Blue Mountains Australia

kriss_boy

Its so hard getting info on the net, its full of junk!!!

Im trying to find out if you can simply get the train into the blue mountains, wander around all day then get the train back in the evening.

Has anyone been?

sarcycyril

hi,

i havent been but i have been researching the same thing too as going next month, from what i understand yes you can get the train from sydney to katoomba which is the blue mountains

from there you can get a hop on hop off bus that takes you round the sites.
hth

kriss_boy

Ive spent all afternoon researching it and I think Ive got it sorted.

There are trains that are on the hour everyday (even sundays) to and from Katoomba to sydney. Only takes 2 hours.

We just bit the bullet and booked a B&B in Katoomba rather than trying to get the train in and out in one day.

We've booked two nights at the Lurline which is voted best hotel in the town (albeit only 1 of 18) on tripadvisor. Friday and Saturday night in the deluxe spa room was only $300 which includes breakfast.

According to the Lurline B&B site you are minutes from the national park.

What I cant work out is it just a case of print off a map and go exploring the various tracks or do you need to pay to get in and then is it advisable you take tours in groups?

I cant seem to find out that info!!!

gedebage

Easy mate. Get the train from Sydney Central. The main town in The Blue Mountains is Katoomba. Most trains carry on to Mt Victoria and Lithgow. Journey should take between 90 minutes and 2 hours depending on the number of stations it stops at. Go to www.cityrail.info for more info.Check out the national parks at,https://www.environment.nsw.gov.au/nationalparks/

gedebage

What I cant work out is it just a case of print off a map and go exploring the various tracks or do you need to pay to get in and then is it advisable you take tours in groups?

The parks are free to get into and most of the tracks are well marked. Do not stray from the tracks or you WILL get lost. Pick up a map from the local tourist information office.

becs

It's a very long time since I went to Oz (18 years!:eek:), but if you're going to the blue mountains you simply must go to the Jenolan caves, they were the most incredible thing I've ever seen and remember thinking at the time it was worth going all the way to Australia just for them!
http://www.jenolancaves.org.au/
Their website has some useful links about the blue mountains and tour companies etc which may be of help.

blue_haddock

I would definately recommend spending a couple of days in Katoomba - i went for a long weekend when i was in sydney and its still one of myy fave places from my round the world trip.

When i was there i just went for a wander on my own and as long as you stick to the main tracks you will be fine. The thing that i loved the most was the smell of eucalyptus throughout the whole area.

balt

Highly reccomend the Lurline, stayed several times. Jenolan caves are great but its quite a long way, a full day to do two or three caves, ask at Lurline they will have a voucher for a discount.

The only cost is the hoppa bus and the rides, they are a fair way from B&B but they have a free car park.

If you like a challange do the Grand Canyon walk at Blackheath really great, again Lurline will have all info or the Echo Point information shop just down the road.

kriss_boy

Cool, we booked the lurline.

Annoyingly enough it looks like there are no ghost tours on when we will be there. That would have been fun!!

Are we talking about 10 tracks all a couple of miles long... ie cant be done in a day..

Or is it possible to see most of the sites? Can you hire bikes and explore that way or is too off-road to take a bike!!

gedebage

You cannot ride bikes along most of the tracks as in many places there are steps. There are lots of walks to choose from. They work their way down from the mountain top into the valleys. and along the valley floor.

Try the Giants Staircase. That one will sort you out especially if you climb the steps rather than go down.

In Katoomba there is an Imax Theatre where you can watch a spectacular movie on the more inaccessable areas of The Blue Mountains.

Generali

There is an excellent railway line that runs up into the Blue Mountains to Katoomba stopping at lots of lovely towns and villages on the way. On Sundays I think you can buy a ticket for $2.50 that will give you unlimited travel.

Road riding is pretty good in the mountains as you can shadow the main road through the side streets for the most part and for the rest there is a hard shoulder (I did 70kms up there today). Mountain biking is more problematical as there is a very steep escarpment that runs pretty much the length of the mountains that limits the ability to make loops.

Generally people ride the fire trails. The Oaks trail is the classic:



http://www.bikely.com/maps/bike-path/The-Oaks-Fire-Trail

Take sunscreen and water.

Important Bit:

If you are going to walk or ride off road in the Blue Mountains then go with an experienced guide if you do not have specific Australian bush craft skills. If you go off by yourself then you are putting yourself at serious risk of death. It is not like the English countryside - you can walk for a hundred kms and not see or hear a soul.