Planning a Trip

Visitor Information

You can pick up maps, walking guides, and other information and book accommodations at Blue Mountains Tourism, Echo Point Road, Katoomba, NSW 2780 (tel. 1300/653 408 in Australia, or 02/4739 6266). The information center is an attraction itself, with glass windows overlooking a gum forest, and cockatoos and lorikeets feeding on seed dispensers. It's open from 9am to 5pm daily (the office at Glenbrook closes at 4:30pm Sat-Sun).

The National Park Shop, Heritage Centre, end of Govetts Leap Road, Blackheath (tel. 02/4787 8877; www.npws.nsw.gov.au), is run by the National Parks and Wildlife Service and offers detailed information about the Blue Mountains National Park. The staff can also arrange personalized guided tours of the mountains. It's open daily from 9am to 4:30pm (closed Dec 25).

Check the great website www.bluemts.com.au for more information on the area, including bushwalks.

Timing Is Everything: When to Visit

If you can, try to visit the Blue Mountains on weekdays, when most Sydneysiders are at work and prices are lower. Note that the colder winter months (June-Aug) are the busiest season. This period is known as Yuletide -- the locals' version of the Christmas period, when most places offer traditional Christmas dinners and roaring log fires. It's kind of, almost, just nearly, authentic. But it's fun if a year between Christmases is just a little too long.

Guided Tours From Sydney

Many private bus operators offer day trips from Sydney, but it's important to shop around. Some offer a guided coach tour, during which, you just stretch your legs occasionally; while others let you get your circulation going with a couple of longish bushwalks. One highly recommended operator is Oz Trek Adventure Tours (tel. 1300/661 234 in Australia, or 02/9666 4262; www.oztrek.com.au). Its trips include a tour of the Sydney Olympic site, tours of all the major Blue Mountain sites, and a 1 1/2-hour bushwalk. It costs A$55 (US$49/£25) for adults and A$44 (US$39/£20) for kids. You can add overnight packages, horseback riding, and abseiling.

Sydney Tours-R-Us (tel. 02/9498 4084; www.sydneytoursrus.com) runs minicoaches to the Blue Mountains, stopping off at the Telstra Stadium (where the Sydney Olympics were held) and Featherdale Wildlife Park. Then you see all the major sights in the mountains and come home via ferry from Parramatta to Circular Quay. The trip costs A$93 (US$84/£42) for adults and A$65 (US$58/£29) for kids. It's a big 10-hour day.

Wonderbus (tel. 1300/556 357 in Australia, or 02/9630 0529; www.wonderbus.com.au) offers an exceptional tour to the Blue Mountains for A$87 (US$78/£39) for adults and A$65 (US$58/£29) for kids, including all entry fees and lunch. You also come back by ferry.

Grayline (tel. 1300/858 687 in Australia; www.grayline.com) offers several Blue Mountains trips in large coaches from A$78 (US$70/£35). A combined Blue Mountains/Jenolan Caves trip costs A$129 (US$116/£58) for adults and A$65 (US$58/£29) for kids. If you hate big-group travel, choose another option. It's also a huge 11-hour day.