How to Get to the Blue Mountains

Traveling to the Blue Mountains by Train

Purchase an Opal card or single-use train ticket. Opal cards are reloadable and allow you to conveniently pay for travel on public transportation in Sydney and the surrounding areas. You can also purchase a single-use train ticket, but you will generally pay a higher fare if you purchase a single ticket. You can purchase an Opal card at convenience stores, newsagents, and train stations throughout Sydney, or online. Check Sydney’s public transportation website for specific locations of Opal vendors. There is no charge for the Opal card itself, but you must place a minimum value of $10 on the card upon purchase.

Take the Blue Mountains Line from Sydney Central Station. Sydney Central Station is located at Haymarket NSW 2000 and offers regular train service to the Blue Mountains. Check indicator screens throughout the station to find which platform the Blue Mountains Line is servicing. Train fares are calculated based on time of day and distance, but you can expect the train ride from Sydney to the Blue Mountains to cost you around $6. It will generally take around 2 hours to reach the Blue Mountains from Sydney by train. Expect to see some stunning views on your ride! To catch the best views, make sure to sit on the top-left side of the train deck!

Choose a destination city within the Blue Mountains. Your train will stop in several different cities within the Blue Mountains such as Wentworth Falls, Leura, and Katoomba. Decide where you’d like to hop off the train and start exploring! Each city has unique things to offer. Wentworth Falls offers a stunning waterfall view that you can access via a walking trail from the train station called “Darwin’s walk.” A short bus ride or walk from Katoomba station will lead you to an iconic lookout and rock formation known as the Three Sisters. You can easily travel between cities within the Blue Mountains on public buses, the train, or hop-on-hop-off bus services.

Getting to the Blue Mountains by Car

Rent a car if you want to travel to more remote locations. If you don’t already have access to a car, you can ‘hire a car’ (as the locals say) through a website or by visiting a car rental store. The Sydney airport hosts several different car rental companies. You can reach the Blue Mountains in about 1 hour and 40 minutes by car from Sydney. Traveling to the Blue Mountains by car is a great option if you are interested in visiting more remote areas that are not easily accessible by public transportation. Travel websites such as Hotwire run aggregated searches of many car companies and can help you find the best rate. You can expect to pay around $30 per day (not including insurance) for an economy car rental. Though it might be more expensive, you can also hire a taxi to take you to the Blue Mountains if you'd rather not drive yourself. Check Sydney's public transportation website for information regarding taxi fares.

Familiarize yourself with Australian driving regulations. Each country has different driving rules so you should make sure to research and follow the driving regulations specific to Australia before setting out on your drive. Many rental car companies offer free road rules quizzes to help you learn. Ask when you pick up your rental car whether the company has any resources to assist you. Keep in mind that you’ll need to drive on the left side of the street and that the steering wheel will be located on the right side of the car. Road speed signs will be indicated in kilometers so keep a conversion chart handy! For example, 100km equals 62 mph.

Map your route in advance in case you lose your GPS signal. Use an atlas or online mapping tool to chart your driving route before you begin the journey. Make sure to print and bring the map with you on your drive. Cellular phone service may be limited in parts of the Blue Mountains so you won’t be able to rely solely on GPS functioning for directions. The most direct way to reach the foothills of the Blue Mountains is by taking the A4 motorway westward from Sydney to the M4 in Strathfield. The M4 will lead to the Great Western Highway/A32, which will take you through the mountains passing towns such as Wentworth Falls and Katoomba. While driving make sure to look out for large animals such as livestock and kangaroos, which frequently cross the road in the early morning and late evening.

Locate parking locations ahead of time. Look for signs along the Great Western Highway for the Blue Mountains National Park. The park offers several parking locations that are conveniently located near scenic overlooks and hiking trails. Parking and entry fees vary by specific location. For example, there is an $8 fee per vehicle, per day for attractions in the Glenbrook area. Check the Blue Mountains National Park website for parking maps and fee information. The park offers facilities where travelers can access wireless internet, restrooms, food, and electric power.

Taking a Tour Bus to the Blue Mountains

Look up tours online if you want a pre-planned trip. Consult Sydney travel websites to locate a tour bus schedule that fits your travel plans. Tour bus companies, also referred to as coach buses, offer day trips from Sydney to the Blue Mountains for a set fee. Traveling by tour or coach bus could be a good option if you would rather leave the planning details to someone else, as tour companies will research and organize a set itinerary for your trip. Check websites such as getyourguide.com for popular tour options and prices. Organized tours to the Blue Mountains typically last between 9-10 hours, generally departing Sydney around 8:30 AM and return around 6 PM. While the price may vary depending on the time of year you visit, organized day tours from Sydney to the Blue Mountains will generally cost around $100.

Compare tour activities and choose the one that looks most interesting to you. Consider whether you'd prefer to spend your day in the mountains hiking, surveying local wildlife, or learning about the region's history. In addition to transportation, the tour cost includes activities during your stay in the Blue Mountains. Companies offer a range of different tour activities to meet many interests. If you have trouble walking for long distances, consider choosing a tour that contains limited hiking. Some tours include skyway tours, which offer stunning views from the convenience of a moving cable car suspended in the air. Keep in mind that some tours include lunch and others do not. Check the tour information online and plan to bring your own snacks and water if necessary.

Locate the tour bus departure. Tour buses depart from a few centralized locations within Sydney, so you'll need to check with your tour company for your specific departure location. Tour buses often leave from major hotels or from Sydney's Circular Quay. Purchase an Opal card for convenient travel on Sydney's public transportation system to your tour bus departure location. Opal cards are sold at many retail locations such as convenience stores located throughout the city. Consult Sydney's public transit website for local train maps and ticket information.