The Blue Mountains is one of the most famous holiday destinations in Australia, and for good reason. This has got to be one of the most beautiful places in the world! Last week, I finally got two days off in a row (for the first time in a month!), so I decided to head up and explore. It was a rainy and overcast two days, so I had no luck seeing that famous Three Sisters view. But it was well worth it for the cute towns and beautiful waterfalls! In this post, I’ll be sharing my two-day Blue Mountains Itinerary. I travelled over a Tuesday-Wednesday but this would also make a great weekend trip!
There will be an associated YouTube video (my first vlog!) coming soon! In the meantime, check out my other videos on my channel.
Blue Mountains Itinerary: Day 1
If you are driving from Sydney, leaving at 10am will get you to Katoomba at around lunch time. It is also super easy to catch a train, with services from Central Station every 15 minutes. The benefit of driving is you can visit all of the places I mention below at your own pace. However, if driving is not an option for you, there is a hop on hop off bus that services Katoomba and Leura, and you can walk around Katoomba fairly easily. There are also train stations at every town in the Blue Mountains, so you could even stop off at Wentworth Falls on the way home.
On arrival, I recommend making your first stop Echo Point. On a clear day, I hear the view is amazing! I can’t vouch for it as it was whitewashed with fog every time I stopped by. The visitor centre is also here if you’re wanting more information on places to visit. Be aware that the carpark and nearby streets are metered parking and you will have to pay. If you travel a couple of blocks further down parking is free, but it is a decent walk back to the viewpoint.
Wander around Leura town
Leura is a great place to spend a couple of hours, especially if you’re experiencing wet weather in the mountains. This was my first stop after Echo Point lookout and the visitor centre. The main street is called Leura Mall, and is home to a number of cute cafes and a bunch of interesting shops to explore. I personally recommend a visit to The Nook for souvenirs, The Candy Store full of old-fashioned lollies, and Josophan’s Fine Chocolates for a delicious hot chocolate!
Check out Gordon Falls Lookout and the Pool of Siloam
Located just five minutes drive from Leura Mall is Gordon Falls Lookout. From the car park, if you walk to the right, you’ll find the track to Gordon Falls Lookout. The walk will take about 5 minutes one way and is downhill with a few stairs. The lookout is well worth the walk, overlooking a large valley, Gordon Falls to the left, and the Three Sisters in the distance to the right. Be prepared for the weather to change quickly here and everywhere in the mountains. Gordon Falls Lookout is where I learnt how quickly the weather can change! When I arrived, I had a clear view into the valley. But within 5 to 10 minutes, the valley had filled in with clouds.
A little bonus feature!
If you are interested in Aboriginal culture, just before the lookout you can venture slightly off the track to see a small aboriginal rock painting. I thought this was super cool to see, and it just highlights to me that you never know what you might find in the Blue Mountains or in any of Australia’s national parks!
Take a hike to the Pool of Siloam
If you walk left out of the car park, you will see a picnic area, playground for the kids and toilet block. This is also where you can find the start of the Pool of Siloam track. I thought this walk would connect with Gordon Falls Lookout but it doesn’t. So if you aren’t prepared for a slightly longer, more hardcore walk, make sure you head back! It will take around 15 minutes to get to the falls, and is a 30 minute return walk from Gordon Falls Lookout. I did it with runners, but I would recommend hiking boots, as the track can be quite wet and muddy. This walk is super worthwhile, ending at a beautiful waterfall surrounded by lush, green rainforest.
Got more time? Here’s a few more ideas!
Got more time? Bring some swimmers and have a dip in the pool! You can also extend your walk to Lyrebird Dell or the Golf Link Lookout. If you are undertaking a longer walk, make sure you go with someone or at minimum notify someone of where you’re going and when you return.
Walk to the Three Sisters from Echo Point
I may not have had much luck seeing the Three Sisters from Echo Point, but I would still recommend doing the Three Sisters Walk. Whilst the Echo Point lookout was completely whitewashed with fog, some of the other viewpoints along this track were clear. The walk is 25-45 minutes return, depending how far along the track you walk.
The path is completely paved up until Oreades Lookout, 400m from the Visitor Centre. On a clear day, you should get a great view of the Three Sisters from here! Again, no luck for me. However, you can then continue a further 50m down some stairs to Lady Game lookout for a close up view of the sisters, and even further down a steep set of stairs to honeymoon bridge, which actually connects to the first of the three sisters! Lady Game lookout looks back towards Gordon Falls where you were earlier and provides a different perspective of that valley.
What really made this walk worthwhile for me was seeing two wild Lyrebirds right next to the track! I had the track to myself and spent at least ten minutes watching these amazing creatures digging through the leaf litter for food. One even looked right at me but didn’t care about my presence at all! Moral of the story? Always keep an eye out for wildlife; you never know what you might spot.
Where to stay: Katoomba YHA
After a long afternoon of exploring, it’s time to check in to your accommodation. I recommend the Katoomba YHA. Accommodation here is affordable and it is in a great location on the main strip. The hostel is also huge with heaps of common areas! Be aware, though, that currently you can’t check in until after 4:30pm. I paid $32 for a night in a 4 bed female dorm and ended up having the room to myself! One of the benefits of travelling on weekdays! The staff here were also super helpful, providing me with a complimentary towel due to the wet weather and even printing a handout with some wet weather activity suggestions.
Where to eat: Tibet Kitchen
For dinner, walk down Katoomba Street and take your pick of any of the restaurants! I personally recommend a little place called Tibet Kitchen. I’m not sure what drew me to the place, but it was such a small, cute setup run by a lovely lady, and the food was delicious! I had the vegetarian stir fry noodles and a spiral potato with sweet chilli sauce. If you are a solo traveller then this is an especially good place to check out; I had never eaten alone in a restaurant before but I felt totally comfortable here!
Blue Mountains Itinerary: Day 2
Get up fairly early on your second day to make the most of it before heading back to Sydney in the afternoon! Today, you’ll explore more of Katoomba in the morning before heading further down the range to Wentworth Falls.
Walk one of the many hiking trails in Katoomba
I personally think it’s great to start your day with a walk so why not explore one of the many trails in the Katoomba area! I ended up taking a lovely walk down to a waterfall with my cousin. Whilst there was one main waterfall we were aiming for, we actually ended up seeing a heap along the way thanks to the wet weather! I’m fairly confident it was the Fern Bower track leaving from Cliff Drive near Warne Street. However, any of the walks in this area would be beautiful! You could also wander around town and check out the street art.
Again, if you are planning on doing a longer walk, make sure you bring a friend or tell someone where you’re going and when you return. This is especially important if you do a less popular trail; we only saw one other couple on our walk and they only went half way! All of the other trails I did were more popular and I saw a few other people.
Have morning tea at one of the many cafes in Katoomba
The best way to relax after a good walk is with a refreshing drink and yummy snack if you ask me! Katoomba is home to a number of cafes where you can grab a snack or even some lunch. Frankly My Dear Coffee is a local favourite for hot drinks, and Plantbased Wholefoods does great vegan burgers for lunch! If you’re looking for somewhere closer to the Three Sisters, the restaurants in Echo Point Plaza do a good hot chocolate and dip platter.
Admire the view at Wentworth Falls
A good place to explore in the afternoon is Wentworth Falls. Located about 10 minutes drive back down the highway towards Sydney, this town is also home to some impressive lookouts and waterfalls! I recommend you stop at Wentworth Falls itself to start. There are three lookouts here that you can visit: Jamison Lookout, Wentworth Falls lookout, and Princes Rock Lookout. Princes Rock is the best of the three, with a fantastic view of Wentworth Falls and the surrounding valley and mountains! It is a 20 minute walk one way, and is fairly easy with a fair few stairs. A family could easily do this walk. The other two lookouts are much more accessible if you have a pram or a wheelchair. These also have a great view over the valley and surrounding mountains, but you won’t get to see the falls.
Explore Queen Victoria Lookout and Empress Falls
The final stop on your weekend away is the Conservation Hut in Wentworth Falls. There are two great walks you can do from here to Queen Victoria Lookout and Empress Falls. The Queen Victoria Lookout walk is 30 minutes return and has a lot of stairs. The view is well worth the walk, and was my favourite of the whole weekend! Despite the stairs, the walk is fairly easy and accessible to most people. I saw an older couple and a family doing this walk.
An extra 30 minutes return will take you down to Empress Falls. From here, the walk gets significantly harder and steeper so make sure you are properly prepared with good shoes and water. Runners are fine, but hiking boots would be better as again, the track can get slippery and muddy. Empress Falls is supposed to be one of the most beautiful in the Blue Mountains, and after the wet weekend I had, it certainly didn’t disappoint! This is also a popular place for abseiling, with many canyoning trips including this waterfall. Canyoning is definitely on my list for next time!
Getting here from Wentworth Falls Picnic Area
From Wentworth Falls picnic area, you can either drive or walk to the Conservation Hut. If you wish to walk, take the Shortcut Track; this will take 20 minutes one way and is fairly flat. I personally chose to drive, but the carpark at the other end is rather small so it may be worth walking on a busy day. You might also get some nice views along the way!
Have lunch at the Conservation Hut before heading home
Perfectly situated at the end of both of these hikes is the Conservation Hut. If you choose to eat here, ask for a table outside for a lovely view over the rainforest and to the mountains in the distance! I wouldn’t recommend this place if you’re on a tight budget, though, as the meals aren’t exactly cheap. That said, the lemon lime and bitters was one of the best I’ve had and the roast veggie tartlet was quite nice.
From here, it’s time to head back to Sydney! After my walks and a late lunch, I ended up leaving at around 2pm. This will get you back into Sydney in the early afternoon.
Looking for some more ideas? These are on my list for next time!
There’s so much to do in the Blue Mountains and I already can’t wait to go back! It is such an easily accessible destination from Sydney, being close enough for day trips as well as longer visits. Below, I have listed a few things that I would love to do next time. Until then, I hope you enjoyed reading my Blue Mountains weekend itinerary and that you feel inspired to go on your own trip!
- Scenic World Cableway, Railway and Skyway
- Canyoning day trip – Empress Canyon
- Explore Katoomba street art and township
- Echo Point Lookout view
- Katoomba Falls Lookout
- Leura Cascades
- Longer hikes such as Valley of the Waters track in Wentworth Falls
- Blackheath – township, lookouts and hikes
- Jenolan Caves (1 hour from Katoomba)
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