Private 1 Day full Blue Mountains Tour Koalas Cruise return

blue mountain tour guide

  • Travel in our latest model SUV or Deluxe mini bus.
  • Free Sydney accommodation pick up
  • Guided forest walk
  • Professional tour guide
  • Driver/guide
  • Live commentary on board
  • Entry/Admission - Blue Ribbon Day Tours - Blue Mountain Tours
  • Entry/Admission - Blue Mountains
  • Entry/Admission - Echo Point Lookout
  • Entry/Admission - Cahill's Lookout
  • Entry/Admission - The Three Sisters
  • Entry/Admission - Eagle Hawk Lookout
  • Entry/Admission - Sydney Harbour
  • Entry/Admission - Sydney Zoo
  • Food and drinks
  • Cableway and Skyway.enjoying amazing views.( optional extra $49.90).
  • Entry/Admission - Katoomba
  • Please refer to your TICKET the previous day or sooner for pick up time details.
  • Sydney Airport, Airport Dr, Mascot, New South Wales 2020 Australia
  • Sydney Opera House, Bennelong Point, Sydney NSW 2000, Australia
  • Not wheelchair accessible
  • Near public transportation
  • Infants must sit on laps
  • Confirmation will be received at time of booking
  • Most travelers can participate
  • Operates in all weather conditions, please dress appropriately.
  • Need a jacket and enclosed shoes
  • This experience requires good weather. If it’s canceled due to poor weather, you’ll be offered a different date or a full refund
  • This experience requires a minimum number of travelers. If it’s canceled because the minimum isn’t met, you’ll be offered a different date/experience or a full refund
  • This is a private tour/activity. Only your group will participate
  • For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours in advance of the start date of the experience.
  • The Three Sisters
  • Echo Point Lookout
  • Eagle Hawk Lookout

Similar experiences

blue mountain tour guide

  • You'll get picked up See departure details
  • 1 Blue Ribbon Day Tours - Blue Mountain Tours Stop: 5 hours - Admission included See details
  • 2 Blue Mountains Stop: 2 hours - Admission included See details
  • 3 Echo Point Lookout Stop: 15 minutes - Admission included See details
  • 4 Leura Stop: 15 minutes See details
  • 5 Scenic World Stop: 60 minutes - Admission excluded See details
  • 6 Cahill's Lookout Stop: 10 minutes - Admission included See details
  • 7 Wentworth Falls Stop: 15 minutes See details
  • 8 The Three Sisters Stop: 15 minutes - Admission included See details
  • 9 Eagle Hawk Lookout Stop: 10 minutes - Admission included See details
  • 10 Sydney Harbour Stop: 45 minutes - Admission included See details

blue mountain tour guide

  • conniefN4321EN 0 contributions 5.0 of 5 bubbles Amazing Day with Private Guide in the Blue Mountains of Australia! Seeing Australia recently for the first time must sees included a Blue Mountain Tour. Our private guide Dave was so knowledgeable about local history, plants and people. Dave consistently and expertly moved us around the summer crowds and allowed us to appreciate the extreme beauty of the Blue Mountains. We peppered him the entire trip with questions on all thing Australia and we learned so much. His pride and love for the area is so evident and he does much to make sure we were able to see all the special and beautiful sights. You can't go wrong choosing Dave and Blue Ribbon Tours for your trip the the gorgeous Blue Mountains of Australia! PS - Dave even offered to send my hat home after I forgot it in his van. 5 Stars Plus!! Read more Written February 29, 2024
  • typon33 0 contributions 5.0 of 5 bubbles Private tour was very special, Opted for their private tour to visit the Blue Mountain on this holiday, The day was so good having their guide to make the day just how we like. He made us feel special doing walks and views which only we enjoy so much. Read more Written February 6, 2024
  • MZP232 0 contributions 5.0 of 5 bubbles Incredible way to see the Blue Mountains! 5 STAR! DAVE TAYLOR our guide was TERRIFIC! He is a native and has been doing tours his whole life. He knows all the tricks to avoid the crowds, was focused on getting us to all the sites and we crammed in SO MANY WONDERFUL things! Along the way while driving he teaches you about Australian history, music, and fauna/flora. We started at the Echo Point park where you can see The 3 Sisters which are 300 million year old stone formations and went on to take the tram in the photo (WOW!) and the steepest train for SPECTACULAR views of the Blue Mountains. We had a very special lunch at Yellow Deli where all food is grown and made by the team. We went to Featherdale animal wildlife experience and had the chance to pet a koala, feed wallaby’s and kangaroos, and watch/listen to birds: all of which were native ONLY to Australia. Dave is an encyclopedia of Australian information, teaching us about cricket, finding tea tree and eucalyptus to smell, explaining the aboriginal stories behind the names and places we visited (and more). We ended our trip at a ferry dock to take a 30 minute ride back to our hotel which was just superb. There is no way we could have ever done this on our own and to think we did it all in one day was even better because our time here was limited. It’s truly the best thing we did in the Sydney area. I just can’t recommend Dave Taylor any higher. He was a friendly, knowledgeable, efficient, professional who made our tour a truly exceptional experience. Thank you Dave and the Private Blue Mountains Tour company. Read more Written January 31, 2024
  • 747sallyl 0 contributions 5.0 of 5 bubbles Organised, easy and thoroughly enjoyable day in the mountains. We have taken this tour before when visiting Sydney, enjoyed just as much this time with different weather the outlooks are most different in other conditions. They make a nice easy hotel pick up and returned us as well. We went a bit over time as we were enjoying the company of the guide so much. His information is clear with good knowledge of all the tourist sites. Read more Written January 29, 2024
  • jimcW4795AI 0 contributions 5.0 of 5 bubbles A perfect day excursion. Our journey out to the mountains from Sydney was perfect. The private style tour made all the difference to our enjoyment. No waiting for others it is a very amazing day of scenery, fresh air and learning about the environment. We will be happy to recommend this tour. Read more Written January 21, 2024
  • dawnhM9390YH 0 contributions 5.0 of 5 bubbles Family private trip excellent. Our family wanted to not be on a bus with others. Our Sheraton hotel recommended this one. They fetched us at 8am and in 90 minutes we were in Katoomba standing at the impressive 3 Sisters. The canyon is immense and blue. Our guide suggested Scenicworld rides, which cost $59 and is really a must do to see the views and forest from alternate places. Really good chats by our guide and we took the ferry back to the city. It is a top day. Read more Written January 20, 2024
  • annbI7131WK 0 contributions 5.0 of 5 bubbles Blue mountains in private. We just came back from the best day out at the Blue Mountain. It is worth to see in a private way, views incredible, good roads and the wildlife park at end. Above all we lucked with a wonderful guide, very human and so nice to be with, he loves his job and his country and knows how to share it all with you. If we ever come back we would do it all again with him. Thank you. Read more Written January 17, 2024
  • pambE7559HX 0 contributions 5.0 of 5 bubbles Worthy of their rating. My partner and I fully support the other reviews on the quality of this private tour. We based our tour selection purely on reviews for Private tours and Dave was a gem. The mountain scenery speaks for itself, but the total experience is enhanced by Dave's driving skills and he is a mine of information. He explains how he has done these tours for so many years and that sure shows through. Is there nothing he doesn't know ? Well done, mate. His son Darren was also driving a tour that day and we met the other guests too, we all sat down for lunch. You can see he has trained up Darren too, our lunch ended up like we were all family. Read more Written January 16, 2024
  • ritah164 0 contributions 5.0 of 5 bubbles Truly exceptional. The private tour we took with Dave was unbelievable. He explained and did so much with us. as we visited orevi9usly he took us to new places and the day was just perfect. you can see the Blue mountains many times and with the weather it always is a different experience. Read more Written January 7, 2024
  • G3021LSjoanp 0 contributions 5.0 of 5 bubbles A great family day out. Our family with our 2 teenage girls enjoyed immensely our day in the Blue Mountains with Dave. We had fun on the Katoomba rides, enjoyed his dialogue on the rainforest board walk and to end the day at Featherdales animal Park was the best.The mountain scenery is incredible. A tour to recommend to all. Read more Written December 19, 2023
  • suemp888 0 contributions 5.0 of 5 bubbles Private touring at its best. We could not have asked for any more from the day. The guide was so good and very professional, the SUV was comfortable and the Blue Mountains speak for themselves in their beauty.. The day concludes with a most relaxibg fery ride back to the city. Read more Written December 10, 2023
  • 939halc 0 contributions 5.0 of 5 bubbles It’s a “Grand Canyon”. So close to Sydney is the Blue mountain, we were in Katoomba in only 90 minutes. Of course it made a difference doing the tour with just us and a nice guide. We came to look at the Three sisters, ride on the train and gondola and see a waterfall.. Also an easy forest walk . The day was complete with the lovely ferry back to the city. Avery nice day, thank you. Read more Written November 29, 2023
  • Birdflip 0 contributions 5.0 of 5 bubbles A real family outing. As we had a holiday with our family it seemed right to make a tour out to the Blue mountain just for us . The hotel suggested a few options and we luckily chose the Blue ribbon private. They pick you up at your hotel. It was a most comfortable day and Mr Darren was our chauffeur. He was brilliant and sure knows his way around. Even went out of his way into the Megalong valley so our kids could ride a horse. Also the Tea room down there was something special. We had seen lots of views before, so going down into the valley was a differing perspective to see the cliffs and especially with the setting sun. A marvelous day for us all. Read more Written November 28, 2023
  • kentl821 0 contributions 5.0 of 5 bubbles Everything was perfect. From go to the end we had a fab day with Dave in the Blue Mountains. Loved the way he conducts the private tour . He makes the day exactly how you like it. Loved every moment and Dave was so interesting. Read more Written October 27, 2023
  • kimmysue42 0 contributions 5.0 of 5 bubbles Top notch private tour! 4 of us booked a private tour with Dave while on our visit to Sydney for a wedding. We thought this tour would get a look at lots of sights and we were right. Dave picked us up at our hotel and drove us up to the Blue Mountains. Wd saw Three Sisters, took a gondola ride and a cable car ride on an old coal mine car. Very fun! We had lunch I. Katoomba at a cute deli and a coffee stop in Leura. We went to a wildlife park and ended the day taking a ferry ride back to Sydney Harbour. Dave was informative and also let us wander on our own at each tour sight. Highly recommend. Read more Written October 18, 2023

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blue mountain tour guide

Private 1 Day full Blue Mountains Tour Koalas Cruise return provided by Blue Ribbon Day Tours - Blue Mountain Tours

Product overview: private all-day blue mountains tour with professional guide for up to 4 people.

blue mountain tour guide

Inspiration

Ride. hike. swim. eat.

blue mountain tour guide

INHALE THE BLUES AND EXHALE THE MEMORIES

From incredible mountain views to cultural insights, biking joy to Jamaican food; this experience has it all!

Could this be Jamaica’s best-kept secret? We’re the ONLY tour that gets you into the famous Blue Mountains; the cool, misty home of some of the most prized and expensive coffee in the world! Jamaica isn’t all beaches and coconut trees. Here, folks you bike past may be wearing sweaters. This is a side of Jamaica your friends haven’t seen, where the tallest peak is 1,500 feet higher than the biggest ski resort in France. Where wild hogs and the guinea pig-like coney roam in “elfin forest” below pine trees shrouded in mist. Descend a gentle 4,000 feet down next to tangerine and soursop trees, with almost no peddling, ending up at a jungle waterfall and swimming hole. Sample Jamaica’s coffee and touch the beans growing in the field. Have a hearty Jamaican lunch. And ride the highest (1,000 feet), longest zipline in Jamaica.

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blue mountain tour guide

Why hike the blue mountains?

From incredible mountain views to cultural insights to biking joy to jamaican food — this tour has it all.

Could this be Jamaica’s best-kept secret? We’re the ONLY tour that gets you into the famous Blue Mountains — the cool, misty home of some of the most prized and expensive coffee in the world! Jamaica isn’t all beaches and coconut trees. Here, folks you bike past may be wearing sweaters. This is a side of Jamaica your friends haven’t seen — where the tallest peak is 1,500 feet higher than the biggest ski resort in France. Where wild hogs and the guinea pig-like coney roam in “elfin forest”, below pine trees shrouded in mist..

Descend a gentle 4,000 feet down next to tangerine and soursop trees, with almost no peddling — ending up at a jungle waterfall and swimming hole. Sample Jamaica’s coffee and touch the beans growing in the field. Have a hearty Jamaican lunch. And ride the highest (1,000 feet), longest zipline in Jamaica. Let’s go!

COME RIDE, HIKE, SWIM, EAT WITH US TODAY!

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Blue Mountain Platinum Bicycle Tour

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Blue Mountains Tours and Excursions

Embrace the natural beauty of the Blue Mountains in Jamaica on one of the exclusive Blue Mountains Tours . Tropical Trips offers exciting, affordable, and unforgettable opportunities to explore the Blue Mountains of Jamaica. Take scenic hiking excursions, capture stunning views from the top of the highest peak in Jamaica, and taste the authentic flavor of one of the best coffees in the world.

Learn more about the available tours to the Blue Mountains of Jamaica below.

For any booking inquiries or to speak directly with one of our tour specialists, please contact us today or give us a call at  1(876) 518-2364 .

Blue and John Crow Mountains National Park

blue mountain tour jamaica

Cultural Heritage

Culturally, the Blue Mountains is home to the Maroons. The forests offered the Maroons everything they needed for their survival after they ran away from enslavement. They developed strong spiritual connections with the mountains, manifested in their rich cultural traditions today. For example, the dances, communication, religious rites and traditional medicine. The site is also a biodiversity hotspot for the Caribbean Islands, with a high proportion of endemic flora and fauna.

Naturally, the area is the last large area of untouched natural forest for many of Jamaica’s endemic species. The Blue Mountains forests have more than 800 species of endemic plants, the largest butterfly in the Western Hemisphere (Pterourus or Papilo homerus), and 200 species of resident and migrant birds. The National Park is one of the largest migratory bird habitats in the Caribbean, and a very important winter habitat for many migratory birds including the Swainson’s Warbler.

The Blue and John Crow Mountains is the only location where all of Jamaica’s unique or endemic bird species can be observed.

There are also more than 500 species of flowering plants of which almost one half are endemic to Jamaica and about one third of these can only be found in the Blue and John Crow Mountains area. The most interesting of these is the Jamaican bamboo, epiphytes that grow harmlessly on the trunks of trees and that flower once every 33 years. The forest is also made up of large trees such as the Jamaican National Flowers, the Blue Mahoe (Hibiscus elatus) and smaller shrubs such as the Jamaican Rose (Blakea trinervia).   

Blue Mountain Peak

Blue Mountain Peak is the highest mountain in Jamaica and one of the highest peaks in the entire Caribbean. The Peak sits at an elevation of 2,256 meters (7,402 feet). Offering one of the most scenic hiking excursions, Blue Mountain Peak is the ideal attraction for nature enthusiasts and travellers looking for a beautiful adventure.   

Blue Mountains Attractions and Activities

Touring activities in the Blue Mountains include the Blue Mountain Peak hiking excursions , Blue Mountain Coffee Farm Tours , Holywell camping, numerous water trails, Cunha Cuhna Pass trails, and so much more. Sites such as Nanny Town and Scott's Hall offer walking tours of the community, and an opportunity to visit secret waterfalls and refreshing rivers. A day tour could include river rafting, waterfall adventures, delicious Jamaican lunch, dancing and drumming.

Top Things to Do:

  • Blue Mountain Peak Hiking Trails
  • Coffee Farm Tours
  • Waterfall Adventures
  • Rainforest Excursions
  • Mountain Bicycling
  • Sightseeing Tours
  • & More!

  

About the Blue Mountains Tours

Tropical Trips Jamaica is delighted to offer you a uniquely authentic Jamaica itinerary to the Blue Mountains that is fun, adventurous, and educational! Book a day tour or join a multi-day tour that includes two or three days exploring the Blue Mountains along with other cities across Jamaica. Looking for a more customised experience? Guests also have the choice to book a completely custom Blue Mountains Tour. Choose exactly which places you’d like to visit, and the activities you’d like to do while vacationing in Jamaica.

For more information about the Blue Mountains Tours or to speak with one of our tour specialists, please contact us today or give us a call at 1-876-518-2364 .

Tours to the Blue Mountains of Jamaica:

Blue mountain peak jamaica hiking tours.

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Day Tour: Perfect for Individuals, Couples and Groups

Huge discounts 2+ People available for all day tours !

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What is included in the Price?  National Park Fees, Food ,  Refreshments,  Transportation,  Tour Guide/Driver and  Optional Blue Mountain Coffee Farm Tour

[Trip ID: DayTours-BM]

Blue Mountain Coffee & Waterfall Day Tours

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Blue Mountain Coffee and Waterfall Day Tour

blue mountain coffee tour

Travel beyond the city, out of the hustle and bustle to the cooler side of Jamaica. Surround yourself with nature on a day trip to the Blue Mountains.

What's included in the price?  Coffee Tour Entrance Fee,  Lunch Stop,  Refreshments,  Devon House 1 Scoop Coffee Ice Cream,  Transportation &  Tour Guide/Driver.

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The Blue Mountains and the east Travel Guide

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Towering behind Kingston and enticingly visible from anywhere in the island’s eastern third, the Blue Mountains conform with few people’s mental image of Jamaica, land of sand, sea and reggae. Forming one of the longest continuous ranges in the Caribbean, their cool, fragrant woodlands are shrouded in mist and offer some of the best hiking on the island, including Blue Mountain Peak , the remarkable botanical gardens at Cinchona and estates producing some of the most expensive coffee on earth.

The Blue Mountains

Mountain trees and plants, animals and birds, the colonial authority’s response, jamaica after the rebellion.

South of the range, St Thomas is one of the country’s poorest and least developed regions, despite a rich history. Tourist development remains negligible and there are only a handful of hotels, but these are good bases nonetheless to visit the delightful mineral springs at Bath , or the deserted beaches around Morant Point Lighthouse .

Contrasting in scenery and atmosphere, on the northern side of the mountains is the northeastern parish of Portland , justifiably touted as one of the most beautiful parts of Jamaica, with jungle-smothered hillsides cascading down to postcard-perfect Caribbean shoreline. Though increasing, particularly at the luxury end, tourism is less conspicuous here than in other resort areas, but that’s all the more reason to come – the wetter climate supports some stupendous natural scenery, including beautiful waterfalls and the magical Blue Lagoon . The parish capital, Port Antonio , has plenty of historical charm, while inland you can hike in pristine rainforest or take a gentler rafting trip on the Rio Grande . Some of the island’s best beaches are also found here, and they’re far less crowded than those further west, with lovely places to stay to boot: from surf-pounded stretches at Long Bay and Boston Bay to calm and idyllic Frenchman’s Cove and Winnifred Beach, visitors come to Portland to chill out and experience a lower-key Jamaica than found elsewhere.

Top image: Blue mountains © Photo Spirit/Shutterstock

The Blue Mountains begin where Kingston ends, and a starker contrast would be hard to imagine, with the chaotic concrete maelstrom fast replaced by lush tranquillity and staggering natural beauty. The mountains are named for the mists that colour them from a distance, and their craggy slopes form an unbroken, undulating spine across Jamaica’s easternmost parishes, a fabulously fertile wilderness with a surprisingly cool, wet climate. The dense forest provided perfect cover for the Windward Maroons during the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries, though as a whole the mountains have proved largely inhospitable, with today’s sparse population concentrated in settlements like Gordon Town and Newcastle .

The northern slopes of the mountains are covered by a huge quilt of dense, primary forest, but deforestation has badly affected the southern side, where great chunks have been cleared by coffee planters, farmers and (catastrophically) hurricanes Gilbert and Ivan in 1988 and 2004. Though cattle are farmed on some of the denuded lower slopes, to try to protect the wilderness from further devastation 200,000 acres were designated a national park in 1993, with the stated aims of managing natural resources for long-term sustainable use and generating income opportunities through ecotourism (see blueandjohncrowmountains.org ). To assist with the latter, hiking trails have been carved into the interior of the forest, often following ancient mule trails over the mountains.

Tourism here, though on the rise, is small-scale with just a few hotels and budget options – but most have spectacular locations. Coffee is the mainstay of the local economy, and excellent tours for those keen to see how the stuff is produced are to be found at the coffee factory at Mavis Bank and at smaller plantations such as Old Tavern . Dark and earthy, Blue Mountain coffee is considered one of the world’s best by experts, and prices reflect that assessment, though you can usually find it cheaper here – at hotels, coffee factories or direct from the farmers – than anywhere else. Visitors also come here to hike up Blue Mountain Peak or to follow the well-maintained trails at Holywell or around Lime Tree Farm – superb trekking, for which you’ll nonetheless need to be well prepared. Elsewhere, the botanical gardens at Cinchona are a delightful spot, a magical splash of colour 5000ft up.

Many visitors find mountain residents more gentle and welcoming than Jamaicans elsewhere – despite the evident poverty and grinding workload that many of them face.

Blue Mountain coffee

Coffee trees from Ethiopia were introduced to Jamaica in 1728 by Governor Sir Nicholas Lawes, and they flourished on the cool slopes of the Blue Mountains. Cultivation reached new heights of excellence during the first half of the nineteenth century, when expert coffee growers arrived from revolution-torn Haiti, soon meeting an increased demand from European coffeehouses. Jamaica became one of the world’s main coffee exporters, producing up to fifteen thousand tons of beans per year.

The industry suffered its first crushing blow with emancipation in 1838, as streams of former slaves left the plantations to set up their own small farms. Soon afterwards, Britain abolished preferential trade terms on coffee, and direct competition with the coffees of South America crippled small Jamaican farmers. The decline continued into the twentieth century, and it was only after World War II that the Jamaican government took belated steps to save the Blue Mountain plantations. It established quality guidelines for both cultivation and processing, stipulating that only coffee grown at a certain altitude and on the regional soil type could claim the Blue Mountain name (you’ll see coffee produced in Mandeville called High Mountain and elsewhere around the island Low Mountain). This exclusivity heightened the coffee’s cachet and helped to underpin its reputation as one of the world’s finest. Given that expansion of the precious beans was finite, high prices were ensured.

During the 1980s and 1990s, production of Blue Mountain coffee reached its zenith, with Japanese companies drawing on a big domestic market to invest huge amounts in the best of the plantations. Until as recently as 2010, up to eighty percent of the crop was sold to Japan; with traders there controlling the larger part of the market, Europe and North America saw very high prices for the coffee. While today Japan still imports around a third of the crop, deals between the Jamaican government and China appear to have widened the market, and Jamaican exporters have sought new deals in North America, Europe and Russia, as well as in the Far East.

Blue Mountain coffee has always been vulnerable to hurricane damage , and hillside deforestation has only heightened this. During Hurricane Ivan in 2004 the usual rainfall for September fell in two days, resulting in the loss of valuable topsoil and mature plants in landslides. With entire plantations wiped out, there was a shortage of beans for three years, costing Jamaica US$30 million and leading to a huge burden for small-scale mountain farmers, many of whom had effectively no income during 2005. More recently, coffee rust disease has added to farmers’ travails, with around twenty percent of trees lost since 2012. While natural risks certainly help to maintain Blue Mountain Coffee as a limited and high-end label, the on-the-ground reality for coffee workers is that of extreme livelihood insecurity, heightening the need for tourism revenue.

Blue Mountain Peak

Undeniably the most rewarding hike in Jamaica, Blue Mountain Peak (7402ft), the highest point on the island, seems daunting but isn’t the fearful climb you might imagine – though it’s hardly a casual stroll, either. It is magnificent by day, when you can marvel at the opulence of the canopy, the thousands of orchids, mosses, bromeliads and lichens, the mighty shadows cast by the peak and the coils of smoke from invisible dwellings below. It’s also thrilling by night when, after a magical moon-lit ascent, Kingston’s lights occasionally twinkling in the distance, you find yourself at Jamaica’s zenith as a new day dawns.

From Abbey Green, the climb to the peak is around thirteen kilometres, and can take anything from three to six hours depending on your fitness level. If you’re staying at one of the hostels, you can start at around 1am and catch sunrise at around 5.15 to 6.15am, depending on the time of year. A full moon also means you’ll get natural floodlighting – otherwise, take a flashlight. Signposts make much of the route easy to follow without a guide, but in this remote area it’s sensible to go with someone who knows the way. Don’t stray onto tempting “short cuts” – it’s illegal, you’ll damage the sensitive environment and you’ll almost certainly get hopelessly lost. Rescue patrols can take days to mobilize effectively, by which time you’ll be in serious trouble.

Blue Mountain Peak is the furthest you can go into the Blue Mountains, as thick forest and treacherous terrain means that even the burly pig hunters seldom venture further east, preferring to enter the John Crow range from Millbank in Portland.

The peak trail

The first stretch of the trail, a steep series of switchback turns through thick forest aptly named Jacob’s Ladder , is said to be the most arduous, and you’ll appreciate arriving at the halfway point at Portland Gap Ranger Station (7km), where you can rest at the gazebo, top up water and let the rangers know that you’re walking the trail (leave a note if you arrive in the early hours).

Once past Portland Gap, it’s another five and a half kilometres to the peak through twisted montane and then low-lying elfin forest, in which the gnarled soapwood and dogwood evergreens are so stunted by low temperatures, exposure and lack of nutrients that they grow no higher than 8ft. You’re still only about 6000ft up, but you might already be a little dizzy from the rising altitude; if so, go slowly and eat a high-energy snack. At 7000ft, the plateau at Lazy Man’s Peak is where some call it a day, but it’s certainly worth struggling on for another twenty minutes.

If you’ve arrived at the peak before dawn, you’ll be completely bowled over. The inky black slowly melts into ever-intensifying pinks, oranges and purples until finally a hint of wispy blue heralds the sun and reveals the surrounding ranges. It’s quite possible you’ll be here alone, the highest person in Jamaica and feeling – literally – on top of the world. As the sun burns off the mist, the spectacular panorama becomes recognizable; you can make out Cinchona and, on a good day, Buff Bay and Port Antonio’s Navy Island to the north and Kingston, Portmore and coastal St Thomas to the south.

Cinchona Botanical Gardens

Most people hike to Cinchona Botanical Gardens from Clydesdale, though it is possible to drive all the way from Westphalia or Mavis Bank in a 4WD (guide needed) up the abysmal road that snakes through the precipitous coffee groves covering Top Mountain. The gardens are at the summit, and their semi-orderliness is a surprise after the rugged and wild hillsides below. Clinging to the ridge opposite Blue Mountain Peak and overlooking the Yallahs River valley, the ten-acre maintained gardens were initially a commercial venture, planted with Assam tea and cinchona trees – which produce quinine, used as an anti-malarial before the advent of modern drugs – in 1886. However, the inaccessibility of the site and competition from Indian plantations led to the project’s decline, and it became a government-run public garden in 1968. Botanical research is still occasionally carried out here.

Despite obvious recent neglect, the gardens have a magical feel, with eucalyptus whistling in the breeze, and Norfolk Island pine, Japanese cedar, weeping cypress, rubber and camphor trees flourishing in the mist. The vivid flowerbeds are bursting with blooms, and wild coffee smothers the slopes. You can see the whole layout from above on the Panorama Walk (preferably accompanied by one of the gardeners – leave a tip), which takes you through a tunnel-like thicket of Holland bamboo and eventually back to the main house, an ancient oblong of stone that still contains most of its original fittings. Other guided (unsigned) trails are also available, among the most rewarding the sweaty ten-kilometre hike down to Mavis Bank, the six-kilometre hike to Catherine’s Peak and the historic (and now somewhat impenetrable) sixteen-kilometre Vinegar Hill Trail to Buff Bay, an old Maroon trading route that the British used to transport supplies from Kingston to the north coast.

Hiking and biking in the Blue Mountains

Most places to stay in the mountains are a good starting point for information and guided tours, with some offering ascents or ridge walks directly from their properties. Cycling is also an attractive option; several hotels offer day-long biking expeditions, calling in at small coffee farms and private homes, including Mount Edge Guesthouse and Forres Park .

Extreme weather conditions, ecological protection projects and lack of funding mean that of thirty recognized hiking trails in the national park, only twenty or so are open at any given time; information on weather conditions and trail access is available at the main ranger station , located at Holywell, and at smaller stations at Portland Gap and Millbank (not always manned). Ordnance survey maps are also on display. You can get information over the phone from the Jamaica Conservation and Development Trust in Kingston, which runs the park. Bear in mind that adventures in the rainy season (May–June & Sept–Oct) pretty much guarantee getting drenched.

All usual, common-sense guidelines apply to mountain hiking and biking. Bring decent boots or training shoes, plentiful drinking water (pine bromeliads hold much water between their leaves, but as they’re home to insect nymphs and tree frogs, you’ll only want to sup in an emergency), snacks, insect repellent and a torch.

It’s almost always advisable to use a guide in the Blue Mountains; given changeable weather conditions and poor maps (alongside few obvious landmarks), it’s very easy to get lost. Security can also be a problem for unaccompanied hikers, particularly on the Kingston side of the mountains. A guide will ensure your safety, clear overgrown paths and provide an informed commentary. Contact the Jamaica Conservation and Development Trust for more information.

The mountain environment

The Blue Mountain range is Jamaica’s oldest geographical feature, formed in the Cretaceous period (between 144 and 65 million years ago). Though the peaks are named for their cerulean tint when seen from afar, some of the rock actually is coloured blue by crossite minerals.

Categorized as montane (high-altitude woodland), the forests are mostly native cedar, soapwood, sweetwood and dogwood evergreens, with a few blue mahoe, mahogany and teak trees, but the eucalyptus and Caribbean pines introduced in the 1950s are also having an impact. The primeval-looking cyathea ( tree fern ), with its diamond-patterned trunk and top-heavy fronds is particularly distinctive; the tallest are more than 150 years old. Below the dense canopy are shrubs , of which the red tubular flowers of the cigar bush are the most identifiable. Every tree trunk or exposed rock is festooned with brightly coloured epiphytes, including inexhaustible swathes of dirty lime-coloured old man’s beard. Wild strawberries, raspberries, blackberries and rose apples provide a free feast, and you’ll doubtless encounter prickly climbing bamboo, the only variety native to Jamaica; each one blossoms simultaneously with tiny white flowers once every 33 years – due in 2017 and 2050. Alongside are over five hundred species of flowering plant , including 65 varieties of orchid. Begonias, blue iris, agapanthus, lobelias, busy lizzies and fuschias proliferate, while wild ginger lilies lend a delicate perfume.

Other than mongooses, coneys and the wild pigs that roam the northern slopes, there are few mammals . You may hear the scuffles of feral cats, mice and rats in the undergrowth, and a few Jamaican yellow boas inhabit the lower slopes. The presence of bats is poorly documented; you’re most likely to see them around the limestone slopes of the John Crow Mountains to the east. By contrast, bird life flourishes; the forests ring out with the evocative whistle of the rufous-throated solitaire, and mockingbirds, crested quail doves (known as mountain witches), white-eyed thrushes, blackbirds and Jamaican todys add to the cacophony, backed by the squeaking mating calls of tree frogs.

The mountains are the sole habitat of one of the rarest and largest butterflies in the world, the six-inch giant swallowtail , but its distinctively patterned dark brown and gold wings rarely flutter into view – again, the warmer John Crow range yields the most sightings. Insects, on the other hand, are multitudinous – in summer it’s common to see thousands of fireflies (known as peenie-wallies) clustering on a single bush and lighting it up like a Christmas tree.

Portland , north of the Blue Mountains, is generally considered the most beautiful of Jamaica’s parishes – a rain-drenched land of luscious foliage, sparkling rivers and pounding waterfalls. Eastern Jamaica’s largest town, Port Antonio , is an attractive destination in itself, but most visitors prefer to base themselves along the exquisite coastline heading east, containing fabulous beaches, the Blue Lagoon and a number of exquisite hotels. The surf-pounded stretches of sandy beach at Long Bay and Boston Bay are well-established destinations for budget travellers, who come for the waves and chilled-out atmosphere – while roadside vendors at Boston Bay also do a roaring trade in authentic jerk pork and chicken. The gorgeous waterfalls at Somerset Falls and Reach Falls are within striking distance wherever you stay, while heading into the John Crow Mountains in the interior you can be poled down the Rio Grande on a bamboo raft or hike through the rainforest along the centuries-old trails of the Windward Maroons.

Brief history

Portland’s history is distinctly one of boom and bust. The parish was officially formed in 1723, one of the last to be settled, despite Port Antonio being blessed with two natural harbours. Reports of the difficult terrain and the constant threat of Maroon warfare had deterred would-be settlers, though eventually the Crown was obliged to offer major incentives, including land grants, tax exemptions and free food supplies. The early economy was dependent on sugar until a surprise replacement crop – bananas – proved perfect for Portland’s fertile soil towards the end of the nineteenth century. Port Antonio boomed, ushering in a golden era of prosperity with businessmen pouring in, and in 1905 the town’s first hotel was built on the Titchfield peninsula. Cabin space on banana boats was sold to curious tourists, who rubbed shoulders with the rich and famous – publishing magnate William Randolph Hearst, banker J.P. Morgan, actress Bette Davis – swanning in on their private yachts.

The boom proved to be short-lived, though the high-end tourism it had helped to engender remained. With the enthusiastic patronage of movie stars like Errol Flynn, Port Antonio’s place in the glitterati’s global playground was assured, and Jamaica’s first luxury hotel was built at Frenchman’s Cove – to this day a testament to faded glamour. The movie business injected much-needed capital, too, in the 1980s and 1990s – films shot here include Cocktail, The Mighty Quinn, Club Paradise and Lord of the Flies . Celebrities still sequester themselves in Portland, but the area can’t compete with Montego Bay, Negril and Ocho Rios for mass tourism. Although Portland is a long way from the prosperity of its heyday, its natural water features and beauty spots are open to anyone who cares to find them – a lower-key Jamaica that’s a welcome change for many visitors travelling the island.

Brought to Jamaica from the Canary Islands in 1520, the banana remarkably only became popular in 1871, when captain Lorenzo Dow Baker took a shipload of the foodstuff formerly deemed unpalatable from Port Antonio to Boston. His gamble paid off handsomely – the entire stock was sold for a healthy profit and mass demand ensued, earning him and others colossal fortunes. By the second half of the nineteenth century, sugar was already declining, and farmers rushed to plant the new “green gold”. With high rainfall and fertile soil Portland was perfectly placed, and armies of planters and pickers arrived to earn pitiful wages, living in wretched conditions while production output hit thirty million stems per year.

The arrival of banana ships at the wharves was signalled by blasts on a conch shell, followed by frenetic activity as the labourers cut stems and carried the fresh fruit off the estates and onto waiting trucks. At the dock, the banana stems were taken to the checkers, who ensured that each had the nine hands required to count as a bunch – hence, in the banana-boat song, Day O , “six hands, seven hands, eight hands, bunch!”. Once aboard the ship, the tallyman gave the carrier a tally to redeem for payment, and workers made their weary way back to the plantation or to the bar.

Sadly for Portland, the boom didn’t last – by the 1920s, Panama disease and hurricane damage had decimated the crop, and World War II compounded the problems. Today, the end of long-standing preferential trade terms with Europe has caused many farmers to abandon bananas (being unable to compete with huge US operations) and the days of the banana as an important export crop certainly look numbered.

East of Port Antonio

Made all the more alluring for its delicious sense of faded glamour and relative lack of visitors, the rugged stretch of coast east of Port Antonio is one of the most attractive parts of Jamaica. It’s a fairy-tale landscape of lush, jungle-smothered hills rolling down to a coastline studded with fantastic beaches, such as Frenchman’s Cove , San San and Winnifred , and swimming inlets like the Blue Lagoon , a fabulous aquamarine pool of salt and fresh water made famous by the eponymous 1980 movie. A series of super-smart hotels vie for business with a handful of less expensive guesthouses (though none are as cheap as you’ll find in town), while for eating you can plump for romantic international feasts accompanied by live jazz or mento at the salubrious restaurants of the region’s best hotels – most of which are open to non-guests – or more authentic Jamaican cooking at Winnifred Beach and the renowned jerk stands at Boston Bay .

Errol Flynn

For many, the bumpy six-kilometre route between Boston Bay and Long Bay, with its great views of pounding surf and rolling pastureland, will always be known as Errol Flynn country . The erstwhile screen idol bought a 2000-acre estate here in the 1950s, and his widow, Patrice Wymore, managed the groves of coconuts and guavas and its grazing beef cattle here until her death in 2014. The prime seafront property had already been on sale for some years, but her passing may well speed the pace of change.

By the time he arrived in Jamaica in 1947, Errol Flynn’s movie career was already in decline. The era of the swashbuckler was drawing to a close, and the Australian actor – star of classic movies like The Sea Hawk and Captain Blood – had begun to fall from favour with the studios. Nonetheless, coming ashore in his famed yacht Zaca (now moored in Monaco and allegedly still haunted by Flynn’s face and the sounds of a wild party), Flynn quickly worked his way into local legend. Well known for his powers of seduction, formidable drinking and addiction to gambling, the star reputedly lost Navy Island off Port Antonio in an unfortunate poker bet.

Flynn loved Jamaica, buying the Titchfield Hotel in Port Antonio, plus Navy Island, and later, with his third wife Patrice Wymore , setting up a ranch near Boston Bay. A string of celebrities attended the wild parties at his hotels – but unsuccessful efforts to resurrect his movie career and continuing bouts of heavy drinking and ill health were already taking their toll. During his final years, Flynn spent much of his time at Titchfield with the teenage actress Beverley Aadland. On his death in 1959, Aadland asked that Flynn be buried in Jamaica, but Wymore insisted that his body go to Hollywood. Today, despite the tarnishing of his reputation through tales of his exploitation of local girls, many people in the area remember the one-time heartthrob with affection.

The Blue Lagoon

The Blue Lagoon is where 14-year-old nymphet Brooke Shields (and now-obscure cherub Christopher Atkins), playing child castaways on a deserted island, frolicked naked in the movie of the same name. Enclosed by high cliffs and forest, which give a deep green tint to the noticeably turquoise depths, the lagoon is a result of several underwater streams running down from the mountains. The whole effect is very picture-postcard, and swimming here is serene, with a layer of chilly fresh water covering waves of warm sea below. The lagoon drops to 198ft at its deepest spot – just enough for World Freediving Champion David Lee to set the world record here: in 2002 he dived without assistance to 167ft in three minutes 45 seconds. Lee’s parents run scuba/watersports operator Lady G’Diver, which offers dive packages and courses in specialist freediving at the lagoon.

At the time of writing, facilities at the lagoon were nonexistent following a protracted land dispute – swimming is free, though touts inevitably cash in on parking fees (going over J$500 would be exorbitant). However, the lagoon’s western side was recently acquired by Lee Chin of Trident fame, and the seriously creative designers at Geejam are tasked with building a spectacular contemporary restaurant and villas in keeping with the serene surroundings, likely to open in 2016.

Winnifred Beach

Winnifred Beach (also known as Fairy Hill Beach) is one of the most appealing beaches in all Jamaica; to get there, turn left and then immediately right just east of the Jamaica Crest Hotel at the start of Fairy Hill village, following the road for a kilometre through a neat housing scheme before descending through the forest. You can drive right down onto the beach if it hasn’t been raining; if it has, park where the tarmac ends and continue on foot.

Used as the setting for the Robin Williams movie Club Paradise , the wide, golden crescent of sand is supremely laid-back and justly popular with Jamaicans. The small reef just offshore is perfect for snorkelling (you’ll need to bring your own gear) and protects the bay from the waves, ensuring clear, calm, bright-blue water that shelves gently from the sand. At weekends, local operator Scotty offers children’s horse rides along the sands, and fishermen will provide boat trips to nearby Monkey Island. At the western end, a small mineral spring offers a freshwater rinse (the changing facilities are best avoided).

Given Winnifred Beach’s secluded beauty it’s perhaps no surprise that the government attempted to authorize a private villa development here, threatening the beach’s public access like so many others on the north coast. Local resident Cynthia, co-proprietor of much-loved lunch spot Cynthia and Painter’s , has spearheaded the campaign to keep it public ( w free-winnifred.com ). At the time of writing, six years since the dispute first arose, a court case was still under way to ensure public right of access. Unpaid locals currently manage and clean the beach, so you may be asked to pay a small unofficial “fee”. You’re under no obligation to pay (most Jamaicans refuse) – but there’s no harm in tipping people you see genuinely tidying up the place. Seek out Cynthia if you’d like to contribute to the campaign.

Port Antonio

The days of movie stars coming to stay in PORT ANTONIO are long gone, and these days the town feels a little isolated. That said, sandwiched between the mountains and the sea, this somewhat sleepy place has a charm all its own – there are many remaining timber buildings and with a smart new marina and plans to develop Navy Island and the Titchfield peninsula, things seem to be stirring once again. There’s not a huge amount to see here and there’s little in the way of watersports or shopping, but “Portie” is a friendly and beguiling place with a bustling central market and a couple of lively nightspots.

The town is easily navigable, with two main streets, and you can walk the handful of sights in a couple of hours. West Palm Avenue runs into West Street (from the western entrance of Port Antonio to the central clock tower), while Harbour Street cuts through the middle. To get your bearings, walk the steep climb up to the now defunct Bonnie View Hotel from the town centre; while the hotel itself is now closed you’ll get a great view over the entire town.

Most people find Port Antonio something of a relief after the harassment of the north coast, and any hassle you do encounter tends to be fairly half-hearted. Even so, don’t wander off the main streets after dark, and also be wary of police roadblocks east of town.

The Rio Grande valley

Portland’s interior – the Rio Grande valley – is a fantastically lush and partially impenetrable hinterland of tropical rainforest and waterfalls. The Rio Grande , one of Jamaica’s major rivers, pours down from the John Crow Mountains through a deep and unspoilt valley of virgin forest. Despite its beauty, the area is little explored; many people do rafting trips , but there is also superb river and mountain hiking .

Many of the rivers and springs here are named after local Maroon leaders – Nanny, Quao, Quashie and Quako – and the major remaining Maroon settlement is Moore Town . If you’re craving rustic isolation, some of the other villages beyond have lovely settings and fascinating names – Alligator Church, Comfort Castle – indeed, the only thing holding up booming ecotourism here is the abominable road, which in its higher reaches is barely navigable by car.

Rafting the Rio Grande

Once a means of transporting bananas, rafting down the majestic Rio Grande is now Portland’s most popular attraction, ever since Errol Flynn raced with his friends in the 1950s. It’s a delightfully lazy way to spend half a day, although the sun can get fierce.

From the put-in point at Berridale , ten kilometres southwest of Port Antonio, the thirty-foot bamboo rafts (each with a raised seat) meander down the river for two hours through outstanding scenery, poled downstream by a captain and stopping periodically for swimming, waterfall hunting or to buy snacks. Tickets are sold at Rio Grande Experience in Berridale (daily 9am–4pm; US$78/raft; t 993 5778) and by hotels and tour offices in Port Antonio. The trip is one-way, terminating at Rafters’ Rest in St Margaret’s Bay, so if you’re driving , leave your car at Berridale and have an insured driver take it down for US$15, or else use a taxi – to Berridale and then back to Port Antonio from Rafters Rest costs around US$30. If you’re desperate to save cash, the Berridale route taxi from Port Antonio (J$220) runs close by the put-in point, and route taxis to Port Antonio from Kingston and Buff Bay pass the entrance to Rafters’ Rest regularly.

A recent popular addition to the trip downriver is to arrange a lunch en route cooked by master chef Belinda, who descends on foot from the hills with the freshest ingredients and cooks delights like curried fish, jerk pork or crayfish right there on the river bank. Order through your hotel or call Belinda directly on t 389 8826.

You’ll also find people touting unofficial rafting trips in Port Antonio and St Margaret’s Bay for a lower price. Don’t hand over the cash until you’ve finished the journey at Rafters’ Rest, and don’t go with anyone who makes you feel uncomfortable.

St Thomas , nestling below the Blue Mountains, is the most neglected of Jamaica’s parishes, and as a result, its villages are somewhat impoverished with meagre facilities for tourists. For some, however, the region offers a slice of the “real” Jamaica, untouched by the demands of tourism. The main attractions are the rambling old spa town of Bath in the foothills of the mountains, and also remote Morant Point , where a candy-striped lighthouse overlooks a stunning beach. A couple of waterfalls in other areas are interesting diversions, though there’s little to do in the parish capital, Morant Bay , except to reflect on one of the bloodiest periods in Jamaica’s volatile history. The parish’s friendly people remain probably the biggest draw; large-scale sound-system parties and stageshows (such as the excellent roots-reggae East Fest, held in late December/early January) are to be found on public holidays, and, largely due to the presence of the descendants of free Africans, St Thomas is the cradle of Jamaica’s African-based religions, with roadside Kumina sessions found frequently.

The little-visited village of BATH stands at the edge of the John Crow Mountains. Born when a runaway Spanish slave stumbled across hot mineral springs in the late 1690s, it was discovered that the waters could cure wounds. Ironically, the same slave’s master sold the spring and some 1130 acres of land surrounding it to the British in 1699 for £400; they swiftly carved a road through the hills and erected a spa building here in 1747.

Bath Botanical Gardens

In the 1700s, Bath glittered in the colonial spotlight, but just a century later it fell from grace through a combination of political disputes and hurricane damage. A reminder of its heyday is to be found at the Bath Botanical Gardens established in 1779, adjacent to the dilapidated Anglican church. This was where many plants – including cinnamon, jacaranda, bougainvillea and mango – were first introduced to the island, but the ravages of time and Hurricane Gilbert (which levelled the village for the second time in 1988) have ensured that little remains of the carefully ordered labels. You’ll still see descendants of the breadfruit trees brought from Tahiti by Captain Bligh of HMS Bounty fame in 1793, alongside guava trees, royal palms, bamboo and crotons. The annual breadfruit festival in September commemorates the seminal event in Jamaican history.

Bath Fountain Spa

Taking the waters at the rambling old Bath Fountain Hotel and Spa remains the main attraction for visitors to the village. The spa has ten small cubicles, each with a sunken tiled bath. The water is high in sulphur and lime and, like most mineral baths, slightly (though not dangerously) radioactive – no more than thirty minutes is recommended due to the risk of dehydration.

Bear in mind that outside the hotel and spa you will most likely be accosted by a group of aggressive hustlers offering to take you to the open-air spring at the hotel’s rear; while this hot and cold “Sulphur River” is a pleasant spot (water from the two springs is diverted to the spa inside and mixed to provide a bath of a more even temperature), the unofficial “guides” most certainly are not, and their amateur massages are inevitably exorbitantly priced.

Hiking trails lead from the spa for kilometres across the Blue Mountains; the best is the Cunha Cunha Maroon trading route through the John Crow range to Bowden Pen – for a guide contact the Jamaica Conservation and Development Trust or Sun Venture Tours.

The breadfruit and the Bounty

Up until the late eighteenth century, Jamaica was not self-sufficient in food, relying on imports to feed the ever-increasing slave population. As a result, the American War of Independence (1775–81), which severely disrupted food supplies, brought tragedy, with thousands dying of malnutrition and related disease. To eliminate this catastrophic dependence, planters lobbied the British government for a source of cheap food that could be grown locally. The starchy, nourishing breadfruit – about which Captain Cook had rhapsodized, “If a man plants ten of them…he will completely fulfil his duty to his own and future generations” – was at the top of their wish list.

Setting sail from England in 1787, the HMS Bounty commanded by Captain William Bligh , was assigned the task of procuring breadfruit plants from their native Tahiti. After a dangerous journey around Cape Horn, captain and crew were garlanded with flowers before loading up the breadfruit plants and moving on. Three weeks later, on another arduous crossing with a captain who seemed to care more for his plants than for his men, the ship’s crew mutinied. Bligh was cast adrift in the Pacific with a handful of loyal followers, while the rest made for Ascension Island and their place in history. Incredibly, Bligh survived. He found his way back to England, where he was cleared of any blame and entrusted with another ship, HMS Providence , to complete his mission. The Jamaican House of Assembly conferred him a substantial gift of 500 guineas to encourage his endeavours, and the Providence left England in 1791, finally delivering the breadfruit to the island in February 1793. The plants were propagated at Bath Botanical Gardens and eventually spread throughout the island, an important step towards Jamaican self-sufficiency.

Three Finger Jack

A roadside marker at the village of ELEVEN MILES recalls Jack Mansong (known as Three Finger Jack), a formidable nineteenth-century runaway slave who, after the bungled attempted murder of the slave trader who’d transported his parents from Africa – one Captain Henry Harrop – escaped from his execution, carrying Harrop to a cave where, with delicious irony, he forced his master to become his slave. Fuelled by the promise of a rich reward, Quashie, the Maroon who had relieved Mansong of his fingers, shot him in the stomach and cut off his head, preserving it in a bucket of rum all the way to Spanish Town.

The Morant Bay Rebellion

In August 1865, Baptist Deacon Paul Bogle – supported by George William Gordon , a wealthy mulatto member of the National Assembly – led a 87-kilometre march from St Thomas to Spanish Town to protest to the island’s governor, Edward Eyre, over legal inequity, which invariably supported white landholders over small farmers who struggled to find decent land to cultivate. A generation after emancipation, living conditions for Jamaica’s black population remained abysmal, with food shortages, lack of access to property and high taxation, and it was only a matter of time before people registered their grievances. After being turned away, the marchers returned to St Thomas with plans to create a “state within a state” at Stony Gut , Bogle’s home village. Worried by the force of the uprising, the police had two of Bogle’s supporters arrested on trumped-up charges of assault and trespass. On October 7, Bogle and his men marched to Morant Bay in military fashion and disrupted proceedings by surrounding the courthouse. Despite the protest’s peaceful nature, the authorities issued a warrant for Bogle’s arrest – yet the police were thwarted by the sheer power of numbers and forced to swear oaths that they would no longer serve public officials.

Undeterred, on October 10, eight more policemen set out for Stony Gut, but again they underestimated Bogle’s support and were quickly overpowered and forced to swear allegiance to him. Back in Morant Bay, they impressed the seriousness of the situation on then-Custos Baron Von Ketelhadt, who promptly arranged for one hundred soldiers to set sail aboard the HMS Wolverine from Kingston. On October 11, Bogle and his men again marched into Morant Bay, raided the police station for arms and attacked the courthouse where the council was meeting. Eighteen soldiers and council members were killed as frustrations erupted; the courthouse was burnt to the ground, and arms, gunpowder and foodstuffs were taken from the town’s shops. Unrest quickly spread, and the government troops aboard the Wolverine arrived too late to quell the disturbance when they put ashore on October 12. Fearing that the whole country would soon be engulfed, the authorities gave free rein to the army, and the protesters were crushed with brutal ferocity. A staggering 437 people were executed , another six hundred men and women flogged, and over a thousand homes razed to the ground. Bogle evaded capture and fled to the hills, where he remained undetected for several days. In Kingston, Governor Eyre declared martial law in St Thomas and wrote a warrant for the arrest of George William Gordon, who was hanged outside the Morant Bay courthouse on October 20. There was nowhere for Bogle to hide; he was captured at Stony Gut on October 23 and went to the gallows two days later. His last words quoted slave leader Sam Sharpe from 1831: “I would rather die upon yonder gallows than live in slavery.”

The rebellion marked a key political and social watershed for Jamaica. Governor Eyre was immediately recalled to England and stripped of his position, and the island came under direct rule from Britain until reforms in education and the legal system could be put into place – policies that never would have got past the local elite. Though progress for the poor was still painfully slow, Bogle’s defiant legacy ensured that Jamaica remained relatively peaceful until well into the next century. The Jamaican government eventually recognized Paul Bogle (and George William Gordon) as National Heroes, and monuments to them stand in National Heroes Park in Kingston.

The southeast tip

The far southeastern corner of the island, beyond Bath and Port Morant, is a seamless feast of banana, sugar and coconut plantations, the least developed yet one of the most picturesque corners of Jamaica. The slightly dishevelled communities of Golden Grove and Duckenfield hold neat but dilapidated rows of homes on stilts, accommodating cane cutters working at the Duckenfield sugar plantation, while Rocky Point Bay has a delightfully secluded beach and a fleet of small fishing boats.

Morant Point

The cane fields and the mangroves of the Great Morass, a wide, forested wetland, lead to the serenely isolated hundred-foot Morant Point lighthouse (ask locals for directions from the Duckenfield sugar factory; the route is sometimes impassable in the rainy season except by 4WD). The lighthouse itself was cast in London in 1841 and put up here by Kru men from Sierra Leone, among the first free Africans to be brought to the island after the abolition of slavery. Tip the lighthouse keeper to climb to the top; deserted and windswept, with Atlantic surf crashing onto the rocks, there’s a magnificent panorama of the Blue Mountains, the vast mangrove swamp and gorgeous Holland Bay , a deserted swath of fine white sand and pellucid water overlooked by a few ragged palms – the perfect place to live out your Robinson Crusoe fantasies. If you can’t face the drive, arrange a tour here overland with Our Story Tours or by boat with Zion Country Cottages .

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Andy Turner

written by Andy Turner

updated 11.10.2023

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Be swept away by the grandeur of the spectacular Blue Mountains National Park.

See why it's listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site and experience its many  cascading waterfalls, canyon vistas and sweeping forested panoramas. Dare yourself on a cliff-edge hike or view it all from an abundance of accessible lookouts and gentle scenic strolls.   Experience it all; the popular spots, and the quieter out of reach secrets avoiding the larger group tours. 

Your personalised tour may include the following highlights: 

searching for wild kangaroos

local river waterholes 

Lincoln Rock and Jamison Valley 

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Leura and Katoomba 

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Narrow Neck Peninsula

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Jenolan Caves and Hartley Historic Village

Pat a koala or dingo, or hold an Australian animal at Featherdale Wildlife Park

Modern Australian and Aboriginal performance at Waradah Aboriginal Centre

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Sydney Harbour ferry ride returning to Sydney at Darling Harbour/ Barangaroo or Circular Quay

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"Before our outings, we asked Ben to take us a bit off the beaten path. He kindly obliged and took us to some gorgeous vistas in the Blue Mountains! We saw kangaroos, snapped some mantle-worthy pics, and (very importantly) avoided crowds. Ben did a great job making sure we maximized our time in the mountains!

"Blue Mountains Vistas"

"Once we arrived in the national park area Ben took us to a multitude or places to view stunning panoramic views of the landscape. I'm not a big fan of large bus groups or having to negotiate multitudes of other people to see the sites and the places Ben took us to had no other visitors so it seemed as though we had the mountains to ourselves.The peace and quiet, tremendous views and Ben's knowledge of the area were excellent and I'd throughly recommend that you get in touch with Ben from "The Private Tour Guide" so he can customise your visit you won't be disappointed." 

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Blue Mountains, New South Wales

Guide to the Blue Mountains

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  • Getting to the Blue Mountains
  • When to visit
  • Accessibility

For a holiday centred around the outdoors, head to the Blue Mountains to marvel at impressive rock formations, potter around in quaint villages or explore epic wilderness.

The Blue Mountains is best known for its soaring sandstone ridges blanketed in native bushland. Nestled within the wilderness lie charming mountain towns, ancient Aboriginal rock art and the iconic tourist attraction of Scenic World. Expect to be enchanted by the natural beauty when you set out to explore the walking tracks that loop around the verdant valleys and craggy cliffs. Find after-dark excitement spotting glow worms in an underground cave, or indulge in a touch of luxury at a wilderness retreat. Whether cloaked in clouds or glowing golden in the sunset, the endless vistas of the Blue Mountains will take your breath away.

The foothills of the Blue Mountains are an easy one-hour drive west of Sydney, with the central Blue Mountains towns of Katoomba and Leura a further 30 minutes west. 

  • Sydney Airport (113km/85mi from Katoomba); international and domestic arrivals
  • Hire cars are available at the airport, Sydney city locations and Katoomba
  • Inter-city trains to the Blue Mountains depart from Sydney's Central Station; from Central to Katoomba it's a two-hour train ride 

Once you’re in the mountains, public transport options include trains and some buses, while the hop on/hop off Blue Mountains Explorer Bus runs in a loop between Katoomba and Leura. To explore the Greater Blue Mountains in depth, though, you'll need your own car.

While the Blue Mountains has a temperate rather than alpine climate, winters are chilly, with occasional light snowfall, so pack layers for sunny days and cold nights. In late spring, around October and November, you'll enjoy warm, dry conditions for bushwalking. Late autumn, around May, and the winter months can also deliver good bushwalking weather. 

  • High season: Summer (December to February)
  • Low season: Winter (June to August)
  • Don’t miss: The Blue Mountains’ many cool-climate gardens, which light up with colourful leaves in autumn and bright blooms in spring.

Travellers of all abilities can witness the beauty of the Blue Mountains and the iconic Three Sisters.

  • Arrival: Choose from a range of wheelchair-accessible  private charters and tours to reach the Blue Mountains from Sydney, or use the Trip Planner tool for accessible train services departing from Sydney’s Central Station.
  • Getting around: Public bus route 685 is wheelchair accessible and will take you from Katoomba to Echo Point and Scenic World. Most taxi providers in the area also offer accessible services; request at the time of booking.
  • Accessible experience highlights: You can get amongst nature on a range of wheelchair-friendly trails throughout Blue Mountains National Park. See the sights from above on the accessible Scenic World Skyway and Cableway, or hit all the highlights on a wheelchair-friendly Australia in Style tour.
  • Helpful resources: Use this accessible guide from the Blue Mountains City Council for tips on things to do and information about getting around.

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blue mountain tour guide

Hike Jamaica – The Blue Mountain Trail Description & Local Hiking Guides

Overview of hiking Jamaica’s Blue Mountain “sunrise” experience:

  • Time required: 5 – 8 hours round trip
  • Degree of Difficulty: 7 out of 10
  • Elevation: Just over 7,450 feet (2,270m) at the highest point.  Actual vertical hiked was just over 3,400 feet (1035m), as the trailhead began around 4,050 feet (1,235m) above sea level
  • Distance: About 11.5 miles (18.5km) round trip
  • Guide Required: YES – More from the point of view of following the local customs, and for confidence (You don’t have to worry about accidentally wandering off and getting lost on some random side-trail).  Also note that there is a nominal ($20usd per non resident) Park Fee required to hike in the Blue and John Crow Mountains National Park (and all Jamaica Parks / Forests).

You can start this Jamaica hike at a Rastafarian lodge situated on Blue Mountain.  After a meal of local red beans & rice, accompanied by various root vegetables, you settle down for a few hours rest/sleep. At 1:30am you wake-up, get dressed and meet the rest of the hiking group – Usually an assortment of locals and visitors to the island, accompanied by Rasta guides.

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This hike will likely be very different than anything you’ve ever experienced, as you start off around 2 in the morning in order to catch the sunrise from the peak. It will be fairly cool in the middle of the night, so dress appropriately (in layers, for altitude hiking – not the usual Caribbean). This Jamaica hike starts on an inclined rough road that feeds a couple of properties high in the Mountains. It will be dark, with your headlamps providing the only light . Within a few minutes you’ll be on the famous ‘Jacobs ladder’, which is a long and lazy switchback dirt and gravel road with many ‘washed out’ ruts. It’s fairly steep at this point and you’ll heat up, so you’ll likely want to peel off a layer or two of clothing…

Jamaica Hiking - Hike Jamaica's iconic Blue Mountain in the dark for rewarding sunrise views from Jamaica's tallest peak. Find Trail Review & Hiking Guides to experience the hike for yourself!

The next section of trail is amazing as it is a well worn path that occasionally takes you through 3-4 foot wide and 3-6 foot deep trench like sections. You’re still going uphill, however it’s not very steep. Due to the darkness, you won’t see much of the trail in advance – Just put one foot in front of the other and kept moving.  You’ll probably want to focus your light and attention on the ground so as to keep your footing. You may come across donkeys standing around on the trail as they are used to haul supplies up to the Portland Gap Ranger station.

It may feel strange not knowing where you are on the mountain, however you’ll probably see some features of the near-by Mountain sides and you’ll feel a refreshing cool breeze as you cross the occasional ridge.

Once you pass through Portland gap, you’re on the final third section of the hike. Be aware, the temperature will likely drop again as you near the top of the mountain .  Suddenly, you’ll be there… At the peak, which is a large flat area with considerable scrub / bushes and a small tower. It will still be dark, so you’ll want to have all your layers of clothes back on again and grab a bite to eat while you wait for the sun to rise. To be clear – It can be very cold up there…  You’ll want to have a winter hat and gloves on!

Jamaica Hiking - Hike Jamaica's iconic Blue Mountain in the dark for rewarding sunrise views from Jamaica's tallest peak. Find Trail Review & Hiking Guides to experience the hike for yourself!

Take a look around (as best you can) – You’ll probably notice ‘something’ off in the distance in all directions.   As it becomes more and more light out, you’ll realize (Spoiler Alert) that the shapes all around you aren’t neighbouring mountain peaks, but are in fact clouds… You’re above the clouds! As the sun slowly climbs over the horizon, you’ll be able to see the surrounding valleys and distant mountain ranges, as well as Kingston’s twinkling lights below on the coast. You can also see Port Antonio’s distant lights on the other side of the island. Weather permitting, eventually the red ball of fire that is the sun, will become extremely bright and things will start to warm up.  You’ll want to take plenty of pictures at this point.

Jamaica Hiking - Hike Jamaica's iconic Blue Mountain in the dark for rewarding sunrise views from Jamaica's tallest peak. Find Trail Review & Hiking Guides to experience the hike for yourself!

Once the sun is up, you’ll get a better chance to see what the trail and surrounding areas look like on the way down the mountain.  You’ll see that the top half of the trail is a fairly heavy rain-forest canopy – The occasional breaks allow you to see coffee plantations, valleys, ridges and mountains, as well as some coastline in the distance.

Jamaica Hiking - Hike Jamaica's iconic Blue Mountain in the dark for rewarding sunrise views from Jamaica's tallest peak. Find Trail Review & Hiking Guides to experience the hike for yourself!

In summary, this is an extremely enjoyable Jamaica hike with mixed degrees of steepness, and at a comfortable (not soaked with sweat like most Caribbean hikes) temperature, with the exception of the peak, which is quite cold for an hour or so. It will take you 3 – 4 hours, taking only a couple quick rest stops, to make it to the top. The views all around the east end of the island under the new rising sun is a special treat – This sunrise hike really is an experience of a lifetime! You’ll probably be joined at the peak by a number of other small groups, however it is still a quiet and un-crowded. As the trail was not overly steep, you’ll probably be able to descend the mountain in 2 – 3 hours without the need for any long breaks.

Jamaica Hiking - Hike Jamaica's iconic Blue Mountain in the dark for rewarding sunrise views from Jamaica's tallest peak. Find Trail Review & Hiking Guides to experience the hike for yourself!

Be safe and sure with a local hiking guide or tour operator.   Tour operators or local Guides are recommended for most trails.   To Hike Jamaica’s Blue & John Crow National Park, these local Tour Operators will take good care of you: 

To Hike Jamaica’s Blue Mountains from Runaway Bay, Ocho Rios and Port Antonio, these local Tour Operators will take good care of you: 

El Sol Vida Fun Tours

  • Jamaica’s Blue Mountain (Hollywell Nature Reserve) Hike & Coffee Tour
  • Blue Mountain Peak Hiking Tour – Overnight Hike to the Peak (Sunrise Hike)

To Hike Jamaica’s Blue Mountains from Kingston, these local Tour Operators will take good care of you: 

Sun Venture Tours Jamaica   

  • Duration: 9 Hours return hike and 5 hours return drive
  • Overnight Accommodation in Mountain Lodge (Dorm Style)
  • Degree of difficulty: 7.5/10
  • Duration: 6 Hours return hike and 5 hours return drive
  • Degree of difficulty: 7.0/10
  • Duration: 4 Hours return hike and 4 hours return drive
  • In the Blue Mountains
  • Duration: 3 Hour hike into the rain forest of the Blue and John Crow Mountains National Park
  • Degree of difficulty: 6.0/10
  • Custom Tours Available in the John Crow Mountains and Grand Ridge Wilderness Retreat (Northern Blue Mountains)

Barrett Adventures   

  • Blue Mountains & Old Tavern Coffee Estate (with Hike and Swim)
  • Easy One Hour Rain-Forest trail Hike to the abandoned Hidden City Coffee Plantation
  • Remote and Challenging Hikes from 2-5 Hour Day Hikes or Multi-Day Hikes
  • Hike to Blue Mountain Peak (Over-night Sunrise Hike)

For a more colourful review , check out our personal Jamaica hiking experience with our  Blue Mountain Sunrise Hike Blog Post

Back to  Jamaica Hiking

Back to  Jamaica Vacations

Back to the Best Caribbean Hiking

Back to  Caribbean Island Adventures

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Blue Mountain Hiking Tour

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Blue Mountain Jamaica Hiking Tours – Experience Hiking In Jamaica

  • Location: Kingston, Jamaica
  • Availability: Mon-Sat | 8:30 am-12:30 pm
  • Duration: 4-8 Hours
  • Max People : 30
  • Transfer: car, minibus & coaster buses

If you are eager to go hiking in Jamaica then you must visit Blue Mountain Peak for the best hike in the Caribbean. This 5.6 km (3.5 miles) hike can last from 2 to 8 hours, with your final ascent commencing at the Portland Gap, and descent beginning at the Blue Mountain Peak, which is the highest peak in Jamaica.

For hikers looking for an overnight stay on the mountains, or to arrange a rest stop, the Portland Gap is an excellent recreational area that offers country-style accommodation, in a picturesque and natural setting. If you are not fully up to making the climb to the peak on foot, you can ride up on 4-wheel-drive vehicles part of the way up.

Why Blue Mountains Jamaica Hiking Tours Are Perfect For Nature Lovers

For the nature lovers, you will most definitely enjoy your journey to the peak to witness a breath-taking view of Jamaica’s natural flora and fauna, including various species of birds, ferns, lichens, and mosses. This all-natural area is being preserved by local authorities. It is also reported that on a clear day you can stand on the Blue Mountain Peak and see Cuba.

Blue Mountain Jamaica Tour Price Includes

  • Round trip transfer in an air-conditioned vehicle to and from Blue Mountain Jamaica
  • Entrance fee for Holywell Park, Craighton Estate and Strawberry Hills
  • Lunch cost of up to $20 USD at Strawberry Hills
  • Hotel/Port pickup and drop off
  • Local experienced guide to assist you on your tour

Price Excludes

  • Lunch (unless added during checkout)
  • Additional refreshments
  • Any additional expenses

Complementary

  • Juice/drink
  • Refreshment Pack – this is an igloo with ice, plastic cups, red stripe beers, water and fruit drinks $30
  • Photographer Package – have a photographer with a DSLR accompany you and take high-quality photos. You will get them sent to your email afterward $40
  • River Stop & Swim – stop at a river along the Blue Mountains to swim before heading back into Kingston $30
  • Explore Devon House – go to Devon house after your Blue Mountain tour to view the mansion and either buy ice cream, pastries or have lunch at their restaurant $40
  • Edibles Package – High quality edibles from Majestic Buzz Delights. This Includes 1 brownie and 2 gummy shots $20

Cancellation Policy

Cancel this tour 7 or more days before the tour date and you will receive a 100 percent refund

Any cancellations done after 7 days before the date of your tour will be NON-REFUNDABLE

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What To Expect

We will transfer you to Blue Mountain Jamaica in Kingston, Saint Andrew where you will receive a guided tour of the mountains and the attractions. Add-ons such as a drink package or a photographer can enhance your experience and make the tour more enjoyable.

We will pre-book your tour with each of the sites and pay over your entrance fees for you, which are included in the cost. On your stop at Strawberry Hills, we will have lunch there, where up to $20 USD of your meal cost will be covered by us.

Once your Blue Mountain Jamaica tour is complete, we will pick you up and transfer you back to your accommodation, cruise ship or on other scheduled activities.

What To Bring During Blue Mountain Tour Jamaica

  • Insect repellent
  • Cash to purchase souvenirs or coffee
  • Hiking boots/comfortable shoes
  • A tip for guide and driver (if desired)

Why Book Blue Mountain Jamaica Tours With MJTG

  • Professional drivers and guides will remove the hassle from your trip
  • We pick you up right at your accommodation, take you to the Blue Mountains and take you back home
  • All entrance fees are included, so you will not have to pay at any gate
  • Work with a solid company with years of experience conducting hundreds of Blue Mountain tours
  • A percentage of your tour price will be donated to charity
  • Our vehicles are fully licensed, registered and insured
  • The add-on services we offer can allow you to truly customize your trip

We will pick you up at your accommodation anywhere in Jamaica and transfer you to the Blue Mountain Experience Jamaica to begin your tour.

Craighton Estate

Craighton Estate will be your first stop, where you will tour a coffee plantation and learn all there is to know about growing, harvesting and brewing coffee.

Strawberry Hills

Next head to Strawberry Hill Jamaica for a look around the gorgeous hotel and enjoy lunch at their famous restaurant.

Following lunch, we will briefly stop at Newcastle Jamaica for a look around where Jamaica’s soldiers are trained.

Your final stop will be Holywell Park Jamaica where you can go hiking and enjoying nature.

Return to Accommodation

After your Blue Mountain Jamaica tours have ended, we will transfer you back to your accommodation. If purchased as an add on you could stop at a river along the Blue Mountain for a refreshing swim before heading back home.

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Our guided sightseeing tours to Blue Mountains are unique and authentic and the best way to spend the day with nature if you are visiting Sydney!

Why to choose Blue Mountains Day Trip from Sydney?

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We offer all Sydney tours including Sydney City private tours ,  Hunter Valley wine tours , Southern Highland & Kangaroo valley country excursions , Port Stephens Dolphin watching day trips , Koala & Kangaroo encounters , and Australian pearl experiences. 

Blue Mountains Tours - Itineraries

Selecting a day trip itinerary to the Blue Mountains from Sydney is not easy for a first-time traveller. And that’s why we have created four bespoke excursions that cover various attractions of Blue Mountains. Get in touch with us today if you want to tailor-make your day trip to Blue Mountains that gives the best and memorable experience of your Australian vacation.

Blue Mountains private day tours

Blue Mountains Day Tours with Koala & Kangaroo Encounters

A full- day trip from Sydney to the Blue Mountains and the most popular tour. The main attractions include a visit to Featherdale Wildlife Park, Lincoln’s Rock Lookout, Three Sisters in Katoomba , and Scenic World.

Private & small group tours

blue mountains private tours

Blue Mountains Day Tours with Boutique Winery Visit

A full- day trip departs from Sydney to Blue Mountains and is available only during the weekends. The tour visits Three Sisters Rock formation, Govetts Leap lookout, and wine-tasting

Blue Mountains & Jenolan Caves Tours

Blue Mountains & Jenolan Caves Day Tours

This is the most adventurous day trip we have in our Blue Mountains tour portfolio and not for the faint-hearted. On average, a traveller has to walk up 500 plus stairs when you are in Jenolan caves.

Blue Mountains sunset tours from Sydney

Blue Mountains Sunset & Twilight Tours

Do you want to see the disappearance of the sun from the Blue Mountains? Book this tour online and avoid the large bus crowd during the day in the Blue Mountains and enjoy the magnificent view on your phase.

Glow Worm caves tours Blue Mountains

Blue Mountains with Glow Worm Tunnel

A unique private day tour to the Blue Mountains that highlights resident glowworms in an old rail tunnel at the Wollemi National Park.

Private Tour Price from A$1500 onwards per group

Tour Details

Blue Mountains sunset tours from Sydney

Autumn Day Tours to Blue Mountains 

A highly seasonal day trip to the Blue Mountains to see the iconic Three Sister lookout and delicious trees become a sea of brilliant red, yellow and flame orange.

Private Tour Price from A$945 onwards per group

Tour reviews of Blue Mountains Tours

0062 C.S. Kodikara

Planning a large group sightseeing tour to Blue Mountains from Sydney?

Main attractions of blue mountains, australia.

Three Sisters Blue Mountains

Three Sisters

Scenic World

Scenic World

Must see attraction in Blue Mountains tours from Sydney

Leura Cascade

Wentworth Falls

Wentworth Falls

Jenolan Caves and Blue Mountains day tours

Jenolan Caves

Everglades Gardens Leura NSW

Everglades Gardens

Lincoln's Rock

Lincoln's Rock

Katoomba falls

Katoomba falls

blue mountains day tour

Govetts Leap

Pulpit Rock lookout

Pulpit Rock

Blue mountains tours inclusions, door-to-door pick-up and return.

We offer free pick up and drop off services from your accommodation within a 25 km radius of Sydney CBD

Free refreshments

Unlimited chilled bottled water available for you in all our vehicles and throughout the day

Flexible cancellation policy

Our flexible cancellation policy offers you peace of mind to book your trip

Visit Three Sisters

All our day trip itineraries visit the main attraction of Blue Mountains; The Three Sisters Rock Formation .

Knowledgeable guides

All our Sydney tour guides are experts in the industry who have completed over 50-day trips to the blue mountains.

AC transportation 

We use air-conditioned and near new vehicles in our fleet for all tours depart from Sydney to Blue Mountains.

Blue Mountains Day Trips Travel Guide

Best Blue Mountains Picnic Areas

Best Blue Mountains Picnic Areas | Summer & Winter

Is it worth to visit Blue Mountains?

Blue Mountains: Why you have to add this to your travel basket

Is it worth visiting Blue Mountains

Things To Do in the Blue Mountains | Family & Kids-Friendly Activities

Frequently asked questions (faq) of blue mountains day trips from sydney.

The Blue Mountains , famed for its endless eucalyptus (gum tree) forests, is home to all four different types of eucalyptus trees found in Australia. These trees are found not only in dedicated natural forest areas, but grow in canyons, ridges, cliffs, and surround the myriad waterfalls in the region. The high temperatures cause these gum trees to emit a fine mist discharge created from the eucalyptus oil from its leaves. This oil mist then combines with dust particles and water vapour as it rises to surround the area giving it an overall blue tint, especially when the sun shines high and bright. Thus, when viewed from a distance , especially Sydney city, the Blue Mountains look very blue indeed!

Blue Mountains are nearly 100 km or a 1.5-hour drive towards the West of Sydney. However, if you are taking the M4 motorway on a Blue Mountains day trip (enter via Wattle Street, Sydney), you would be able to reduce the time in one third.

People visit the Blue Mountains throughout the year. However, we highly recommended visiting the Blue Mountains from January to March. These months have an average temperature is around the 16 Celsius mark, so, it is not cold or too hot. Always check the weather at the last minute before visiting this UNESCO world heritage site. If you happen to visit on a rainy or gloomy day, your chances to see most of the lookouts are minimal.

It is debatable. There are many attractions, things to do , and quite difficult to cover in a day trip. However, you will be able to cover the most famous attractions, for example, Three Sisters, Scenic World, and Govett’s Leap on a full day trip to Blue Mountains from Sydne y.

It is depending on the season that you are planning to visit the Blue Mountains via a day trip . Summer months (December, January & February) get warm and recommended to wear comfortable and breathable clothes in our Blue Mountains tours. Also, wear comfortable shoes if you are planning to hike, for example, the Blue Mountains sunset tours included a bushwalk to Katoomba or Leura Cascade . A jumper, coat, and scarf (winter clothing) recommended during the winter months (June to August) if you are planning to visit the Blue Mountains.

Yes, however, it is not possible to see them by a day trip to the Blue Mountains . Koalas sightings have recorded by many overnight campers in the areas of Grose Vale and Bilpin.

You can spot wild kangaroos from a Blue Mountains Sydney Tour by getting a detour to the Euroka camper ground from Glenbrook. If you want to hand-feed kangaroos, the best option is to make a stop at the Featherdale wildlife park near Black town.

This is a little trick often offer by big bus charters to travellers and we do not recommend this option after a long day in Blue Mountains. However, we can certainly arrange this. Most big bus drivers found its hard to drop individual travellers to Sydney CBD hotels on return due to evening traffic and its time-consuming. So, offering a river cruise ticket is the cheapest option for them, but not convenient from the customer point of view as the traveller has to catch a taxi from Circular Quay to the accommodation after a long tied day on a Blue Mountains tour. 

Absolutely! A day trip to the Blue Mountains in New South Wales is definitely worth it. The region is renowned for its stunning natural beauty, including rugged cliffs, lush forests, and mesmerizing waterfalls. You can explore various scenic lookouts like Echo Point, where you’ll find the iconic Three Sisters rock formation, and take in the breathtaking views of the Jamison Valley.

There are plenty of activities to enjoy, such as bushwalking along numerous trails of varying difficulty levels, visiting the charming town of Leura with its boutique shops and cafes, or experiencing the Scenic World attractions, which offer thrilling rides and panoramic views of the landscape.

The Blue Mountains are only a couple of hours away from Sydney, making it very accessible for a day trip. The beauty and natural wonders you’ll encounter make it a worthwhile destination, even if you have limited time.

The length of a Blue Mountains tour can vary depending on the type of tour you choose and the activities involved. Tours can range from half-day trips (around 4-5 hours) to full-day experiences (8-10 hours). Some tours might include activities like hiking, visiting scenic lookouts, exploring waterfalls, or even taking a ride on the Scenic Railway or Skyway. It’s best contact us if you need a customise itinerary of the tour, you’re interested in.

The amount of time you might want to spend in the Blue Mountains, NSW, can vary depending on your interests and what you’d like to explore. If you’re planning to visit the main sights and do some popular activities like visiting the Three Sisters, Scenic World, hiking, and exploring the towns in the area, a few days, like a weekend trip, could be sufficient.

However, if you’re an avid hiker or nature enthusiast and wish to explore more trails, visit lesser-known spots, or simply take your time to soak in the scenery, you might want to plan a longer trip, perhaps four to five days. This would allow for a more leisurely exploration of the region, including its various walking tracks, waterfalls, and quaint towns.

Ultimately, consider your interests and the pace at which you’d like to experience the Blue Mountains when deciding how much time to allocate for your visit.

  • Cancellation policy – 2 weeks’ notice; full refund. 7 to 14 days of departure – 50% cancellation fee. Less than 7 days, loss of full fee. Online transaction fees will not refund in any circumstance .
  • Payment – Need to have full payment at the time of confirmation.
  • Tour pricing – we have per group tour pricing model. Hence, no discounts for children or concession cardholders. 

Blue Mountains Private Tours inquiry form:

Tour duration – 8 hours

Pick up and drop off  – Sydney CBD

Departure from Sydney Return to Sydney –

The tour pick-up time will be communicated to you after the booking confirmation.

Tour highlights – One of the first built stone arch bridges – Heritage listed Lennox bridge, Breathtaking Lincoln’s Rock, Echo Point, Three Sisters lookout, and Glowworm tunnel.

Inclusions – Expert guide, 4WD SUV, USB charging on-board, bottled water, and hotel pick-up and drop-off

Transport – Travel in a modern 4WD. The access road won’t be suitable for a 2WD vehicle.

Maximum 3 passengers only for this private tour to Glow Worm Tunnel. Uneven surface required physical strength to reach the tunnel. 

Exclusions  – Food and beverages.

Tour itinerary – Sydney pick up, Lennox Bridge, Breathtaking Lincoln’s Rock, Echo Point, Three Sisters lookout, and Gloworm tunnel, return to Sydney.

What to wear – Jacket in the cooler months, Footwear with good grip, comfortable walking trousers/shorts, camera, hat, sunglasses, sunscreen, etc.

Prices – A$ 1500 per private group of 3 people.

Contact details  – (+61) 0498507873 or [email protected]

Cancellation policy  – 48 hours before departure full refund

Tour duration – 7 hours

Pick up and drop off – Sydney CBD

Tour pick-up time will be communicated to you after the booking confirmation.

Tour highlights – One of the first built stone arch bridges – Heritage listed Lennox bridge, Breathtaking Lincoln’s Rock, Echo Point, Three Sisters lookout, and Windybridge garden for vivid Autumn colours.

Inclusions – Expert guide, luxury people mover, entry to Windyridge gardens, USB charging on-board, bottled water, and hotel pick-up and drop-off

Exclusions – Food and beverages.

Tour itinerary – Sydney pick up, Lennox Bridge, Breathtaking Lincoln’s Rock, Echo Point, Three Sisters lookout, and Windybridge garden for vivid Autumn colours, return to Sydney.

What to wear – Jacket in the cooler months, comfortable footwear, comfortable walking trousers/shorts, camera, hat, sunglasses, sunscreen, etc.

Contact details – (+61) 0498507873 or [email protected]

Cancellation policy – 48 hours before departure full refund

Departure from Sydney Return to Sydney –

Tour pick-up time will be communicated to you after the booking confirmation. If the sunset is between 5 to 6. 30 pm, the tour departs at 12 pm from Sydney. Departure will be adjusted to 2 pm if the sunset falls between 6.30 to 8 pm. You will be contacted by our customer service team with further info.

Inclusions – Expert guide, luxury people mover, USB charging on-board, bottled water, and hotel pick-up and drop-off

Exclusions – Evening snack/food and activity fees

Tour itinerary – Featherdale Park, Three Sisters, Govetts Leap & Boars Head Lookout (this may change due to daylight and sunset times)

What to wear – Jacket in the cooler months, comfortable footwear, comfortable walking trousers/shorts, camera, hat, sunglasses, sunscreen, etc.

Tour duration – 10 hours

Departure from Sydney – 7.00 am

Return to Sydney – 5.30 pm

Exclusions – Jenolan Caves entry tickets and lunch

Tour itinerary – Three Sisters, Jenolan Caves, lunch, spot wild kangaroos, and the possibility of Govetts Leap lookout if time permits

What to wear – Jacket in the cooler months, comfortable footwear, comfortable walking trousers/shorts, camera, hat, sunglasses, sunscreen, etc

Tour duration – 9 hours

Departure from Sydney – 7.30 am

Return to Sydney – 5.00 pm

Inclusions – Wildlife park entry, wine tasting, expert guide, luxury people mover, USB charging on-board, hotel pick-up, and drop-off and bottled water

Exclusions – Lunch and other activity fees

Tour itinerary – Featherdale Wildlife Park, Three Sisters, Wine tasting, and Lunch

Inclusions – Featherdale park entry tickets, expert guide, luxury people mover, USB charging on-board, bottled water, and hotel pick-up and drop-off

Exclusions – Scenic world entry and lunch

Tour itinerary – Featherdale Park, Three Sisters, Scenic World, Lunch, & Boars Head Lookout

Blue Ridge Mountains Travel Guide

The Blue Ridge Mountains stretch 550 miles from north Georgia to southern Pennsylvania, much of it connected by the Blue Ridge Parkway. The Blue Ridge region encompasses more than 34,000 square miles of dynamic landscapes- mountains, forests, lakes, rivers, and waterfalls- in eight states along the east coast. Let our local experts be your guide to things to do in the Blue Ridge Mountains, from camping and hiking to the best Blue Ridge cabins, resorts and restaurants.

blue mountain tour guide

Asheville, NC

Lake at Vogel State Park in north Georgia

North Georgia Mountains

Blue Ridge GA

Blue Ridge, GA

Sunset on the Blue Ridge Parkway's Linn Cove Viaduct

Blue Ridge Parkway

Bull Elk in Great Smoky Mtns National Park by Betty Shelton

Great Smoky Mountains NP

Pisgah National Forest -Looking Glass Falls by Makasana Photo

Pisgah National Forest

About blue ridge mountains travel guide.

Bret Love & Mary Gabbett Blue Ridge Mountains Travel Guide Profile Photo

The BRMTG was created by Bret Love & Mary Gabbett, the award-winning team behind the world-renowned responsible travel website Green Global Travel .

Bret grew up camping and hiking in the Blue Ridge Mountains of Georgia and North Carolina with his parents, and the couple both spent childhood summers on the water with their grandparents.

After becoming empty nesters, they yearned for a pristine place where they could escape the hustle and bustle of the city, commune with nature and family, and embrace a sustainable lifestyle that leaves time to appreciate the simpler things in life.

Join them and their team as they explore the region, offering expert insights on Blue Ridge travel as they search for the perfect mountain home.

FAQs ABOUT THE BLUE RIDGE MOUNTAINS

Where are the Blue Ridge Mountains?  

The Blue Ridge Mountains are part of the Appalachian Mountain range. They extend 550 miles in the eastern United States, and include parts of Georgia, South Carolina, North Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, West Virginia, Maryland, and Pennsylvania. The Blue Ridge region is home to Great Smoky Mountains National Park and Shenandoah National Park, as well as eight national forests (including the Chattahoochee National Forest, Cherokee National Forest, Nantahala National Forest, and Pisgah National Forest).

How long is the Blue Ridge Parkway? 

The scenic Blue Ridge Parkway is America’s longest linear park, stretching 469 miles from Great Smoky Mountains National Park in North Carolina to Shenandoah National Park in Virginia. The Blue Ridge Parkway starts at U.S. 441 and ends at Shenandoah’s entrance, where the name changes to Skyline Drive. Originally known as the Appalachian Scenic Highway, the road’s construction began in 1935 and ended in 1987. It has been the most visited unit of America’s National Park System for 70+ years.

Why are the Blue Ridge Mountains blue? 

The distinctive color that gives the Blue Ridge Mountains their name largely comes from the forests that line its ridges (which reach elevations up to 6,684 feet). Many shrubs and trees– including oaks, poplars, and eucalyptus– emit an organic compound called isoprene. When this hydrocarbon is released into the atmosphere, it creates a distinctive lingering haze that looks blue from a distance.

blue mountain tour guide

The Best Things to Do in The Blue Mountains (2024 Guide)

Looking for the best things to do in the Blue Mountains? Don’t miss our mini-guide with everything you’ll need to know, including how to get there!

One of the most popular and iconic day trips from Sydney, the Blue Mountains are a spectacular display of New South Wales nature at its finest.

This area of Australia is sure to give you awe-inspiring viewpoints, a variety of hiking trail options, and wildlife spotting opportunities.

You might be surprised to find that the mountains are actually as blue as you’ve seen in pictures. It’s one of those natural phenomena that only adds to the natural beauty of the area and makes it seem almost other-worldly.

The mountains get their blue tint from the mass of Eucalyptus forests in the park.

The Eucalyptus trees release oil to the atmosphere, which then mixes with water vapour and dust particles to reflect a blue haze.

No matter which viewpoint you’re at, that blue colour always seems to be emanating from the mountains themselves.

Admiring The Views Is Definitely One O The Best Things To Do In The Blue Mountains

Table of Contents

1) The Three Sisters and Echo Point

2) wentworth falls, 3) govetts leap and pulpit rock, 5) katoomba falls, 6) scenic world, 7) jenolan caves, 8) blue mountains botanic garden, 9) grand canyon walk, how much time do you need to visit the blue mountains, public transport, what to see and things to do in the blue mountains, australia.

Spend an afternoon, a whole day, or maybe even a few days in the Blue Mountains if you have the time. No matter your time constraints, there are countless activities to keep you busy in the Blue Mountains.

From Wentworth Falls, to Sublime Point Lookout in Leura, to the unique rock formations and sandstone cliffs throughout the park, here is our list of the best things to do in the Blue Mountains!

If you wish to see most of the sights in one day, we suggest booking a full day tour with Get Your Guide .

READ MORE: Here’s everything you need to know about  travelling in Australia .

The Three Sisters rock formation is one of the most popular sights at the Blue Mountains, and one of the main reasons why visitors make the trip out here.

The legend behind the landmark is that there were three beautiful sisters from the Katoomba tribe who were in love with three warriors from the Nepean tribe – the Katoomba tribe’s archenemies, of course.

When the three warrior men tried to capture the sisters, a tribal war broke out and a witchdoctor turned the sisters into rock to protect them from the fighting.

His idea didn’t quite work out as planned though because the witchdoctor was killed in battle, leaving the sisters in their rocky appearance still to this day.

Today, the Sisters proudly stand tall at 3,000 feet above sea level. They’re surrounded by the blue hues of mountains and valleys that expand out for miles on end.

You can also hike to the Three Sisters if you want to view them up close. To get there from Echo Point, take the Three Sisters Track and walk down the Giant Stairway until you reach the famous rocks.

Note that this is a pretty steep set of stairs that go almost straight down into a canyon, so just remember that you have to have the energy to come back up the Giant Stairway after taking selfies with the rocks.

If you’re exploring the region, take a detour to the Sisters -they’re a Blue Mountains must see!

Three Sisters Blue Mountains

One of the many waterfalls to see in the Blue Mountains, Wentworth Falls is a popular spot that you can get to from the Wentworth Falls Track.

In fact, no proper list of what to do in the Blue Mountains would be complete without mentioning these cascades!

The Wentworth Falls Trail goes by Jamison Valley and Wentworth lookouts, before leading you to Fletchers lookout, where you can have an unobstructed view of the falls and their 100m drop into the valley.

Wentworth Falls, near where the waterfall is located, is actually another little town in the Blue Mountains. It’s an optimal spot for relatively easy bush walks that give you impressive lookouts and sweeping views.

Arguably one of the most famous lookouts in Australia, Govetts Leap lookout provides a stunning view of thick gum tree forests and a waterfall that has a 180m drop.

If you’re lucky, you might spot a king parrot or yellow-tailed black cockatoo that are known to inhabit this area.

The lookout at Govetts Leap can also be a starting point for a more vigorous hike that descends into the Grose wilderness.

One of the best Blue Mountains walks is from Govetts Leap to Pulpit Rock Lookout. It’s a long but easy trail that snakes along the valley and ends at the magnificent Pulpit Rock Lookout. With a jagged cliff that sticks out from the edge, this is one of the best views in the Blue Mountains region.

If you have time for more epic views, also check out Hanging Rock Lookout. It’s not far from the other lookouts, and makes for super cool photos because it does actually look like a hanging rock above the Blue Mountains valley.

A picturesque little village within the Blue Mountains, Leura is worth visiting just for its unique atmosphere and abundance of nearby trails and good views.

The village offers a variety of gardens that are privately owned but open at different points of the year to the public. Everglades Gardens is one that is open year-round and offers sandstone terraces, picnic areas, and views of Jamison Valley.

Leura Cascades is another ideal spot for a picnic, and a starting point for walking to a variety of other waterfalls and lookouts, including Leura, Linda, Lila, and Bridal Veil Falls, and the Copelands Lookout and Fly Fox Lookout.

You can also visit a local orchard to pick whatever’s in season, shop for produce and take part in a cider tasting session at Hillbilly Cider’s cellar door. Or check out the stunning Sublime Point Lookout.

Or book an exciting, 3-hour land rover tour of the Blue Mountains area from Leura.

Leura Falls Blue Mountains

What I love about Katoomba Falls is that it’s a segmented waterfall that has almost a staircase or balcony effect. The dramatic scenery that surrounds it doesn’t hurt either. It’s also an easy waterfall to get to if you’re short on time.

From Echo Point, walk along the Prince Henry Cliff Walk, pass the Katoomba Cascades, and arrive at the Cliff View Lookout which gives you an excellent view over Katoomba Falls from a distance.

If you want to get closer to the falls, follow the easy circuit track, Round Walk Trail, that starts from Scenic World.

Afterwards, consider strolling around Katoomba town in search of street art or heading to the Megalong Valley Tea Rooms.

Scenic World is one of the best places to visit in the Blue Mountains, as it is here where you can enjoy the view from the world’s steepest scenic railway.

Sounds equally terrifying and beautiful, right? Okay, it’s not actually that scary of a ride since it’s a railway, not a rollercoaster. But it’s a gorgeous (and yes, touristy) way to take in the beauty of the Blue Mountains.

You can also experience the scenic walkway, cable car, and skyway here, all of which provide different views and experiences over the Blue Mountains.

Personally, I prefer taking in the beauty of the area through hikes and trails, but if you’re more into a novel tourist experience, Scenic World can be a fun way to spend an hour at the park.

Your Blue Mountains sightseeing can’t be complete without a visit to the Scenic World!

  • Location: Corner Violet Street & Cliff Drive
  • Opening hours: every day from 9 AM – 5 PM

Blue Mountains Views

The Jenolan Caves are located in the foothills of the Blue Mountains and feature some of the most spectacular cave structures in the world.

Located around an hour away from Katoomba on the fringe of neighboring Kanagra-Boyd National Park, Jenolan Caves offers a variety of cave tours that are well worth a day trip.

15 caves are accessible for public tours and there are nearby accommodations and meals if you plan to stay in the area. If you want to avoid the crowds and enjoy the area around the Jenolan Caves you can also hike the nearby tracks.

Prices vary depending on which caves you would like to access. You can find more pricing information here .

You can also complete the nearby River Walk, an easy, relaxing walking track that passes by the dazzling Blue Lake.

These 28-hectare botanic gardens near Mount Tomah specialize in cooler-climate plants that would not grow well in the warmer areas of Australia.

It is the only botanic gardens located in a UNESCO World Heritage Site and has plenty to offer for anyone who enjoys plant and flower species.

Entry to the Blue Mountains Botanic Garden is free and hours are 9 AM – 5 PM 7 days per week.

This walking track is one of the best in the Blue Mountains, but it’s still a hidden gem among tourists who tend to stay in Katoomba.

There are numerous amazing walking tracks in the mountains, but if you have to pick one, choose this one.

The Grand Canyon Walk is a 6km circuit that is suitable for all levels. There are some steep parts, but overall it is considered moderate difficulty.

The walking track takes you down into the valley, past rivers and streams and giant ferns. It is the perfect place to breathe in that fresh mountain air and exercise the legs.

Blue Mountains Travel Guide

Now that you what to see in the Blue Mountains, read further to learn how to get there and how to best organise your time in order to visit as many as possible of the Blue Mountains attractions.

At a minimum, give yourself a half-day to explore the most popular sights around the Blue Mountains. Remember that this park is huge and it takes time to get from one site to the next, even if you do the hop-on-hop-off bus which hits all the most popular tourist attractions.

Unsurprisingly, the Blue Mountains National Park is best taken in through the walking trails, so give yourself time to go on at least 1-2 short hikes around the park. If you can spend a full day at the Blue Mountains, or more, you won’t be disappointed.

Alternate ways to explore the Blue Mountains include horse riding, camping, and mountain biking in the fresh air. These require gear and potentially a tour guide, so come prepared!

Lastly, the earlier you get there the better, for crowds and the heat. If you’re doing the trip on your own via car or train, leave Sydney before sunrise to get an early start and experience that magical early morning glow of the mountains.

While you’re in the city, don’t miss out this great list of the best free things to do in Sydney .

How to Get to the Blue Mountains

Now that we’ve convinced you to take a day trip to the Blue Mountains, you’ll need to know the best way to get to there.

Depending on your budget and style, you have three options.

There are a few train stations and small country towns that span the Blue Mountains, but the one that seems to be the best starting point and transport hub is on the main street in Katoomba.

This is where you’ll find the main Blue Mountains Visitor Centre if you want to get more information and detailed maps before you tackle any hikes.

Katoomba is also where many of the tourist activities start from, such as the hop-on-hop-off Blue Mountains Explorer Bus.

From Sydney, take the train to Parramatta, where you’ll connect with a local Blue Mountain Line train that’s heading toward Lithgow.

Again, you can get off at any of the stops to explore the area, but I recommend starting from Katoomba Station.

The day trip from Sydney takes just over two hours each way. Once you arrive you can either choose to sign up for one of the hop-on-hop-off buses, or walk to the first main attraction of the day – the Three Sisters.

The walk from the station on the main street in Katoomba to the Three Sisters Plaza is only 20 minutes.

If you have the luxury of your own wheels, the drive to the Blue Mountains only takes 90 minutes. From Sydney, take the Western Motorway (M4) to the Great Western Hwy (A32), which will lead you to Katoomba.

The best way to get around is to rent a car and explore on your own! We recommend Rental Cars , which has the largest range of vehicles for the best value on the market.

If you really don’t want to deal with driving in Australia or taking public transit, there are also plenty of options for Blue Mountains tours that leave from Sydney, such as this popular one .

What To Do In The Blue Mountains

This guide should get you started with planning your Blue Mountains trip. But just remember that it’s only the beginning of what you could see in the national park.

There are countless outdoor adventures and trails to experience that couldn’t fit into one guide, so don’t be afraid to be spontaneous once you get there to discover more history, sights, and lookouts that you might not have heard of before.

Trails are well marked and it’s one of the most popular national parks in Australia. Come prepared to hike in Australian bushland but don’t forget to enjoy it to its fullest.

Looking to move to Australia from abroad? Check out my guide to getting a work visa for Australia !

That’s it for our list of the best things to do in the Blue Mountains! Have you been? What would you add? Leave a comment below and let us know!

DISCLAIMER: Some of the links in this article are affiliate links, which means if you book accommodation, tours or buy a product, we will receive a small commission at no extra cost to you. These commissions help us keep creating more free travel content to help people plan their holidays and adventures. We only recommend the best accommodations, tours and products that ourselves or our fantastic editorial team have personally experienced, and regularly review these. Thanks for your support, kind friend!

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About the Author - Mimi McFadden

Mimi McFadden is a travel blogger, entrepreneur, and freelance writer. Originally from California, she has been slow traveling the world since 2013. When she’s not writing, she’s probably sipping on a pint of craft beer, chasing waterfalls, or finding daily doses of beauty around the world and planning her next adventure. You can find her on Instagram, Facebook, and her blog, The Atlas Heart .

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Sydney Expert

How to Visit the Blue Mountains From Sydney

So you want to visit the Blue Mountains from Sydney but you can’t decide if you need to book a guided tour or if you can do it alone using public transport or a rental car? Well, read on, we have all the info you need to make an informed decision and a bunch of pages to help you plan a perfect trip to the Three Sisters and beyond.

How to plan your visit to the Blue Mountains

The best way to visit the blue mountains, planning your blue mountains itinerary, what is the best way to get around in the blue mountains, when is the best time to visit the mountains, how long do you need to explore the blue mountains, the top blue mountains attractions, which blue mountains bushwalk should you do, where to stay in the blue mountains overnight, stay safe in the mountains.

This page contains affiliate links. Please see our disclosure policy for more details.

The Blue Mountains is a world heritage wilderness that begins 60km west of Sydney. Spending a day visiting the mountains makes a great addition to a Sydney itinerary.

There are many reasons you should go, but for starters:

  • The area is home to 400 different species of animals, 40 of them rare or threatened.
  • The vast wilderness covers over 11,400 km², and standing above it looking down is mind-blowing.
  • The mountains are not mountains, but a valley that was formed over 50 million years ago.

The mountains are the perfect distance from Sydney for a day trip, which will give you a taste of the region, but a full weekend is the ideal amount of time to experience the area. Read on, and I will highlight the main sights and attractions you can cover in a quick visit: Wentworth Falls, Leura, Katoomba, and Blackheath. Hopefully, this will help you decide what type of visit is right for you.

First things first, why are the Blue Mountains blue?

Let’s start with the most common question I get asked about these mountains and get it out of the way! 

Blue Mountains Visit why Blue

The mountains get their blue appearance and their name from the oil in the eucalyptus trees, which, when dispersed in the air, give off a blue hue. Science is not my forte, so I will not go into any detail on this. Instead, I suggest you check out the science behind the Blue of the Mountains here .

There are three ways to visit the mountains:

  • on organised guided tours from Sydney
  • by public transport using local buses or the local hop on hop off bus
  • taking your own car or rental car on a road trip

Your first decision is, do you want to go it alone or take would you prefer a tour with an experienced guide ?

There is no short supply of tours to the region , with prices starting from $75 and reaching several hundred dollars per person for private or longer tours.

The benefit of taking a Blue Mountains day tour

Blue Mountains day tours offer three major benefits:

  • A knowledgeable commentary along the way, someone to explain what you see and its significance.
  • A carefully selected itinerary – places that have been chosen to give you an overview of the region in a short time
  • Confidence to hike further into the bushland than you might alone
We have done extensive research on the day tours available to help you work out what to look for when choosing one to suit you.

The benefits of do-it-yourself day trips

If you are happy to go it alone, taking public transport or driving also has some advantages:

  • You can start and return when you please, meaning a longer or shorter day is possible.
  • It is significantly less expensive than a tour. You can have a day in the Blue Mountains for under $20 if you know the tricks.
  • You can visit spots off the tourist trail and find lots of great hidden gems.
  • You can take l onger hikes than those offered on tours.

Visiting the Blue Mountains by train

The train from Central Station in Sydney takes approximately 2 hours to reach the mountains.

Train to the Blue Mountains

The return trip can be made using a variety of tickets. It is most economical to travel off-peak return (before 7 am or after 9 am on weekdays or all day Saturday) at $6.51 each way. If you leave Sydney between 7am, and 9am, tickets cost $9.31.

Tip: For the best views, make sure you sit on the left side of the top deck.

On weekends, you can make the trip for just $8.40 return. However, the trains will often be jam-packed, so consider that when deciding.

Local insight for the best train trip :

  • Go during the week for a less crowded experience.
  • If you don’t mind paying the peak fare, there is an 8:50 am limited stops train that reaches Katoomba at 10:32 am. This is the first express train.
  • If you fancy an early start, there is a train around 7:23 am that will have you there at 9:20 am

Monday to Friday, the best trains to get are the 6:23, 6:53, 7:23, 8:18, 8:50, or the 9:18 am services. More services head up to the mountains on weekends, and public holidays, but they can be crowded. The best options are the 6:24, 7:24, 7:54, 8:24am trains. Check for any changes to these times here .

Visiting the Blue Mountains by car

It is about a 1 hour 40 mins drive from the city in good traffic. You mainly travel via motorway although the last section can be quite slow. Sunday afternoon traffic can be terrible. Head up as early as you can to avoid the worst traffic and consider returning, leaving after 5 pm if you can for a quick run. 

Check out our 3 itineraries for exploring the mountains by car 

Which stops should you include in your visit to the Blue Mountains?

Katoomba, the main centre of the Blue Mountains, is approximately 120km west of Sydney city and takes approximately 1.5-2 hours to reach depending on traffic and your mode of transport.

The three main towns of interest to visitors on a day tour are:

  • Wentworth Falls – Great waterfall and the start of several good walking tracks
  • Leura – Picturesque village with lovely shops and cafes, access to stunning lookouts and HOHO bus stops
  • Katoomba – Main town centre in the mountains. The starting point of the HOHO bus, home to the Three Sisters, a number of hotels, shops and restaurants.

If you have time to make a weekend of it, I would add

  • Blackheath – Excellent walks, the stunning Pulpit Rock lookout, the fabulous Victory Antique Centre and the Rhododendron Garden
  • Mount Victoria – The beautiful sunset rock lookout
  • Mt Tomah Botanic Gardens – Gorgeous gardens set with a Blue Mountain backdrop – while these sustained some damage in the December 2020 bushfire, they are open for business and well worth a visit.

I have put together some itineraries to help you make the most of your time in the mountains.

If you are taking the train to Katoomba:

  • The Blue Mountains with Scenic World and the Hop on Hop Off Blue Mountains Explorer
  • The Blue Mountains with the Hop on Hop off bus and lots of bushwalking 
  • The Blue Mountains on a tight budget using the public bus and bushwalking 

If you are planning to drive

  • The Blue Mountains in  one day with minimal walking and lots of photography
  • The Blue Mountains for hikers who want some long walks that are best accessed with a car
  • The Blue Mountains for anyone with impaired mobility, the elderly or young kids.

If you are heading up by train, it makes sense to pick up the  hop on hop off service for seamless exploring of the mountains more accessible. 

You can get to most of the attractions by public buses  (route 686 is a loop from Katoomba Station to Scenic World via Echo Point), but it requires a bit more effort to make sure you can find the stops and bus routes you need.

Blue Mountains public bus to scenic world

The mountains HOHO is called the  Blue Mountains Explorer Bus   and has 37 stops. It is an excellent service and covers all the main areas in both Katoomba and Leura. There are a couple of ticket options; the basic ticket is valid for one day and costs $55. There is also a ticket that includes Scenic World. Your ticket can be extended to three days for free; just ask when boarding. They also let kids ride free! I am not always a fan of HOHO buses, but this one is excellent. The drivers give great live commentary. They seem to go above and beyond what you would expect, giving passengers a few minutes at some of the smaller stops to grab a pic and get back on the bus rather than having to leave the bus and wait for the next coach in places that you don’t need to spend much time exploring.

The Blue Mountain region can be visited year-round. The temperatures are a little more extreme than Sydney and range from a daytime average of 16°C (60F) in winter and 29°C (84F) in summer.

The area hosts several big festivals which can push accommodation prices and crowds up but are also a lot of fun to join in.

The key events are:

  • The Blue Mountains Music Festival in March
  • The Winter Magic Festival in June
  • Christmas in July
  • Leura Garden Festival in October

You can check the region’s festival calendar here .

You can get a good taste of the Blue Mountains in a day, albeit a rather long one if you are coming from Sydney, but if you are here on an extended visit, an overnight stay will reward you with some fantastic views and great memories.

If you have the time to stay longer, check out our Blue Mountains accommodation guide for our favourite places to stay Keen bushwalkers can easily find enough to do here to stay for a week! For me, a 2 or 3-day visit is ideal, but if you don’t have the luxury of time, then one day is still a great option.

There are so many things to do in the mountains that we made a separate list but the main attractions you might want to cover in your day trip are listed here.

The Three Sisters – the number one attraction in the Blue Mountains

Sydney budget bucketlist sunday blue mountains

The Three Sisters, the iconic group of sandstone rocks at Echo Point, are a short ride or even a walk from Katoomba train station. They are the area’s most visited attraction. Busloads of tourists flock here each day on day tours from the city, and it can get a little crowded sometimes, but it’s still well worth a visit. The ‘sisters’ are floodlit from dark until 10.30pm each night. They look equally amazing no matter what time you visit, and even a foggy day can provide a great photo of the rocks piercing the fog. If you have a car, check out the alternative view of them from Eagle Hawk Lookout – same magnificent view with no tour buses in sight; the HOHO bus also stops near here.

Back view of the 3 Sisters from Eagle Hawk lookout

Why are they called the Three Sisters anyway?

The rock formation gets its name from a Dreamtime legend that says the rocks were three young sisters whose father turned them to stone while he fought an angry bunyip. He lost the fight, and the girls were forever stuck in the rock. Well, that is the version I was told on my indigenous tour of the mountains years ago. Other stories are floating around, and some controversy over which is correct. Check it out on Wikipedia .

Wentworth Falls

There are numerous waterfalls in the Blue Mountains, but my favourite – and among the easiest to reach without a car is Wentworth Falls. There is a track called Darwin’s Walk (after Charles Darwin) that begins at Wentworth Falls station and ends at the falls. It takes a little under 2 hours to complete and is a pretty simple walk. If you want to swim at the bottom of the falls, the Wentworth Pass track will be the best one to follow. If you decide to eat in the area, the Conservation Hut offers good food with magnificent views. There have recently been some landslides in this area, so check the Blue Mountains National Park website before planning any walk in this part of the park.

Scenic World – The Katoomba Scenic Railway, Cableway and Skyway

Blue Mountains Scenic Railway

Almost everyone who heads to the Mountains ends up at Scenic World; it is the most popular man-made attraction here. The Scenic World complex is home to three experiences:

  • The Scenic Railway – Ride the railway with the steepest incline in the world. The railway built to bring coal from the Katoomba coal mine on the valley floor. The mine only operated for 21 years. Today, this track, which travels 405 metres on an incline of 52 degrees to the top of the mountain, is used to transport visitors to the boardwalk below.
  • The Scenic Skyway – The skyway travels 720 metres across the Jamison Valley, providing incredible views of the Three Sisters and Katoomba Falls. The glass floor allows views of the valley below.
  • The Scenic Cableway – The cable car, the steepest aerial cable car in the southern hemisphere, descends 545 meters to the bottom of the Jamison Valley. Once you alight, follow the 3km scenic walkway through the rainforest. At the end, join the Scenic Railway for the ride back to the top. Wheelchair users can ride the cableway and travel the first part of the boardwalk.

The queues here can be pretty long mid-morning when the tour buses arrive, so I suggest heading here first-up or later in the afternoon.

If you are travelling in the peak season (summer), it’s a good idea to pre-purchase your entry tickets. You can combine this with the HOHO bus to make things reasonably seamless.

Katoomba Town Centre and Street Art Walk

The first stately homes were built in the mountains in the 1870s. Katoomba was developed in the early 1900s as a mountain resort area and quickly became popular with Sydneysiders wanting to relax in a colder climate. The district took off in the 1920-1930s, resulting in many art déco styled buildings.

Katoomba Street Art Walk girl

Katoomba main street is a pleasant spot to stop for lunch with some excellent examples of Art déco and Art nouveau architecture to explore.

What to see in Katoomba 

  • Champagne Charlies – The cocktail bar in the Carrington Hotel
  • Katoomba Street Art Murals
  • Blue Mountains Cultural Centre – museum, gallery and excellent gift shop

Where to eat in Katoomba

  • Elephant Bean Cafe – We have always enjoyed the coffee here
  • Hominy Bakery – delicious pies and pastries
  • Bootlegger Bar – great cocktails and burgers

Katoomba is not as popular with day tour visitors but it’s got a lot to offer and is worth a stop.

Leura Village – Old World Charm in Bucket loads

Leura village, located between Wentworth Falls and Katoomba, is a postcard-pretty village with beautiful gardens, a high street of quaint shops, and a variety of cafes and restaurants.

Cute shops in Leura Blue Mountains

What to see in Leura 

  • Sublime Point Lookout – Leura is the closest town to Sublime Point, that is, just as its name says, sublime!
  • Leura Cascades – a lovely picnic ground and a beautiful short walk to the cascading water
  • Garden lovers should try to time their visit with the annual Garden Festival held each Oct/Nov.
  • Everglades Historic Home and Garden – Tour this beautiful art deco house and garden
  • Gordon Falls Lookout – This waterfall plunges over a 200m drop, and the lookout has great views of Kings Tableland
  • Bygone Beauties – Check out the world’s most extensive teapot collection while enjoying afternoon tea.
  • Leurella Toy and Railway Museum – Largest toy collection in the southern hemisphere
  • The Country Women’s Association market stalls are a great place to pick up some homemade goodies if your visit coincides with their weekly market.

Where to eat in Leura 

  • Solitary Restaurant – There has been a cafe on this site since 1913. These days you can either grab an all-day breakfast in the garden or dine in the restaurant — great views.
  • The Bunker – cafe and restaurant with a beautiful garden
  • Josophan’s Chocolate – An experience for your eyes and your taste buds, we always stop off here for a little treat.

Blackheath – Gardens, antiques and that valley view

Blackheath is one of the last train stops in the Blue Mountains proper. The town centre by the station has quite a lot to offer with lovely cafes, galleries and the fabulous Victory Theatre Antiques Centre. It is also home to the famous Rhododendron Gardens.

Victory Antique Centre Blackheath

If you are only in the mountains for a day, you will have to choose between Wentworth Falls and Blackheath as there is not enough time for both. I suggest taking the train directly to Blackheath if you intend to visit. From the station, it’s a 3km walk to Govert’s Leap Lookout, and from here, you can take the track to Evans Lookout . This is a medium grade 3-hour walk. You would need to take a taxi or rideshare back to Medlow Bath or Katoomba Station.

Check our list of Fifty+ things to do in the Blue Mountains for more ideas to fill your itinerary

Even if you have limited time, you should take at least one short walk. You don’t have to be superfit to walk here; there are walks to suit all levels of ability.

Walks that start at the Three Sisters Lookout

3 sisters walking track is easy

  • Three Sisters Path (Moderate) – Start Echo Point – 1.1 km return; this is an easy 45-minute walk. You can choose to climb down 123 steps and across a bridge to the inside of the Three Sisters. On completion, you recover your steps. Full details here.
  • Echo Point to Leura Cascades (Moderate) – This walk is a little over 3km and takes about 1 hour 45 mins. It brings in Prince Henry Cliff walk about and also passes Honeymoon Lookout. There is a map with full instructions on the Wildwalks website.
  • Do you choose 1000 or 800 step staircase down to the valley floor below?
  • Echo Point to Scenic World via Furber Steps (Moderate) – The Furber steps are a little longer, but I think perhaps a little more comfortable. Several lookouts run off the walk, don’t miss Juliet’s Balcony! Once at the bottom of the steps, you can catch the scenic railway back up to the top. I have done this walk, and it’s not that hard. I would rate it medium difficulty; make sure you wear sturdy shoes.
  • The Giant Stairway – This track takes you out and on to the three sisters themselves. You make your way down the stairs to the bottom of the valley and the Scenic railway. This walk is not suitable for anyone who is not fit. There are full details on Wildwalks’ guide to the Giant Stairway walk . It takes about 20-30 minutes to descend.

Walks starting at Scenic World

  • Katoomba Falls walk (Easy) – This 4km walk begins at Scenic World and takes about 2 hours. You can also start from the Katoomba Falls Kiosk, which saves you some time.

Katoomba Falls

  • Prince Henry Cliff Walk (Easy) – If you begin at Scenic World – this 7 km walk takes about almost 3-4 hours depending on how often you stop, but it is well worth it. The walk features three waterfalls and more than a dozen lookouts over the Jamison Valley. You can also begin at Echo Point to save some time and energy. More details here 

We have shared a dozen easy Blue Mountains walks here

You can do the Blue Mountains in a day, but it’s even better when you take your time

If you plan to stay overnight in the mountains, choosing which pretty village to stay in can be hard. If you do not have a car, then I would recommend Katoomba or Leura. There are lots of shops and restaurants, and the hop-on services stop here. If you are on a budget, Katoomba is the better option. The food is generally cheaper here, and it’s also home to a great Youth Hostel (YHA). Leura is lovely if you are looking for an upmarket getaway. The town is very quaint, has beautiful old homes with lovely gardens, and there is enough to do to keep you busy if you need to be, even without a car. 

There are also some great pubs or and houses further up the mountains in Blackheath if you are making the trip by car.

The Stunning Hydro Majestic

Guest Rating: 8.7/10 | Location: Medlow Bath |  View on Booking.com

The Heritage-listed Hydro Majestic is one of the iconic buildings of the mountains with an exciting past. The hotel, built by department store mogul Mark Foy, opened in 1904 and was made in a mix of Edwardian and Art déco styles and includes a domed roof brought in from Chicago.

Hydro Magestic Hotel Medlow Bath

During World War 2, the hotel was turned into a hospital for US Soldiers. It also played host to Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, saw a performance by Opera Singer Dame Nellie Melba and sadly the death of the country’s first Prime Minister.

Hydro Majestic Hotel Blue Mountains

The hotel has been beautifully restored and has some of the finest views in the mountains. An art déco lover’s paradise, it has a fascinating history and even if you can’t stay the night, you can pop in for a drink, meal or high tea.

Echoes Boutique Hotel in Katoomba

Guest Rating: 8.4/10 | Location: Katoomba  |  View on Booking.com

The views over the mountains from this hotel win me every time. We are partial to boutique hotels because we love the friendly feeling they offer. Echoes is perched on the cliff top over looking the valley at Katoomba and has what has to be one of the best views in the area.

Echoes Boutique Hotel Katoomba

With just 14 rooms and helpful, warm staff Echoes do this well. The rooms here are more spacious than many of the older properties, and the facilities are excellent. I would stay here again in a heartbeat.

The Carrington Hotel in Katoomba

Guest Rating: 8.5/10 | Location: Katoomba  |  View on Booking.com

The Carrington has been an important stop in the Blue Mountains since opening in 1883. This was where wealthy Sydneysiders came to escape the heat of summer.

Carrington Hotel in Katoomba

It was one of the finest hotels in the country and operated for a century before it closed for a long-overdue restoration. A stay here is like stepping back in time and it’s easy to imagine life 100 years ago. It’s well located for travellers arriving by train with the station just minutes away and the bus stops directly outside.

Fairmont Resort and Spa Blue Mountains MGallery by Sofitel

Guest Rating: 8.5/10 | Location: Leura  |  View on Booking.com

A much-loved option for both its facilities and stunning location on the edge of the Jamison Valley. If you prefer resort-style accommodation to smaller old-world properties, you will love the Fairmont. 

blue mountain tour guide

With hiking trails on the hotel doorstep and two swimming pools, a fitness centre, an ice skating rink, a day spa and a tennis court you will find plenty to fill your days while staying here.

The hotel is pet and family-friendly, with 200 rooms of varying styles. Kids can choose from three children’s games rooms. There are five on-site restaurants for when you don’t feel like heading out to one of the nearby villages for dinner.

Blue Mountains YHA

Guest Rating: 8.3/10 | Location: Katoomba  |  View on Booking.com

If funds are tight, you can get great bang for your buck at the well-located Blue Mountains YHA. It is a great budget choice, with a variety of rooms within walking distance of the station and shops for supplies.

YHA Blue Mountains at dusk

Facilities include a pool table, a giant outdoor chess set and a large communal kitchen. The large open fireplace in the common room is a perfect spot to warm up after a long walk on a cold winter’s day. The hostel has 200 beds and both dorms and private rooms. They have also recently opened a coworking space that is really comfortable and open to outside users and guests.

Check our in-depth guide to where to stay in the Blue Mountains to help you choose the best village for your visit.

While Australia has a reputation for dangerous creatures, the Blue Mountains is a safe destination and fine for solo travellers.

Just follow some basic safety rules:

  • Check the weather report and bushfire risk
  • Do not walk alone unless you are on really busy tracks like the Prince Henry Cliff Walk
  • If you are doing an overnight walk, tell some when you expect to return
  • Always take enough water and food with you – an extra muesli bar or two is good!
  • Pack a warm jacket just in case.

You can register your walk with the National Parks and Wildlife service offices in Wentworth Falls, Katoomba or Blackheath.

Want more Blue Mountains ideas? Check these articles

  • 33 Blue Mountains Lookouts
  • 12 Short Blue Mountains walks
  • 50 Things to do in the Blue Mountains
  • Where to Stay in the Blue Mountains
  • Blue Mountains Self-drive itineraries

17 thoughts on “How to Visit the Blue Mountains From Sydney”

Such a great post! My son is obsessed with learning about Australia at the moment. He is really into reptiles and a huge fan of Steve Irwin so Australia is high on our bucket list. We will keep this excellent, comprehensive guide bookmarked for when we eventually make it down under!

Thanks, Sisse I really hope you enjoy it when you get here.

could i do all this and Jenolan caves in 1 day or should i book 2 days? I really want to do waterfalls, caves, little towns and villages, and scenic world

Hi Alison I would definitely book two days to cover Jenolan Caves and the mountains if you want to have time to really see anything.

Hi. Great article. If we are traveling by car where would you recommend staying? We would also like to tour the caves. Are they close?

Thanks Becky If you have a car you could stay in any of the villages. I like Blackheath for the sunrise at Govert’s Leap and Leura is good for night time dining. Lilianfels in Katoomba and the Hydro in Medlow Bath are lovely if you want to splurge.

many thanks for your very helpful article. I planned a trip to the BM with my family – we rented a car, visited the attractions, saved some money and had a great day.

So glad to hear you had a good time!

Thank you so much for your comprehensive and very helpful article. My cousin and I are planning a trip to Sydney in a few months. Your information will save us so much time and research. We appreciate you!

Thanks for letting us know 🙂 We love hearing it’s helpful

Keep an eye out on Eventbrite too, lots of the camera companies host free photo walks. I did one with Samsung and another with Canon that were great.

Wow, very nicely explained. Thank you so much. We are going this weekend and going to follow your instructions and suggestions. Very helpful and informative article. Thanks again!

I hope you have a great time Pooja!

Thanks very much for a very informative article. My partner and I will be visiting Sydney next October and looking forward to making the most of our time there.

This is a really good guide to the Blue Mountains. Glad to have discovered it.

Thanks for this amazing guide. One quick question, How safe is it to take the blue mountain train from Katoomba back to Sydney on a Monday night? We (a couple) want to do a day trip next week and plan on catching the early morning train from Sydney central to Katoomba and then take a night train (9 pm) back to Sydney.

Hi Nalaka, I would feel perfectly safe on a 9pm train. I hope you have a great time! Paula

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Bec's Travel Itinerary

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Blue Mountains 1-Day Itinerary: the complete guide

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In this article, based on my recent visit, I have put together a detailed 1-Day itinerary for visiting the Blue Mountains. If your schedule permits, you can also expand this itinerary into a multi-day holiday with additional walking trails and attractions around the Blue Mountains (as mentioned in the itinerary below).

Tips: The Blue Mountains is one of Sydney’s most popular weekend destinations. To avoid the crowd, try to plan your visit on weekdays and outside of school holidays.

Blue Mountains

How to Get to the Blue Mountains

Since the Blue Mountains National Park is only a 90-minute drive from Sydney , many visitors visit the Blue Mountains by car for convenience. With that said, public transport is also a great option when visiting the Blue Mountains from Sydney.

Visit the Blue Mountains By Car

Katoomba is a major town in the Blue Mountains, and it is also the first stop for many visitors visiting the Blue Mountains National Park. Located 100 kilometres west of Sydney, Katoomba is a 90-minute drive from Sydney CBD via toll roads . If you are trying to avoid using toll roads, it will usually add around 30 minutes in a one-way commute.

Once you have driven past Woodford, the drive tends to get very scenic, with lush green mountain tops and picturesque villages. You may also wish to check out the charming little town of Leura before arriving at the buzzing Katoomba. From Katoomba, most walking tracks and lookouts are typically only a short drive away.

Visit the Blue Mountains by Public Transport

If driving is out of your consideration, you can still easily visit the Blue Mountains from Sydney via public transport.

Blue Mountains Line is a train service between Sydney and the Blue Mountains. It only takes 2 hours for a one-way ride between Sydney Central Station and Katoomba & stops at popular attractions, such as Wentworth Falls, Leura, and Blackheath. With regular departures and extended operating hours, the train service between Sydney and Katoomba is undoubtedly very convenient for people visiting the Blue Mountains.

You can pay for the train rides using an Opal Card or a credit/debit card (contactless payment option required). A train ride between Sydney and Katoomba is currently AUD 9.31 during peak hours & AUD 6.51 off-peak (February 2023). This makes it very affordable to visit the Blue Mountains instead of car hire.

Once you have arrived at Katoomba (or Leura, if preferred), you can take a local bus to popular attractions, such as Echo Point Lookout, Katoomba Falls, and Scenic World.

Blue Mountains

Where to Park in the Blue Mountains

Since Echo Point Lookout is undoubtedly the most famous and popular attraction in the Blue Mountains, parking at Echo Point Lookout comes at a cost. I remember it was around AUD 4 per hour to park at Echo Point Lookout when I visited. Free off-street parking was available on nearby side streets, but most have a time limit. If you are only planning to visit the lookout, it should be fine, but if you are considering a hike from Echo Point, you may need to find an alternative parking option.

From my experience, the best parking option was at Scenic World , where I found plenty of suitable free parking spots. The only thing to note is this car park closes at 7 pm daily, so you will need to make sure your car is out of the gate before 7 pm.

Alternatively, you can also find free parking spots at Katoomba Falls Reserve . It is also within walking distance of Echo Point Lookout, Katoomba Falls, Scenic World, and various walking tracks.

Where to Stay in the Blue Mountains

Katoomba Cascades

Scenic World Discovery Pass

The cost of a Scenic World Discovery Pass is AUD 49.9 per adult (February 2023). You can take these rides as many times as you wish throughout the day. It is an excellent addition to a scenic trip to the Blue Mountains & can also save you some walking time between certain attractions.

My favourite part of using the Scenic World Discovery Pass is taking the Scenic Skywalk across Jamison Valley. It provides a breathtaking panoramic view of the lush green rainforest and sandstone cliff face of the Blue Mountains . It also offers a full view of the cascading Katoomba Falls , which is only visible via Scenic Skyway or helicopter rides. This view of Katoomba Falls alone is already well worth the cost of a Discovery Pass.

Since I visited the Blue Mountains with a Scenic World Discovery Pass, this Blue Mountains day trip itinerary will include the use of the Scenic Walkway, Railway, and Cableway. If you are not interested in obtaining a Discovery Pass, you can also reach all the attractions on this itinerary by walking or by car.

Katoomba

Blue Mountains 1-Day Itinerary

To get the most out of your Blue Mountains day trip, leave Sydney early in the morning so you can have more time to explore the Blue Mountains. If possible, try to leave Sydney before 7 am . This is especially true if you are driving to the Blue Mountains.

Katoomba is a charming country town located in the heart of the Blue Mountains. It is also only a short drive away from many Blue Mountains landmarks , such as Echo Point Lookout, Katoomba Falls, and Wentworth Falls.

As the largest township in the Blue Mountains and a busy tourist town, you can find a range of shops and restaurants in Katoomba, especially along its buzzing main street, Katoomba Street. There are also a few interesting antique stores along Katoomba Street, which can be great fun to check out.

With many delicious bakeries and cafes along Katoomba Street, make sure you grab a coffee and a bite in Katoomba before heading into Blue Mountain National Park. You can also find Coles, Woolworths, and ALDI here in Katoomba if you need to stock up on water and snacks before the hike.

Scenic World

Scenic World is not an attraction but a vital transiting hub when visiting the Blue Mountains with a Scenic World Discovery Pass. Although a Scenic World Discovery Pass is optional when visiting the Blue Mountains, I highly recommend it to any first-time visitors.

Scenic World makes a great spot to park your car before exploring the surrounding walking tracks. It is also an excellent place to recharge after a long hike with its well-maintained amenity rooms and cafe . Storage lockers are available at Scenic World, which can be handy if you want to offload some baggage before your hike.

Within Scenic World, visitors can find a couple of lookout platforms overlooking the beautiful Jamison Valley. Make sure you check them out as well when in Scenic World.

Katoomba Falls

Cliff View Lookout

From Scenic World, you will board Australia’s highest cable car, Scenic Skyway , to glide over the stunning Jamison Valley to reach Cliff View Lookout, on the opposite side of Jamison Valley.

Scenic Skyway is a 720 metres journey across Jamison Valley. It provides an unparalleled panoramic view of the lush green Jamison Valley, the sheer cliffs of Mount Solitary, the steep cascading Katoomba Falls, and the Blue Mountains’ most famous landmark, Three Sisters Rock . Hanging at 270 metres in the sky, you can also admire Jamison Valley’s rainforest canopy through Scenic Skyway’s glass cabin floor .

A oneway ride along the Scenic Skyway only takes around 5 minutes , but you can take the ride back and forth as many times throughout the day with your Discovery Pass. The Scenic Skyway is also wheelchair and pram accessible , so it can be an excellent option for everyone to gain a breathtaking view of the Blue Mountains’ best landmarks.

Once you have arrived at Scenic Skyway’s East Station, Cliff View Lookout will be easily located just beneath the station platform. If you are visiting without a Scenic World Discovery Pass, you can walk over to Cliff View Lookout from the Scenic World via Prince Henry Cliff Walk . Along this walk, you can also find some platforms overlooking Jamison Valley (covered later in this article). This walk takes about 20 to 30 minutes, depending on your fitness level.

Located just below the Skyway station building, Cliff View Lookout offers another peak of the Jamison Valley and a great lookout platform to watch the Scenic Skyway gliding through Jamison Valley. From Cliff Point Lookout west, you can follow Prince Henry Cliff Walk to visit Katoomba Falls up close and back to Scenic World. From Cliff Point Lookout east, you can follow Prince Henry Cliff Walk to visit Echo Point Lookout and beyond.

For this itinerary, we will head east along Prince Henry Cliff Walk from Cliff Point Lookout to check out the views at Lady Darley’s Lookout before arriving at the famous Echo Point Lookout . This walk will likely take around 20 to 30 minutes, depending on fitness level.

Echo Point Lookout

Echo Point Lookout

Echo Point Lookout is the most famous and popular vantage point in the Blue Mountains. It is not hard to tell why.

From Echo Point Lookout, you will have an unobstructed view of the expansive Jamison Valley and beyond, with the iconic Three Sisters Rock nestled on your left. The views from here are simply awe-inspiring and mesmerising. It is undoubtedly a must-visit spot in the Blue Mountains.

Since Echo Point Lookout is often populated with visitors, it can get crowded during peak visiting hours. However, there is another lookout only a few minutes east, Spooner Lookout . It can be accessed from just behind the visitor centre & can be a great alternative if you are after a more private view.

Echo Point Lookout is the starting point of various walking tracks. You can continue along Prince Henry Cliff Walk to check out Leura Cascade or head down the Giant Stairway for a selection of walking trails within Jamison Valley.

For this itinerary, we will head down to the Giant Stairway to admire the Three Sisters up close and explore the Jamison Valley through its beautiful walking trails . Make sure you use the restrooms at Echo Point Lookout before continuing with this itinerary, as it will be the last one you see before arriving at Katoomba Falls Reserve or Scenic World.

Three Sisters

Three Sisters

From Echo Point Lookout, there is a short 10-15 minute track, the Three Sisters Walk , for visitors to get an intimate view of the Three Sisters at Honeymoon Bridge. Although not a flat walk and with some stairs towards the end, the Three Sisters Walk is relatively easy and should be suited to most visitors .

The Three Sisters are three adjacent towering sandstone formations standing above 900 metres tall in the beautiful Jamison Valley. Apart from how spectacular they appear, they are also significant to the local Aboriginal culture.

Honeymoon Bridge is a wooden bridge connecting the end of Three Sisters Walk to the first of the Three Sisters for a unique view of these iconic sandstone formations . However, due to natural erosion and overuse, access to the Three Sisters via Honeymoon Bridge was already closed when I visited in October 2022. With that said, the views of the Three Sisters were still quite impressive, even without getting onto the bridge. I highly suggest you check it out as well.

Jamison Valley

Giant Stairway

From Honeymoon Bridge, we will continue our descent to the floor of Jamison Valley via the Giant Stairway.

The Giant Stairway is a set of over 900 metal and stone steps carved into a rocky cliff face , connecting the Three Sisters Walk to the floor of Jamison Valley. Along the sharp descent of Giant Stairway, you can also obtain some spectacular views of the Three Sisters and the impressive Jamison Valley .

Although named the Giant Stairway, the steps along this walk are certainly not giant in width. These steps are very narrow, making them very difficult to climb . Since the Giant Stairway was initially completed almost 100 years ago, some stone steps have gotten quite slippery, especially when wet , making them even harder to climb. So make sure you are wearing the correct attire on this day trip.

With that said, the Giant Stairway is easier to climb than many people might have thought . As long as you don’t have many health issues affecting your mobility or exercise tolerance, most visitors should be ok. Just make sure you take as many breaks as needed to recuperate.

For me, a one-way descending walk only took about 25 minutes , with breaks here and there. I did not head back up from the same route, but it definitely will be harder to climb back up to Echo Point from the base of the Giant Stairway. FYI: I’m female with an average fitness level.

Federal Pass

Federal Pass

From the base of the Giant Stairway, you can then join the Federal Pass to head back to Scenic World. For many people, this track is also a great way out of the misery of climbing back up via the Giant Stairway .

Federal Pass is a relatively easy track, tucked at the base of the Three Sisters and the rocky cliffs along Jamison Valley. With winding creeks and beautiful waterfalls along the walk, it is a very scenic break after your sharp descent via the Giant Stairway.

Towards the last 10-15 minutes walk along Federal Pass, you will cross a metal bridge located at the base of Katoomba Falls . Since Katoomba Falls is a multi-tiered waterfall, you will not be able to view the entire fall from this angle, but it is still a beautiful place to take a quick break to admire this nature’s masterpiece.

Not long after you have walked past Katoomba Falls, you will come to an intersection where you can decide if you wish to hike back up to Scenic Skyway East Station by walking up Furber Steps or head over to Scenic World Railway Station at the base of Jamison Valley .

For people opposed to climbing up another set of stairs, taking the short walk to Scenic World Railway Station can be your best bet. From Scenic World Railway Station, you can either take the world’s steepest passenger train back to Scenic World or check out the Scenic Walkway before taking a Scenic Cableway back to Scenic World. The walk along Federal Pass between the base of the Giant Stairway and Scenic World Railway Bottom Station only takes less than 1 hour , in my experience, and it should be well-tolerated by most visitors.

If you still have some energy left, I highly suggest taking Furber Steps to head back to Scenic World instead. Furber Steps is a set of 900-plus steps connecting the floor of Jamison Valley to Round Walk and Prince Henry Cliff Walk along the clifftop. Although it will be a heart-pumping climb, you will find many breathtaking vantage points along the walk to view the mesmerising Katoomba Falls and Jamison Valley.

For this itinerary, we will take the scenic walk along Furber Steps to Katoomba Cascades and Scenic Skyway East Station before taking the Skyway back to Scenic World.

Katoomba Falls

Katoomba Falls

Katoomba Falls is a picturesque cascading waterfall between Echo Point and Scenic World. It starts from the beautiful Katoomba Cascades before plunging deep into Jamison Valley and becoming a majestic waterfall.

During your walk along Furber Steps , there will be various lookouts to view Katoomba Falls from many angles. Along the clifftop, you can also obtain a bird’s eye view of Katoomba Falls via different lookouts along Round Walk and Prince Henry Cliff Walk . However, due to its long drop, it is impossible to get a full view of Katoomba Falls on land, so be sure to check out the spectacular view of Katoomba Falls during your ride along the Scenic Skyway .

With that said, the various lookouts along the clifftop are still worth checking out for a different perspective of the Katoomba Falls and Jamison Valley. Make sure you also check out the beautiful Katoomba Cascades along Prince Henry Cliff Walk .

Scenic Walkway

Scenic Walkway

After returning to Scenic World via Scenic Skyway, we will take full advantage of the Scenic World Discovery Pass to check out the exclusive Scenic Walkway.

Scenic Walkway is an elevated boardwalk in a moss-covered rainforest on the floor of Jamison Valley , between the bottom station of Scenic Railway and Scenic Cableway. Home to a range of ancient native flora and fauna, this flat boardwalk makes a perfect stroll for all ages to enjoy.

Among the different walking tracks on Scenic Walkway, you can spend as little as 10 minutes or up to 1 hour along the Scenic Walkway. Make sure you have used the restrooms at Scenic World before heading down via either Scenic Railway or Scenic Cableway, as there are no restroom facilities within the valley .

Since both Scenic Railway and Scenic Cableway can take you between Scenic World and Scenic Skywalk, it is up to you to decide how to get to and from the Scenic Walkway. I suggest heading down to Scenic Walkway via the Scenic Railway, for some adrenaline kick, before catching Scenic Cableway to ascend back to Scenic World with a thrilling view of the Orphan Rock .

Leura Mall

Leura is one of the most beautiful townships in the Blue Mountains. Located just outside the Blue Mountains National Park and adjacent to Katoomba, Leura is a convenient spot to stop by & grab a bite after a long hike within the national park.

Leura is home to a range of delightful cool-climate gardens , which are even more stunning during the Spring months . Its main street, Leura Mall , is super picturesque, with a middle strip lined with beautiful cherry trees, which come to full blooms around mid-September and early October each year.

Along Leura Mall, you can locate a range of popular eateries offering numerous fabulous food options. There are also a few interesting boutique shops along Leura Mall for visitors to enjoy some retail therapy after a long hike.

Not far from Leura Mall, visitors can enjoy some impressive views of Jamison Valley via various lookouts along the Prince Henry Cliff Walk. A range of walking tracks is also available near Leura, such as the Pool of Siloam. These lookouts and walking trails will make an excellent itinerary if you have an additional day to explore the Blue Mountains.

Wentworth Falls Lookout

Wentworth Falls

Wentworth Falls is a spectacular 3-tiered waterfall with a drop of 187 metres . It is a short drive from Katoomba & can be easily accessed by bus from Katoomba or Leura.

Right next to the parking lot for Wentworth Falls, visitors can easily find an impressive lookout platform, Jamison Lookout , offering a breathtaking view of the expansive Jamison Valley and Mount Solitary. Just a short 5-minute walk along a flat paved footpath from Jamison Lookout, you will find another superb lookout, Wentworth Falls Lookout , for a magnificent view of Wentworth Falls.

If interested, make sure you follow one of the walking tracks near the car park to check out Wentworth Falls up close.

For the best views, I recommend you check out Fletchers Lookout , a cliff-edge lookout with a good view of Wentworth Falls from above. A return walk between the car park and Fletchers Lookouts takes about 40 minutes on average.

If you prefer a shorter and easier walk, try to check out Princes Rock Lookout instead. With an easy 20-minute return walk from the car park, you can obtain a full view of the spectacular Wentworth Falls at the Princes Rock Lookout.

Longer and more challenging walks are available around Wentworth Falls if you have enough time and are up for the challenge. But you will likely need another day in the Blue Mountains to complete these walks.

Echo Point Lookout

Alternative Blue Mountains Day Trip Options

The Blue Mountains is home to many walking tracks and scenic lookouts. Visitors can also find numerous unique restaurants and cafes within the Blue Mountains. Hence, there is something for everyone to enjoy in the Blue Mountains.

Another alternative is to join a Guided Blue Mountains Tour , so you can pick the trip you prefer and let someone else organise everything for you. Here is a list of these tours, which you may find interesting.

  • For a Guided Blue Mountains Tour to see all its highlights: Blue Mountains Ultimate One-Day Tour .
  • Enjoy a Private Guided Tour of the Blue Mountains : Private Blue Mountains and Wildlife Park Tour .
  • Explore the Blue Mountains with a Mountain Bike : Blue Labyrinth Tour .
  • Enjoy food, wine, and beer tastings in the Blue Mountains: Blue Mountains Local Produce Tasting Experience .
  • Learn local Aboriginal culture while exploring the highlights of the Blue Mountains: Blue Mountains Tour from Sydney with an Aboriginal Experience .
  • Marvel at the Blue Mountains’ spectacular sky after dark : Stargazing with an Astrophysicist in the Blue Mountains .

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