Must do
Fast facts
- Grand sandstone plateau, valleys and heathlands
- Famous for its one million hectares of World Heritage-listed landscape
- 90 minutes’ drive west of Sydney
Why go there
Once you’ve experienced the spectacular blue-hazed beauty, dramatic cliffs and deep canyons of the Blue Mountains, you’ll come away refreshed and invigorated.
While bushwalking in this wilderness area is a favourite pastime, the region is also famous for its heritage-listed guesthouses and luxurious resorts that offer spa treatments, natural therapies and great dining experiences.
A string of townships form a vibrant cultural community where artists, musicians and writers flourish.
Things to do
- Bushwalk in the Blue Mountains World Heritage Area.
- Abseil in the Wollemi National Park.
- Enjoy great coffee at one of the cosy cafés in Katoomba or Leura.
- Be inspired by the spectacular Three Sisters at Katoomba’s Echo Point.
- Ride a horse through the Megalong Valley.
Don’t miss
- The Edge, Katoomba, a film showcasing the region, shown on a six-storey screen.
- The Zig Zag Railway, a vintage steam train that runs from Bell to Lithgow.
- One of the world’s oldest and rarest plants, the Wollemi Pine, at Mount Tomah Botanic Gardens, Mount Tomah.
- Katoomba’s Scenic Skywalk, a glass-bottomed carriage that glides 270 m above the valley.
- A guided tour of the limestone Jenolan Caves, near Lithgow, a favourite destination of travellers for more than a century.
Events
- Oberon Show in February.
- Ironfest at Lithgow in April.
- Blue Mountains Music Festival of Folk, Roots and Blues at Katoomba, in March.
- Leura Garden Festival from September to October.
- Oberon Daffodil Festival from September to October.
- Jenolan Caves Concerts held monthly in the Lucas Cave.
