Blue Mountains
Dramatic beauty close to Sydney
Rising to the west of Sydney, the World Heritage-listed Blue Mountains offer epic natural beauty close to the city. Striking sandstone outcrops loom over densely forested valleys.
While many tackle the Blue Mountains as a day trip from Sydney, consider staying a few nights, taking in their magnificence from Scenic World, hiking the area’s plethora of walking trails, and pottering around its string of atmospheric, plateau-hugging towns. Among these are Leura and Katoomba, with enough snug cafes, restaurants, galleries and gardens to fill a few restorative days.
The regional tourist office maintains a list of hiking trails.
The base of the Blue Mountains is around 60km west of central Sydney.
Car: From Sydney, the fastest route is on the M4, tolled between Ashfield and Parramatta. The M4 becomes the Great Western Hwy (A32), which leads into the Blue Mountains.
Train: Commuter trains run frequently from Central Station in Sydney to towns in the Blue Mountains, including Leura and Katoomba. See here for timetables.