This post may contain affiliate links. Please see my disclosure policy for more details.
With rushing waterfalls and sandstone cliffs jutting out of an undulating carpet of eucalyptus trees, the stunning Blue Mountains should be on any Sydney visitor’s must-see list. This Blue Mountains day trip itinerary by train includes all the top attractions that you can reach with or without a car.
The journey from Sydney to the Blue Mountains only takes two hours by train. Once you arrive, you can easily travel around by train, bus or on foot.
This blog post will outline an easy-to-follow Blue Mountains day trip itinerary that includes three historic villages, the famous Three Sisters rock formation and a choice of bush walks to admire beautiful forests and waterfalls.
You can also watch my Blue Mountains vlog on YouTube!
1. Katoomba Town
The first stop on this Blue Mountains day trip itinerary is Katoomba, probably the most well-known town in the Blue Mountains. Katoomba is the ideal place to base yourself if you fancy a weekend trip from Sydney.
On arrival, head south from the train station down Katoomba Street and marvel at the little art galleries and olde worlde shops playing music from a bygone era.
If you need a quick pick-me-up, stop for a coffee at the cosy Yellow Deli Café, and be sure to swing a left down Waratah St to check out the colourful street art along Beverly Place.
2. Echo Point
Save time and hop on the 686 bus on Waratah Street to Echo Point, where you’ll find a visitors’ centre, toilets and a lookout to the very famous Three Sisters rock formation, which according to Aboriginal legend represents three sisters turned to stone.
Note that it gets very busy at Echo Point and tourist buses flock here. So you may find yourself getting jabbed in the eye by selfie sticks and visors!
Don’t expect to enjoy Echo Point in solitude! It’s one of the most well-known Blue Mountains lookouts.
If it’s lunchtime already, consider enjoying a in nearby Lilianfels Park off Echo Point Road and Panorama Drive. You can also take the short walk down to the Three Sisters and stand inside one of them!
3. Leura Village
Hop on the 686 bus at Echo Point back up to Katoomba Station. From there it’s a three-minute train ride to Leura, a gorgeous, quaint little village that I fell instantly in love with, and the second stop on your itinerary.
Take some time to explore the cute, independent boutiques and arty homeware stores along Leura Mall, a refreshing change from the chain stores of Sydney CBD.
My favourite was the colourful and quirky Maharani Boutique on Strand Arcade, where the décor alone is worth having a peek at. If you do want to pick up a cheap lunch try the famous Bakehouse on Wentworth, which has pies and pasties starting from about $4.50.
4. Wentworth Falls
From Megalong Street in Leura you can jump on the 685 bus for the 12-minute journey to the corner of Fletcher Street and Falls Road in Wentworth Falls.
Walk a few minutes south down Falls Road and you’ll come to Wentworth Falls Picnic Area on Sir H Burrell Drive, another pleasant picnic spot if you haven’t eaten already.
Wentworth Falls is a top location for Blue Mountains walks. Choose a walk of your desired distance from the map on the large information board near Jamison Lookout.
I headed down to the Den Fenella Lookout and had the whole track to myself!
Once you’re all walked out just hop back on the 685 bus on Fletcher Street to Wentworth Falls station, where you’ll find another little village centre along Station St. From here you can catch the train directly back to Sydney and rest your weary feet!
Next, check out my post on the best day trips from Sydney, or browse my recommended holiday destinations in New South Wales. Happy travels!
Lisa Bull, founder of Dreaming of Down Under, has been living in Australia as a British expat since 2015. After travelling to every state and territory in Australia and living in Perth, Brisbane and Sydney, Lisa knows from first-hand experience the best destinations to visit in Australia and the best budget travel tips. Her guides on this blog have been read by over 700k readers and helped thousands of people achieve their dream of living in or travelling Australia.
