After two days of exploring the CBD, it's time to get out to explore the natural attractions of the Sydney region. The most famous of these is the Blue Mountains. The Mountains are a couple of hours' drive from Sydney but just as easy by train. You will be doing some bushwalking today, so it is recommended you take at least a litre of water (and more if it is hot) and some food to eat on the way.
From Central Station, take the CityRail Blue Mountains train (one of the Blue "InterCity" trains, check the timetable before boarding) from the Intercity platforms (4-15) to Katoomba Station ($7.80 single, $15.60 return, covered by MyMulti-3). Any train with the destination "Lithgow", "Katoomba" or "Mount Victoria" will get you there. The journey from Central will take around 2 hours, trains are hourly after peak hour, and you want to make the most of the day, so start early. The 7:21 from Central to Mount Victoria (arriving at 9:24) or the 8:24am train from Central (arriving Katoomba at 10:19) are recommended trains. is an express and is slightly faster than the others which stop at all stations once into the Blue Mountains. You can also pick up the train from Strathfield, Parramatta, Blacktown and Penrith stations in Sydney and may stop at other stations on some services.
On your way up to the mountains, admire the scenery, particularly as the train crosses the Nepean River into Emu Plains, then begins to head up into the mountains, also look out for the small villages which make up the City of the Blue Mountains. On your way up you may catch glimpses out of the train into the spectacular World Heritage listed valleys to the south.
Once you get to Katoomba, exit the station towards the town centre and head up to Katoomba Street. Cross the road and head for the Carrington Hotel, an old-looking grand hotel just a few doors up the hill on the right, and look for the bus stop on the street outside (the bus heads towards the station to start off with, so don't wait on the other side of the road). Wait for the Route 686 bus, run by Blue Mountains Bus Company'. Some of these meet up with the train from Sydney (e.g. the 8:24) so don't waste too much time in getting there. If you have time to wait, the Paragon Cafe (the next building along the road after the bus stop) is an old-style cafe with fantastic food. The bus will take you away from Katoomba to the Edge Cinema (a type of IMAX theatre but also displaying movies about the surrounding area) but will then head back to Katoomba and will head down to Echo Point, which is where you want to get off. The bus fare is covered by MyMulti tickets, but will cost $2-$3.30 per ride if you don't.
The Three Sisters, from Echo Point
At Echo Point, head straight for the lookout and admire the views of the Jamison Valley and the Three Sisters rock formation . In the distance you will see the Ruined Castle (a small rock formation sticking up above the valley), and the much larger Mount Solitary behind it. Although you can walk out to these, it can take a great number of hours, which you don't have the time to do, and you will be doing a much easier walk down into the valley below.
After exploring the lookout and perhaps the adjacent shopping complex that sells souvenirs and the like, look for the signs to the Giant Stairway. You will be doing the Echo Point to Scenic World walk, which will take around 3 hours altogether (less time if you are fitter). Note: this walk is not suitable for people with a fear of heights, or those with heart or breathing difficulties. If you're not able to (or don't want to) do the walk, take the next 686 bus to the next stop, Scenic World, where you can catch up on this itinerary later (and take the Scenic Railway down and back up) - but if you can do the walk it is highly recommended.
You will begin by passing through the stone archway and then climbing down the Giant Stairway, which was built out of the cliffs (as well as added onto) in the early part of the 20th Century, opening in 1932. The stairway is of over 800 steps and descends 300m (1000ft) into the valley below. On your way down you will have the chance to walk out onto a viewing platform on one of the three sisters and have a different view out into the valley. Be careful as you descend - besides being steep, the stairway can be slippery if it has recently been raining, or it can be extremely windy as you descend.
When you get to the bottom, you will be on a track called "Dardanelles Pass". Keep the cliff on your right and keep going. Eventually you will come to an intersection with signs to "Federal Pass" and a sign to the scenic railway. Turn right. You are now following the "Federal Pass" track, one of the main bushwalking routes through this part of the mountains. Admire the sheer cliffs towering above you, listen to the native birds, and be on the lookout for native wildlife.
You will pass underneath the Three Sisters formation, and later across the waterfall known as Katoomba Falls. There is a picnic table here and it is a good place to stop. You then head southwest away from the falls and will pass a large tree known as "Turpentine Tree", before arriving at an intersection with "Furber Steps" track. Don't head up the steps, but follow the signs to the Scenic Railway, keeping the handrail on your left.
Leura Village
Scenic Railway Scenic World From here, you have the choice of exploring Katoomba township, which has a collection of interesting (and at times eclectic) shops, taking the next train back to Sydney, or you can choose to explore the next town down the mountains, Leura and experience the "village" feel of the Blue Mountains. Leura has a number of cafes, gourmet food shops and other specialty stores and is well worth a visit. From the same stop you left to go to Echo Point, take the Blue Mountains Bus Company 685 or 695 bus (check the timetable beforehand, services may be infrequent, especially on weekends) , or the train one station to Leura Station. The bus should drop you in the main street, and from the train station, head down the hill to Leura Mall and Megalong Streets, the main shopping streets . There is plenty to see and do here and you can spend most of the afternoon exploring the shops - the lolly shop (Shop 6, 178 Leura Mall) is especially popular.
When you have finished, walk back to the station and hop on the next train to Sydney. Trains run hourly for most of the day and any train stopping at Leura will get you back to Central Station.
The Most Frequently Asked Travel Questions about One week in Sydney
Where To Stay & Best Hotels in One week in Sydney - updated Apr 2024
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One week in Sydney Travel Guide from Wikitravel. Many thanks to all Wikitravel contributors. Text is available under Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0, images are available under various licenses, see each image for details.
