Blue Mountains (Australia)

A World Heritage mountain range west of Sydney where eucalyptus oil haze tints the valleys blue; see the Three Sisters from Echo Point, then take a steep railway down into the valley to hike.

The Blue Mountains lie about 100 km west of Sydney, within the City of Blue Mountains in New South Wales, and form the core of the Greater Blue Mountains Area World Heritage site. The range is in fact a dissected sandstone plateau. Oil vapor released by eucalyptus trees scatters sunlight into a blue haze, which is why the valleys look blue. Along the Great Western Highway and railway line lie small towns such as Wentworth Falls, Leura, Katoomba and Blackheath.

Main areas: in Katoomba, Echo Point for the Three Sisters, and Scenic World, where you can ride the steep Scenic Railway and the Skyway cable car down into the Jamison Valley. In Leura, have afternoon tea and see the Leura Cascades. At Wentworth Falls, walk the National Pass and the cliff-top track, and watch the sunset at Lincoln's Rock. In the north, Blackheath has the Govetts Leap lookout, Pulpit Rock, and the Grand Canyon track, which overlooks the Grose Valley. With more time, ride horses in the Megalong Valley, visit the Mount Tomah Botanic Garden, or hike down into the valley to Ruined Castle rock.

Seasons: September–November brings spring flowers, and March–May autumn foliage; the weather is ideal for hiking. Summer (December–February) is cooler than Sydney but carries bushfire risk, and trails are often temporarily closed. Winter (June–August) is cold, with occasional snowfall.

Getting there: take the Blue Mountains Line train from Central Station in Sydney for about 2 hours to Katoomba. An Opal card can be used, and weekend and holiday fare caps make travel cheap. Between towns, take bus route 686 or the Blue Mountains sightseeing bus. Plan 1–2 days; staying a night lets you catch the sunrise above the clouds. Mountain weather changes quickly, so bring a jacket and rain gear, and check the NSW National Parks website for track closures before setting out.

Top sights

Where to eat

Itineraries