work but is also possible.

If you do take the train I seriously recommend you buy one of the Hop on Hop off Explorer tickets to get you around once you are there.

There are visitor centres located throughout the mountains but the best one for visitors travelling by public transport is at Echo Point (Three Sisters). This centre has walking trail maps, tour advice and knowledgeable staff.

Where: Echo Point
When: 9am to 5pm Daily (Closed Christmas Day)
Phone: 1300 653 408

How to visit the Blue Mountains without a tour guide

1. The Three Sisters
2. Scenic Railway
3. The Waterfalls - at least one
4. Leura Village
5. Govertts Leap and the Fairfax Track