A Blue Mountains Day Trip Adventure

There is no shortage of tour operators yearning to take you from Sydney to the Blue Mountains when you are visiting. However, most do not cater to young families, or those seeking more time outdoors than in a van. We compiled a hiking-focused, self-guided, no car-required itinerary for anyone looking to enjoy the areas natural splendor on a self-guided Blue Mountains Day Trip. We go at our own pace and suggest you do too.

Blue Mountains Day Trip Itinerary

Note: Our times are a rough guide based on our previous Blue Mountains day trip experiences, but keep in mind that we stop often for photos, snack breaks, and to let CZ shake out her legs. Our preferred hiking path is the Prince Henry Cliff Walk, and we like to walk it backwards, from Leura to Katoomba.  Leura is a small mountain town, with loads of charm while Katoomba is touristy but with many more dining options. The hike is well signed and traveled (during the summer), so you shouldn’t worry about getting lost in the woods.

Schedule:

7:22am – We like to get an early start, so we catch the Central to Blacktown train on the Blue Mountain Line from Central Station.

9:30am – Disembark at Leura Station, and head straight for Wisteria Place Cafe on Megalong St. Walk south, towards the main strip of shops, and turn left on Megalong. The cafe shares the parking lot with Woolies, and can get very crowded on the weekends; you may want to call ahead for a booking. Enjoy a delicious cup of coffee and a filling breakfast to fuel up for your hike!

10:30am – Take a few minutes to poke around the shops around Leura Mall. There are several boutiques, antique shops, an olde time candy store, and a Woolies. If you didn’t pack lunch at home, now’s the time to grab provisions and extra water. If you find yourself caught on a rainy day like us, they have kids ponchos and garden trash bags that make good adult ponchos in a pinch.

11:00am – Start your trek by heading south (away from the station) along Leura Mall road, and turn left onto Gordon Rd, which curves right, becoming Lone Pine Ave, and there is a park on the left. At the end of the park’s carpark there is a trail entrance that will take you down to your first stop, Gordon Falls Lookout.

11:20am – Walk down to view Gordon Falls from the lookout, and then start your trek of the Prince Henry Cliff Walk toward Leura Cascades. The total hike is estimated to take 3.5 hours if you go to Scenic World, but there is an option to finish at Echo Point.

12:30pm – Our pace usually puts us about 2/3rds of the way to Leura Cascades, when we stop for a trail-side lunch, and to let CZ do some hiking of her own.

1:30pm – Arrive at the turn-off to go left, following the stream to the bottom of Leura Cascades. Investigate some of the little viewing points at various points down the cascades for photos. After taking a few photos, we went down to the base of the cascades and setup the gorillapod under a small, cave-like rock overhang.  It’s a great place to setup a any type of tripod, but watch for water dripping from the ceiling.

2:30pm – Take the trail all the way up to Cliff Dr by Kiah Lookout, and walk 100m or so to the left to drop back into the trail. The Solitary Restaurant is across the street, and might be a suitable lunch spot, if you prefer not to picnic. From this point, it is about 2.5km on the final leg to Echo Point and the Three Sisters.
3:30pm – Three Sisters will likely be packed with heaps of tourists and selfie sticks, but it easy to see why.  We seem to catch the fog when we visit so we have yet to see all three, but even in the fog, the view is pretty epic. There are stairs down to the Honeymoon Bridge and base of the Three Sisters from the viewing platform, if you want to add another 45 minutes to your hike.

3:45pm – Decision time: you can grab a bus from Echo Point into Katoomba, which is what we did, or continue the Prince Henry Cliff Walk for 2km to finish at Scenic World.  This section of trail is definitely worth the hike, but we like to get CZ home for bed before she turns into a pumpkin.  Either way, you will take the 686 bus from Echo Point to your chosen destination. Check the bus schedule and keep in mind that currently the last bus from Scenic World to Katoomba is at 5:15pm.

4:20pm – Arrive in Katoomba, and decide on dinner. Most places are open from 11-8 in the summer, so you should have plenty of early dining options. As you get closer to the station, the restaurants will be a bit busier, so make a booking if you have your heart set on a particular place.

We opted for the  Sanwiye Korean restaurant, and our food was incredible.  JZ and I ordered the Bulgogi beef, which was spicy and delicious.  CZ had a Jijimi vegetable pancake that was very flavorful, but a little more messy than anticipated.  During peak times, I wouldn’t consider the restaurant family-friendly (they didn’t have high chairs) but the staff were all very friendly and accommodating.

5:26pm (or 6:26pm if you don’t have to get a child to bed) – The hourly train departs from Katoomba, double check the time before you go, just in case.  Most people will arrive at the platform right on time, but we recommend getting there 10-15 minutes early. The station has restrooms, and plenty to see around the station itself, murals, gardens, and a skatepark across the track. Make your way towards the far end of the platform from the entrance, because the train should span the whole platform. The back of the train has less chaos during boarding, and likely more room/better seat selection.  The trains usually have several quiet cars that you may prefer, or need to avoid, if you bring little ones like we do.

We love this adventure, and it is all the more satisfying on Sundays because all of the transport is $5 for the whole family using Opal cards.