Sydney is a beautiful, clean, and well vegetated city with lots of parks and beaches, but my friends and I are not city people. We like to get out, explore nature, and find a dirt road where we can walk barefoot so, we boarded a train to Blue Mountains National Park. It’s not quite the outback, but it sure wasn’t the city. The express train took 2 hours from Central Station in Sydney to Katoomba Station in the Blue Mountains and cost 6 euros one way. I knew this day was going to be amazing when, en route, we spotted a small mob of wild kangaroos!

The train stopped at our destination of Katoomba known as the gateway city to the Blue Mountains. Upon arrival I quickly realized I had insufficiently educated myself about the best way to get around as the area was much larger than anticipated. So, we stood in line like everybody else to learn about the Hop On Hop Off Explorer Bus and something called Scenic World. We ended up buying a combo ticket which included all three cable car rides in Scenic World and an unlimited Hop On Hop Off Explorer Bus ticket, $69 per adult, and then made our way to the first bus stop to study the map. Together we formulated a plan.

Our first stop was on the side of a road at bus stop #7, Katoomba Cascades, where we decided to take advantage of the “cooler” morning temperatures to get a hike in. And it was a fantastic way to start our day as the trail was vacant and we passed by beautiful waterfalls, vegetation, outcroppings of rock, and the expansive view of the Blue Mountains! It was hot and we were sweaty, but this trail took us all the way to Scenic World where we could grab a bite to eat and ride on the three cable car rides we had already paid for. 

By far the best ride was the yellow Skyway car. This was the first car we got on and it simply took us straight across a deep gorge with Katoomba Falls on one side and the big view of the Blue Mountains skyline on the other. The “pilot” who escorted us across also had a microphone and gave us the quick and interesting facts along the way, like how the Blue Mountains look blue because of the oils excreted into the air from all of the Eucalyptus trees, how Eucalyptus is poisonous to almost everything except Koala bears, and how the Three Sisters Rock is the most photographed rock formation in the world. The best part about this car, besides the awesome view, was the clear glass floor in the center which allowed us to look straight down! 

Next, we stood in a long, slow line to board the red Railway, which is the steepest passenger railway train in the world. It was originally created to transport miners to the bottom of the mountain gorge but is now a short, slow ride for tourists which plummets vertically down the side of the mountain to the bush walk trails below. These trails were refreshing to walk through with ample shade, lush jungle vines, and raised bridges. Our selected trail also led us to the third and final scenic world ride, the blue Cableway, which is essentially a glass ball that gives you 360 degree views of the Blue Mountains a good look at Orphan Rock on the way up. The downside to riding in this giant glass ball is the intense heat trapped inside which is sustained by the blistering sun and sweaty tourists packed inside. 

Insight: I much prefer the views from the numerous outdoor lookout spots in the park than from any of the Scenic World cable cars but, the cable cars are amazing man-made creations that were inspiring to experience. Try to get there early or late in the day to avoid the long lines and packed cars so you are more comfortable and have more time to enjoy the park.

We left Scenic World and got back on the Explorer Bus to visit other areas of the park. Our last three stops were all at lookout points and each one got better than the last. Our first stop was #14 Echo Point, the most popular and crowded lookout spot near the Three Sisters Rock formation and also the trailhead to Honeymoon Bridge. Honeymoon Bridge is a 40 minute hike that takes you out to touch the Three Sisters Rock formation. We opted to enjoy the panoramic view rather than the hike as it was terribly hot out. So, we hopped back on the bus and took it to #17 Leura Cascades which was almost entirely vacant and, best of all, shaded! The narrow dirt foot trail ran along the shallow river and right out to the edge of the cliff where we could follow the water no more. We took our time here, cooling our sweaty feet in the slow moving water, sitting on the rocks, and having a light snack. 

We were pretty wiped but still in good spirits as we arrived at our final lookout point over the Blue Mountains, #18 Gordon Falls. The bus dropped us off in a grassy park and we had to locate a set of steel steps in the corner of the park that took us down to an outcropping with a railing. This lookout was secluded, probably because it wasn’t obvious to find, and may have been the best of the day with a small waterfall below, the back of the Three Sisters Rock to the right and a layered view of the mountain horizon beyond. All six of us lingered alone at this lookout for quite some time, relaxing, enjoying the view, and studying the eucalyptus trees and rusty rock cliffs nearby. 

All in all Blue Mountain National Park in Australia is beautiful and makes for an excellent day trip out of Sydney for anybody. You can hike in a lush forest, take panoramic pictures at a multitude of lookouts, and catch a view from a touristy cable car. 

Update: Price of the combo ticket for Scenic World and the Hop on Hop Off Explorer Bus has increased since my trip in 2019.  

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For more great places to explore in Australia, check out this Australia and New Zealand itinerary that includes the Great Ocean Road, or this Australia and New Zealand itinerary that includes Diving at the Great Barrier Reef.