Prior to my trip to the Blue Mountains my friend KN emailed me to say she had bought a last-minute ticket to Sydney. She would be visiting for seven fun-filled days. She likes hiking as much as I do so we had to explore the Blue Mountains together. They’re only 100 km away from Syndey and easy to get to. I was happy to see a friendly face and excited that I had someone to check out this beautiful part of Australia with.
Jamison Lookout and Wentworth Falls
KN and I did the 1.5 hour drive to the Blue Mountains directly after I picked her up from the airport. After desperately trying (and eventually succeeding) to find lunch on Christmas Day, it was time to begin our sight-seeing. There were lots of hiking trails to choose from but since it was already afternoon we hiked the popular Wentworth Falls Track. The start of the trail offers lovely, far off views of Wentworth Falls before the trail leads directly to the giant waterfall.
The top of the falls is a cute little waterfall itself, but nothing compared to the views of continuing to the bottom. It’s a steep hike but there are handrails to keep you steady as you make your way down. The pools from Wentworth Falls are big enough to swim in and some people were cooling off after spending a day in the hot sun. It’s difficult to find shade with a view of the falls but KN and I got lucky and found the perfect shady patch.
Going back to the top of the falls is not fun on a hot day. Thankfully having KN there to encourage me up the steps made it easier. It’s not long per-se, but it is steep and unshaded. We tried to continue our hike to Queen’s Cascades, another little waterfall, but it was blocked off for trail maintenance. Instead we headed back the way we came and called it a day.
We continued up the road to Katoomba, the main hub for the Blue Mountains. KN had the brilliant idea of watching the sunset and we managed to reach Echo Point just as the sun was going down. Definitely watch the sunset from this spot if it fits into your schedule because it’s absolutely gorgeous. There is a view of the entire valley including Three Sisters from the lookout. Although the valley is typically hazy, the colors cast by the setting sun are beautiful. It made for the perfect end to our first day in the Blue Mountains.
Katoomba Scenic World
It looks like a kid attraction in the brochure but I assure you it’s fun for all ages. It’s $39 for a wristband which gives you unlimited all-day access to the Skyway, Cableway, and Railway. If you begin the day from the top of Katoomba Scenic World you will have to wait for a specific time slot (say 11am), until you can go down to the canyon floor. Since KN and I are rebels we decided to hike down and make our own schedule.
From Echo Point Lookout there is a 5 km trail that leads to the bottom of Katoomba Scenic World. Once you get there you can catch a ride to the top at any time (no time slots). However there is a catch; the trail begins at the Giant Stairway by descending 998 steps. It’s certainly steep but a good way to get your heart rate up early in the morning. The trail takes you underneath the 3 Sisters and drops you onto the canyon floor. The rest of the walk to Katoomba Scenic World is an easy meander through the forest where you can enjoy the beautiful fauna and hear all sorts of birds.
Three Sisters
It’s obvious when you’ve reached Katoomba Scenic World because there are suddenly masses of people everywhere. Start walking the 2.4 km Scenic Walkway and branch off from the people who took the train down just to take it right back up. Check out the signs because the loop has some great information about the surrounding forest. It also wanders past the Railway and Cableway so you can scout out the different rides.
If you get tired of people, or simply want a longer walk, I would recommend heading along the Ruined Castle trail. KN and I only walked 2-3 kilometers before we got a beautiful view of the cliffs dropping off into the valley. We enjoyed lunch here and took in our gorgeous surroundings in a peaceful daze.
Once we headed back to Katoomba Scenic World it was time for a bit of fun. Unlimited rides on the Railway, Skyway, and Cableway mean you can easily spend a couple hours here. The scenic railway was my favorite because it’s the steepest railway in the world. With a vertical drop of 206 meters you will hang on for dear life during the entire ride. Half the fun is getting to choose the incline of your seat. Do you want an easy-going and comfortable ride? Or how about a scary, glaring into the vertical depths of the train tracks ride? It’s your choice!
We ended our adventure by taking the Skyway to the other side of the valley close to where we parked our car. The secret to the Skyway is to stand in the middle. When everyone shuffles on it seems obvious to stand on the edge near the window. However, if you stand in the elevated middle platform you’re in for a surprise. The cloudy floor below your feet clears and gives a perfect view of the valley below. How fun is that?!
Grand Canyon Walking Track
This is a fantastic little (unless you make it big) 6.3 km loop that meanders through a cool, lush canyon. There are beautiful ferns and palms, daring lizards, and pretty overhangs. Bring your bathing suit if it’s a hot day because there are several swimming holes along the way.
There was rain in the forecast for late afternoon but it caught up to us earlier than expected. Thankfully we were close to a large rocky overhang where we could watch the torrents of rain pour down for 45 minutes while staying dry. Listening to the rain was a good excuse for a relaxing snack break. Once it stopped we continued on our merry way.
Although the Grand Canyon Track is beautiful it wasn’t quite long enough for us girls. We decided to extend it and head off the track at Greaves Creek. This trail drops down into Grose Valley and puts you right next to a lovely waterfall. The trail continues on and crisscrosses the Greaves Creek until you really have to get your calves working. It’s time to make up the descent and start climbing. Just hunker down and keep putting one leg in front of the other because it’s a pretty steep climb that lasts for a good hour and a half.
Half way up the ascent we were rewarded! I saw my first wild orchid and boy was she a beauty! Eventually the trail links up with the Grand Canyon Walking Track again and ends at Evans Lookout. We took in the views and felt proud of ourselves because the last part of the climb certainly isn’t easy.
Canyoning
Traveling on a budget means I typically don’t deem adrenaline-filled activities as worth while. However, since my friend was visiting I took a vacation from my vacation and splurged. We popped into Blue Mountains Adventure Company and got all the confirmation we needed that the canyoning tour was worth $230 AUD. Still, in the back of my mind I was worried it would be one of those over-exhausted tourist attractions. Thankfully the day came and KN and I were pleasantly surprised. Blue Mountains Adventure Company supplied great gear and didn’t make me feel like I was part of a tourist conga line.
We opted for the Sheep Dip & Rocky Creek canyoning trip. Grand Canyon was our other option but we had just hiked it the day before. The only downside of Sheep Dip & Rocky Creek is the hour and a half drive it takes to get there. Although long, the drive is fun and we didn’t have far to walk to get to the start of the canyon. The experience consists of slides, jumps, and repels galore. It was a ton of fun wandering along the canyons, climbing onto rocks, and jumping into mysterious pools of water. Some of the jumps were surprisingly high, so if you are afraid of heights I would not recommend it.
For lunch we got to choose our own sandwich from the local deli, which we’d picked up earlier that morning. I got the turkey/brie and it was delicious. We also got spoiled with candy and chocolate. If it gets cold enough the guide even brews up some hot cocoa mid-canyon. The canyoning adventure ends with a play session at a gorgeous pool with slides, jumps, and a swimming hole. We spent a half hour playing around and I could have easily spent a half hour more.
The canyoning trip was totally awesome and I would recommend it to anyone looking for a little adventure (who isn’t afraid of heights). Check out my totally corny, silly video of the trip below. My favorite part was the fast, narrow slide down into the pond (2:20 sec in the video). So much fun!
Interested in Visiting the Blue Mountains?
The good thing about the Blue Mountains is that they are not difficult to get to. There are a myriad of tours leaving from Sydney that range from 1-3 days. Of course you can rent a car and do it yourself like I did, but if that’s not an option you can always take the train. Yes, the train goes all the way from Sydney to the Blue Mountains and it doesn’t cost an arm and a leg.
Remember the Blue Mountains is not a small area. It’s 11,400 square kms and thus can be extended to several hours of driving. If you have the time be sure to research things outside of the touristy areas too. For example KN and I wanted to check out the Jenolan Caves, but decided we couldn’t afford the extra hour (1 way) drive. However with a couple extra days I’m sure we would have found many hidden gems in this huge park.
There is plenty of accommodation. Head to the visitor’s center at Echo Point Information Center to get your list of free campsites. Be warned that the sites do fill up fast. If you get the chance to claim a spot early in the day, do it! If camping isn’t your thing there are a lot of affordable hotels along the way. Katoomba has a lot of great motels and we stayed in a nice place with our own room for $80. Don’t be afraid to use your favorite discount travel app for the Blue Mountains either. KN and I found a ton of deals on Booking.com.
We were here during the end of December and it was already very hot. A solid 30C (85F) with high humidity. It rained nearly every day we were there for a solid hour in the afternoon. Be prepared for heat but bring a raincoat. It wasn’t cold at night and we were perfectly comfortable in our tent for two of the nights.
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