Mountain Activities

The Blue Mountains Explorer Bus, otherwise known as the iconic London double-decker bus, is a must for all travellers and tourists.  The Explorer Bus allows you the flexibility to plan your day according to your interests. Operating on a regular basis from Katoomba Railway Station, with thirty minute frequencies throughout most of the day, the full day pass has no restrictions. Hop on and hop off as you please. This means you can plan your day around the all the major attractions on offer in the region.  An Explorer Bus Guide Book is issued with every ticket purchased.  Hop on Hop Off at 29 Stops around Leura & Katoomba.

The Trolley Tours operates an hourly hop on and hop off service 7 days a week that takes you to 29 GREAT ATTRACTIONS located in KATOOMBA and LEURA, allowing you to experience the best of what this fabulous world heritage area has to offer in a fun and informative way. We also operate a Trolley Shuttle Service between Scenic World and the Edge Cinema via Katoomba township, it’s a great way to explore Katoomba.

The Trolley Tours operates an hourly hop on and hop off service 7 days a week that takes you to 29 GREAT ATTRACTIONS located in KATOOMBA and LEURA, allowing you to experience the best of what this fabulous world heritage area has to offer in a fun and informative way. We also operate a Trolley Shuttle Service between Scenic World and the Edge Cinema via Katoomba township, it’s a great way to explore Katoomba.

Aboriginal legend has it that three sisters from the Katoomba tribe fell in love with three men from Nepean tribe, yet they were forbidden to marry. The sisters were turned to stone to prevent the marriage and to save themselves from tribal banishment. To this very day in stone they remain, awaiting their transformation. A "must see" when visiting Katoomba.

The Three Sisters, Katoomba

Bushwalks are plentiful in the mountains. There is a track suitable for everyone. Anywhere from the beginner perhaps starting out at Sublime Point Lookout in Leura which takes only 0.5hrs return trip, approximately 2.5kms in distance and has excellent views, to the experienced bushwalker venturing out and taking the challenge on the Overcliff/Undercliff walk at Wentworth Falls which covers National Pass and Valley of the Waters. This walk takes 4.5hrs to cover, is graded as a hard walk and is approximately a 6km circuit trip. The views are sensational capturing waterfalls, rainforests and a magnitude of bird life such as the King Parrot, Satin Bower Bird, New Holland Honeyeater, Yellow Tailed Black Cockatoo, The Laughing Kookaburra, Australian Magpie, The Pied Currawong, Lyre Bird. Sulphur Crested Cockatoo, Crimson and Eastern Rosellas, just to name a few. For further information visit www.oztrek.com.au/pages/blue mountains fauna/birds.php

The experienced bushwalker can even venture over to Blackheath and attempt the Govetts Leap walk which captures Blue Gum Forest, Perrys Lookdown and Pulpit Rock. This walk is for the experienced only, taking 10hrs and is a 15km circuit trip with again views and scenery to die for.

Bushwalks
Photographer Robbi Newman

According to many, the National Pass is the best walking trails in Australia. Six kilometres of majestic walking tracks and scenery to die for. Take your pick from the Wentworth Falls Lookout, Fletchers Lookout, Queens Cascade, Rock Galleries, Grand Stairway, Wet & Wild, Wet Amphitheatre, Under Den Fenella, Dry West End, Valley of the Waters, Empress Falls, Empress Lookout, Up to Conservation Hut and the Short Cut Track – the choice is yours.

For comprehensive information on other walking tracks, please click here. Spectacular and breathtaking views are guaranteed, with amazing scenery and wildlife awaiting you around every bend. The mountain tracks have it all from cascading waterfalls, sandstone escarpments, the majestic splendour of enormous towering rainforests dating back over a million years old, soaring high into the sky as far as the eye can see, whilst in the background the soft calling of the bellbirds echoes, completing the state of total serenity and tranquility. Perhaps a pinch is required every now and then just to reassure yourself that you are not dreaming.

There are horse riding adventures to suit all, from the beginner right through to the experienced rider, and the mountains have it all. Spectacular scenery, fresh mountain air and horses catering for every age group and experience riding level. Details of stables are listed below:

The Blue Mountains has so much to offer. An endless supply of tourist attractions all at your doorstep. There are always things to do and see, and all set in the surrounds of unsurpassed beauty and history. “Mountain Whispers of Leura” properties are centrally located to all that the mountains have to offer, why venture any further!

The Rhododendron festival is held annually in the first weekend of November. Click here for more information.	Rhododendron Gardens, Blackheath photographer Nick Rains	Fresh apples in crates, Blue Mountains produce photographer Hamilton Lund (2002)

SPRING IN THE MOUNTAINS

The mountains truly boast magnificent plant-life and vegetation. The annual garden festivals like the:  
• Hazelbrook and Woodford Garden Festival  
• Leura Garden Festival “Fleuralia”  
• Blackheath Rhododendron Festival
are renowned for their explosion of Spring colour and the magnitude and abundance of vibrant
and breathtaking flowers and foliage have tourists venturing to the mountains in absolute awe,
year after year. Many budding and avid gardeners lovingly open their private gardens to display
all that has been kept warm and nestled below the soft earth waiting patiently for that fresh crisp
morning and ray of warm sunlight to unfold the inner beauty and announce the arrival of Spring.
Leura Village Fair is also an annual event and transforms the quaint strip into a bustling
collection of fascinating art and craft stalls, plants and knickknacks, artisans’ wares, street entertainment and children’s rides, all of which are encased in wonderful aromas of freshly
brewed coffees and sweets and foods from all corners of the globe wafting throughout. Whilst
the cherry blossoms in all their beauty, are in full bloom creating the perfect canopy for that
moment to rest and take it all in.


SUMMER IN THE MOUNTAINS  

Summer in the mountains are like nowhere else. Offering warm balmy days capped with cool
evening breezes. The perfect setting for a true Australian Christmas or for those wishing to
escape the cold chills of the northern hemisphere. The mountains offer an abundance of
outdoor activities from bushwalking, abseiling, rock climbing, canyoning, golf, tennis, art classes
in the many beautiful gardens, to those just wishing to laze around in one of the numerous cafés
watching the world go by.  


AUTUMN (FALL) IN THE MOUNTAINS  

The Annual Blue Mountains Music Festival is held in Katoomba. The Festival sees musicians
and song-writers venture to the mountains from various parts of the globe.  


WINTER IN THE MOUNTAINS

Beautiful autumn colours in the gardens at Mt. Wilson - photographer Sally Mayman, Turtle Pictures

Flower beds and ornamental statue, Gema's garden
photographer Susan Wright