Are you looking for a memorable day trip from Sydney? Does your ideal weekend getaway involve being in scenic nature? If you answer yes to both of these questions, you should consider taking a day trip to the Blue Mountains.
Sixty kilometres from Sydney, the Blue Mountains National Park is a 10,000 square kilometre park filled with wildlife, rugged rock formations, scenic lookouts, pristine waterfalls, and more than 140 kilometres of hiking trails.
In a nutshell, the UNESCO World Heritage Site has something for everyone.
That said, if you are looking for a memorable day trip, why not explore these top-5 rated tourist attractions:
- The Three Sisters
- Govetts Leap Lookout
- Scenic World
- The Blue Mountains Botanic Garden
- Jenolan Caves
#1. The Three Sisters
The Tree Sisters is perhaps the face of the Blue Mountains National Park. The rock formation rises over 900 metres above the Jamison Valley, which, more often than not, is shrouded in blue-coloured haze.
The three towering natural rock sculptures – Gunnedoo (906 m), Wimlah (918 m), and Meehni (922 m), are also impressive after nightfall. The three peaks are floodlit, allowing park attendees to take beautiful pictures of an icon.
For the best view, head out to Echo Point, from which you can hike to the base of the rock formation via the Giant Stairway. And just like many other famous landmarks, the Three Sisters have their own legend.
According to an Aboriginal legend, the three rock formations are three sisters from the Katoomba tribe bewitched by tribal elders long ago to protect them from and prevent their marriage to three brothers from the neighbouring Nepean tribe.
However, the elders passed away before reversing the curse.
#2. Govetts Leap Lookout
If you want to appreciate the enormity of the park and its wondrous beauty, head out the Govetts Leap Lookout.
The enchanting beauty of the vistas, combined with the typical lower tourist population, will give you a memorable experience.
The lookout allows you to enjoy a stunning view of the Grose Valley, the sandstone escarpment with their sheer cliff walls, ridge, and the Bridal Veil Falls perched on one of the cliffs.
And if you are up for it, you can trail down to the valley, exploring and enjoy the scenery.
#3. Scenic World
Scenic world is another popular attraction in the Blue Mountains National Park, owing to the variety of activities available for you to enjoy.
For instance, the Scenic Railway snakes across rainforest-covered rolling landscape, taking on the steepest railroad from the Railway Base Station to the Eaglehawk Lookout.
From the Eaglehawk Lookout, you can explore the scenery in a glass-floored cableway on your way down to the Cableway Base Station.
You can also take a Cableway ride from Skyway East Station to Eaglehawk Lookout, which takes you over the escarpment and waterfall.
#4. The Blue Mountains Botanic Garden
Famous for being the highest botanic garden in Australia, the Blue Mountains Botanic Garden is a must-visit attraction. Given that the garden is set up on top basalt peak, it has a beautiful view of the scenery.
The garden is made up of the Heath and Heather Garden, the North American Woodland, and a rainforest, The Jungle.
#5. Jenolan Caves
The Jenolan Caves, some of the oldest caves in the world, are located at the south-western edge of the park. The caves hide stunning gems, including subterranean rivers, fossilised remains, and awe-inspiring limestone formations.
So impressive are the caves that you should consider allowing for a full day to explore them.
Conclusion
All things considered, exploring the entire depth and breadth of the park in a single day, or even two is almost impossible. With over 10,000 square kilometres, the park has a lot to offer.
Nonetheless, exploring the attractions above will allow you to enjoy the best of Blue Mountains National Park.
If you are planning to visit the Blue Mountains, look no further than FJ Tours Day Tours.
At FJ Tours, our friendly sightseeing day tours are the best way to maximise your travel time, which means you can relax and enjoy the beauty of the Blue Mountains.
Find out more about FJ Tours Blue Mountains Day Tours here.
