Blue Mountains

With stunning natural beauty, the World Heritage region of the Blue Mountains is an Australian highlight. The slate-coloured haze that gives the mountains their name comes from a fine mist of oil exuded by the huge eucalypts that form a dense canopy across the landscape of deep, often inaccessible valleys and chiselled sandstone outcrops.

The foothills begin 65km inland from Sydney, rising to an 1100m-high sandstone plateau riddled with valleys eroded into the stone. There are eight connected conservation areas in the region offering truly fantastic scenery, excellent bushwalks (hikes) and Aboriginal heritage: this is the country of the Darug and Gundungurra peoples.

Although it’s possible to day trip from Sydney, consider staying a night (or longer) so you can explore the towns, do at least one bushwalk and eat at some of the excellent restaurants. The hills can be surprisingly cool throughout the year, so bring warm clothes.

Explore Blue Mountains

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Top attractions

These are our favorite local haunts, touristy spots, and hidden gems throughout Blue Mountains.

  • Cave

    Jenolan Caves

    Far from other Blue Mountains attractions, the limestone Jenolan Caves is one of the most extensive, accessible and complex systems in the world – a vast…

  • Viewpoint

    Echo Point

    Echo Point's clifftop viewing platform offers a magical prospect of the area's most essential sight, a rocky trio called the Three Sisters, sacred to the…

  • Landmark

    Three Sisters

    The Blue Mountains' essential sight is a rocky trio called the Three Sisters. Just an hour outside of Sydney, they stand at over 2953ft (900m) and a…

  • Viewpoint

    Sublime Point

    Southeast of Leura, this sharp, triangular outcrop narrows to a dramatic lookout with sheer cliffs on each side. It's much, much quieter than Katoomba's…

  • National Park

    Blue Mountains National Park

    Part of the Greater Blue Mountains World Heritage Area, this vast national park has over 140km of walking trails.

  • Village

    Katoomba

    From Leura, it’s only 2km to Katoomba, the region’s main town, whose often misty steep streets are lined with art-deco buildings. The population here is…

  • Nature Reserve

    Wentworth Falls Reserve

    The falls that lend the town its name launch a plume of spray over a 300m drop. This is the starting point of several walking tracks that delve into the…

  • Viewpoint

    Evans Lookout

    Signposted 4km from the highway in Blackheath, this lookout presents a magnificent perspective of sandstone cliffs dropping to the valley and canyon below…

  • Village

    Leura

    Leura, 3km east of Katoomba, is a gracious, affluent town, fashioned around undulating streets, unparalleled gardens and sweeping Victorian verandahs. The…

  • Cable Car

    Scenic World

    This long-time favourite, the Blue Mountains' most touristy attraction, offers spectacular views. Ride the glass-floored Skyway gondola across the gorge…

  • Museum

    Leuralla NSW Toy & Railway Museum

    The striking art deco mansion is the home of the Evatt family, the most famous member of which was HV ‘Doc’ Evatt, the third president of the UN General…

  • National Park

    Wollemi National Park

    Reaching from north of Bells Line of Road to the Hunter Valley, Wollemi National Park is the state’s largest forested wilderness area (nearly 5000 sq km)…

  • National Park

    Kanangra-Boyd National Park

    Adjoining the Blue Mountains National Park and stretching between Katoomba and the Jenolan Caves, this park covers 68,000 hectares of plateau and valley…

  • Brewery

    Hillbilly Cider Shed

    A good stop while exploring the Bells Line of Road, this cordial ciderhouse has few rules – just show up, taste some of their delicious cider (scrumptious…

  • Gallery

    Blue Mountains Cultural Centre

    It's a captivating experience to walk through the main display here, with a satellite image of the Blue Mountains beneath your feet, mountain scenery…

  • Village

    Blackheath

    From Blackheath, the next town on the highway past Katoomba, you can enjoy amazing views from a series of impressive clifftop lookouts. Crowds here aren’t…

  • Viewpoint

    Pulpit Rock

    This vertiginous lookout offers jaw-dropping perspectives over the valley below from a rock pinnacle. You can walk here along the cliffs from Govetts Leap…

  • Viewpoint

    Govetts Leap Lookout

    This popular lookout is a focal point for visitors to Blackheath. It offers great views up the valley of the Grose River, with an interesting explanatory…

  • Viewpoint

    Perrys Lookdown

    Eight kilometres from Blackheath, the last couple of those on a dirt road, this is a spectacular lookout over the Grose Valley. There's a campsite here,…

Top experiences

Whether it’s a guided tour of a historic landmark, private tasting of local delicacies, or an off-road adventure — explore the best experiences in Blue Mountains.

  • Activities

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