Alexander Baker_Blue Mountains_Attractions

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- Blue Mountains

· Part of the Greater Blue Mountains area, which includes 7 national parks and was designated as a UNESCO World Heritage natural site in 2000.
· Home to vast stretches of pristine bushland and subtropical rainforest, with eucalyptus trees being the most prominent feature.
· Features magnificent natural landscapes. Due to the vast area, visitors typically tour via shuttle bus or private vehicle.
· Each season offers different views: spring brings cherry, peach, and crabapple blossoms, while autumn features maple, birch, and dawn redwood foliage.

Scenic World Blue Mountains is located near the Three Sisters in Katoomba, about 2 hours from Sydney. Features include:

Scenic Skyway with world's first electro-plated glass floor
Views of Three Sisters, Mount Solitary, Jamison Valley, and Katoomba Falls
Cableway descending into heritage-listed rainforest
Scenic Railway (world's steepest incline railway) with 52-degree descent through an 80m tunnel

Transportation

Train: Take Blue Mountains Line from Central Station (platforms 12-13) to Katoomba (2 hours), then Blue Mountain Trolley Tours shuttle
Drive: Follow Parramatta Road and M4 motorway
Bus: Regular Citylink bus service between Sydney and Blue Mountains
Organized Tours: 1-2 day tours available from Sydney tour operators

Admission
Free

Opening Hours
24 hours (January 1 - December 31, Monday-Sunday)

Alexander Baker Mar 22,2025

First off, it's really far - at least a 1.5-hour drive on the highway, practically in Sydney's outer-outer suburbs. While the scenery is decent, the real attractions are the walking trails and cable cars. Since it was extremely hot in January, the kids weren't up for much walking, so we only covered a short section where we saw statues of old mining carts and some historical information. There were plant identification signs everywhere along the trail, though most were beyond our understanding.

The place was packed with tourists - we had to queue for 40-60 minutes just to ride either the cable car or elevator. If I had been alone, I would've definitely skipped the queues and left.

By the way, the Blue Mountains got their name from the eucalyptus trees that blanket the area. The eucalyptus oil (what we call tea tree oil) evaporates in the sunlight, creating a light blue haze over the valleys. This has nothing whatsoever to do with Blue Mountain coffee!