**Post edited with updated information on 3/18/16**
Sydney has made it up the list as one of favorite cities I’ve visited. Getting around the city is incredibly easy, so we felt quite confident to venture out on two fun day trips during our 4-day stay. Our first trip was to the Blue Mountains, using the train and the Blue Mountain Explorer Bus for the experience at a fraction of the price.
How to Get to the Blue Mountains from Sydney Independently Without a Tour Group:
This post will be dedicated to those who have an interest in visiting the Blue Mountains on their own.
Getting to the Blue Mountains with an organized tour group can cost between AUD $117-$150 per person. If organized tours are your thing, then go for it; however, Dad and I found a way to see the Blue Mountains on our own using public transporation and the Blue Mountains Explorer Bus.Here’s how we did it:
Step 1: Go to www.131500.com. This is a great and easy-to-use transportation site.
Step 2: Plug in your hotel address, a nearby landmark, or the train station that’s closest to where you’re staying. In the “to” box, select destination: Blue Mountains.
Step 3: Your real-time directions will populate. Since we stayed at the Radisson Blu Sydney, we were instructed to take the train from Wynyard Station to Central Station (departs from platform 5 and is 2 stops away).
The train platforms can change, so please verify when you arrive. The train station information specialists are very friendly and helpful, so do not be intimidated to ask for directions.
Step 4:Â Once you get to Central station, purchase a train ticket towards Katoomba, the Blue Mountains train.
The train ride to the Blue Mountains is approximately 2 hrs and 13 minutes, so bring a book to read because it gets very boring. Some trips can take over 3 hours if you select a slower train, so try to pick an express train if it works with your schedule.
The first train from Central station is at 6:23 am and the last is at 12:09pm. The trains from Katoomba to Sydney start at 1:21 pm and last train back is at 11:25 pm.
We took the 7:21 am and arrived at Katoomba Station at 9:23 am. As you exit Katoomba Station, look for the “Blue Mountain Explorer” ticket office to buy your ticket (you can also buy tickets in advance on their online website). They will then give you a guide book with information, which serves as your hop-on, hop-off ticket.
The hop-on, hop-off bus starts running at 9:45 am, and continues mostly in 30 minute intervals, except for two one hour breaks. Look at your schedule and plan accordingly.
Here is an image of the most recent time table:
Key stops on the hop-on, hop-off bus:
- Stop 9 if you plan to take skyway ride $30.
- Stop 10 if you are not taking the skyway ride. You can hike to stop 11. (this is what we did).
- Then get off stop 15, Honeymoon Lookout, and walk back to stop 14, which is “The Three Sisters”.
After making our way around the various stops, we were hungry so we choose to hop off at stop 21, Leura Village, to have lunch. Leura Village is a very cute and quaint shopping village with many boutiques and restaurants. We had lunch at a place across the street from the Leura train station called “Leura Garage”, which was excellent.
After lunch, we walked across the street and down the steps to the Leura train station and took the 2:43pm train back to Central Station. We arrived back in Sydney at 4:45 pm.
If you have a few days to spend in Sydney and want to venture outside of the city, definitely consider visiting the Blue Mountains! Day trips don’t always have to cost a fortune. This was a great way for us to stay active and enjoy the great Australian outdoors!
Happy Travels,
Angelina and Dad.
The other great option with even more flexibility is to rent a car for the day ($65 AUD for the day). My experience was to pick up a Avis rental in the CBD and make the drive, sure traffic getting out of the city exists, but we found the driving pretty easy going and were able to get a little off the beaten path. We also were able to incorporate a visit to Featherdale Wildlife Sanctuary which is a better experience than any zoo for getting up close to the unique animals down under.
We were there in February and were able to do the Blue Mountains with a Groupon. We were picked up at our hotel and had a wonderful day. Always check Groupon a few months before you travel. We also did the Tall Ship Harbour Tour as a Groupon for $59 that included live music, open bar and plenty of food!
Love the detailed directions. Great photos, too. :) Were there other places to eat besides stop 18?
Wow! Thank you for the detailed directions. Rich and I will be following the lead of you and your dad. Looking forward to hearing more about your trip. I will be in NYC on April 11.
This is awesome, thanks so much! Heading to Sydney in July and was wondering about some day trips. This is perfect. :)
Great detail on getting around the Blue Mountains, I must say I’ve only been there 3 times.
Do plan ahead and chk out some deals with Groupon and the daily deals sites. They are always running cheap things showing off Sydney.
Also ask a local [like me 8-) ] if they have an ‘Entertainment book’ (its a massive book of vouchers for restaurants, hotels, cafes, activities) as there are lots of discount vouchers in there and most would be glad to part with those ones as we are no longer doing touristy things. If you are staying for a little while, you can get one from some retail stores like the Cancer Council.
I’m happy to help with finding you some cheap Sydney deals. Cheers.
Hi Steve,
Izit possible to get some vouchers from ur Entertainment Book for 2015? Thanks
I’ve done it myself, did the car rental method with the wife and kids. You really don’t need an organized tour to enjoy the Blue Mountains. Oh and if you’re driving, the Bells line of road is a nice alternate route heading there.
Anyone can spare me their Entertainment Book, if not using??
I spend a lot of time in Blue Mountains (when I’m not travelling) and I am glad to hear you went there. As much as Sydney may appear attractive there is much more to Australia than any one city. If you ever go back I recommend you take a walk down from Echo Point to the forest level – it is a completely different world there and if you are lucky you may see and/or hear lyrebird!!!
TPJ
Thanks point junkie. My first time down under. Hope to visit the great country again. Happy travels.
Thanks for the great post. Really interesting. Just wanna say, Out of all tours One of the best tour i had in sydney is bridge climb.
I am so glad I came across your website! My daughter and I are going to Sydney in June and would like to go to Blue Mountains on our own so your detailed directions will come in handy.
I am also interested in the following sights:
-Three Sisters rock formations from Echo Point
– Jenolan Caves
Is Echo Point in Katoomba area? And do you know how I can get to Jenolan Caves from Blue Mountains?
Thank you!
Hi Angelina,
i love your diy way to Blue Mountain day trip,
i would like to ask the cost for sight seeing explorer bus.
how much is that?
thanks
racheal
Thankz loads Angie :) :)
do let me know if ever you guys visiting Mauritius :)
Arveen
Hi Angelina, thank you for your precise instructions on how to go to blue mountain, your calculations seems very affordable using public transport. I never been there, thinking to drive with myself or using public transportation. I am alone and it’s a dream for me to visit the magical blue mountain. This is one of the Australia’s finest place to visit. Definitely I will visit soon.
Great way to go to Blue Mountains. The last time me and my family went to Sydney, we just went around city. We wanted to go to Blue Mountains but the cost were quite something. Hope to be able to go to Sydney again, and I will visit Blue Mountains your way :)