The buzz of the city gave way to the leafy and quieter suburbs of Sydney and suddenly we arrived for our visit to the Blue Mountains National Park. Here are some things you absolutely need to do in the Blue Mountains.
Things you absolutely need to do in the Blue Mountains
Leura Valley
The Leura Valley is a great starting point for exploring the Blue Mountains. You’ll be greeted by plenty of nature walks and longer hiking trails providing stunning scenery and the old-world streets around the little village of Leura.
Sublime Point Lookout
One of the first things to do in the Leura Valley is to stretch your legs with a short walk to the Sublime Point Lookout. The lookout provides magnificent views across the Jamison Valley and beyond at an angle that directly contrasts the views you’ll come across from the other lookout points in the area.
For us, it was the perfect introduction to the grandeur of the National Park and how much we had to look forward to during our stay. Hint: Try to time your visit to watch the sunset.
Leura Mall and Village
One of the highlights of Leura is the charming village. It’s a favourite for both day-trippers and long-stay visitors. Offering plenty of cafes and finer dining options and surrounded by heritage buildings a whole day can be spent browsing Leura’s pretty tree-lined main street alone. Pick up a good read at the Megalong Bookstore for a browse, collect an antique or shop in one of the boutiques. If you’re a tea lover, drop into the quirky Teapot Museum. For chocolate lovers, don’t leave Leura without dropping into Josophan’s Chocolates.
Wander the backstreets of Leura
After strolling along the Mall and village, keep walking and you’ll find yourself in streets lined with quaint cottages. You’ll feel like you’ve stepped back in time.
Bush walks from Leura
The Leura Cascades trail is extremely picturesque. Categorised as a relatively easy and short walk, it runs alongside Leura Falls Creek through the rainforest ending at a lookout over the Jamison Valley. The walk’s shortness in length is deceptive because it provides some of the best views you’ll find of the Blue Mountains. The walk will be accompanied by the soothing sound of the waterfalls and find you lingering over the fabulous views. Be prepared, the walk may take longer than you anticipate.
Katoomba
Katoomba township has a reputation for being the gateway to the Blue Mountains and indeed, provides easy access to most of the National Park’s hiking trails and main attractions.
The town’s art deco buildings and bohemian feel provide the perfect backdrop for visitors looking for somewhere to base themselves and discover the things you absolutely need to do in the Blue Mountains.
Echo Point
Echo Point is the main lookout over the Blue Mountains and serves as the access point to many of the walks. Drive there or take the clifftop walk to reach the lookout. Whichever way, you’ll be awestruck b the vast landscape and views of the Three Sisters (see below) from the secure cliff edge. Hint: Arrive early in the morning before the tour buses arrive. You’ll have the lookout to yourself so you can appreciate the stunning views and the atmosphere without the crowds.
The Three Sisters
An iconic landmark in the Blue Mountains is The Three Sisters (Meehni, Wimlah and Gunnedoo) rock formation.
Echo Point provides stunning views of the iconic Three Sisters. However, there is nothing better than having a look up close. You can access the Three Sisters Walk from Echo Point which provides plenty of additional lookouts with amazing views along the way. By walking down the Giant Stairway (998 steps) and across the Honeymoon Bridge to the first Sister, you can get even closer.
Scenic World
A visit to Scenic World is a fun thing to do. A Discovery Pass allows you to:
- ride the steepest railway journey in the world. The 310-metre journey drops down through a cliffside tunnel to arrive in the Jamison Valley (stop by to view the original railway carriage which is displayed at the arrival area)
- explore the valley floor along the boardwalks surrounded by rainforest flora and fauna along the Scenic Walkway
- ride the Scenic Cableway, the steepest cableway in the Southern Hemisphere, which takes you to the valley floor at a much more leisurely pace than the railway, and
- glide across the valley on the Scenic Skyway, an enclosed cable car spanning two clifftops. The ride provides breathtaking views of Katoomba Falls, the Three Sisters, Mt Solitary and Jamison Valley.
Hydro Majestic Hotel, Medlow Bath
Whether you intend to stay or not, dropping into the Hydro Majestic is a must if you’re visiting the Blue Mountains for the first time.
The Hydro sits on the clifftop offering breathtaking views over the Megalong Valley. The heritage-listed hotel was built in 1904 and became popular as a health retreat before it declined to rack and ruin for many decades.
A restoration project in the 1990s brought the hotel, casino, and other buildings on the site back to their former glory while maintaining the grandeur of the past. As you enter the foyer you’ll feel as though you’ve stepped back in time.
The hotel offers one of the largest spas in the southern hemisphere.
Evans Lookout at Blackheath
The charming town of Blackheath is known in the region for its rhododendron gardens. It’s a little off the track compared to Leura and Katoomba but in addition to the gardens the town offers many breathtaking views and bush walks.
We spent a morning walking along the well-marked trail along the clifftop ending at Evans Lookout. The Lookout offers brilliant views of the Grose Valley. There is also the option to continue following the Grand Canyon Walk leading through the rainforest towards the valley floor.
Where we stayed
We decided to treat ourselves by staying at the luxurious Fairmont Resort and Spa Blue Mountains located on the outskirts of Leura’s township.
The boutique hotel offers some magnificent views over the Jamison Valley and beyond.
One of the most sought areas for breakfast and dining in the hotel is Embers Restaurant which is accessed by a stairway from the foyer. The large windows offer uninterrupted vistas of the valley. The blue hues of the mountains were extremely prominent and looked spectacular during sunrise and sunset.
Located adjacent to the golf club and with family-friendly facilities. Spend some downtime in the billiards or reading room, take a look at the exhibits in the corridors, enjoy the basketball courts or a stroll in the gardens. We found the hotel to be the perfect place to stay in the Blue Mountains.
When is the best time to visit
Anytime is a good time to visit the Blue Mountains. However, we think the best time of the year to visit the Blue Mountains is in the autumn. The air is more relaxed than in the searing heat of summer and still warm enough to enjoy the walks and hiking trails scattered throughout the National Park. And the mountains look spectacular!
How we got there
Our love for road trips allowed us to drive from Brisbane in the sunshine state of Queensland where we live to New South Wales. Read about some of the beautiful places we stopped at on the way here.
