Katoomba Travel Guide

Getting There

By car from central Sydney, travel along Parramatta Road and turn off onto the M4 motorway (around 2 hr. to Katoomba). Another route is via the Harbour Bridge to North Sydney, along the Warringah Freeway (following signs to the M2). Then take the M2 to the end and follow signs to the M4 and the Blue Mountains. This takes around 1 1/2 hours.

Frequent rail service connects Sydney to Katoomba from Central Station; contact CityRail (tel. 13 15 00) or Countrylink (tel. 13 22 32; www.countrylink.info) for details. The train trip takes 2 hours. Trains leave almost hourly from platform nos. 12 and 13, stopping at Katoomba, and then at Mount Victoria and Lithgow. An adult same-day round-trip ticket costs around A$15 (US$12/UK£6) off-peak, and A$22 (US$18/UK£9) during commuter hours. A child's ticket costs A$3 (US$2.40/UK£1.20).

Getting Around

The best way to get around the Blue Mountains without your own transport is the Blue Mountains Explorer Bus (tel. 02/4782 4807; www.explorerbus.com.au). The double-decker bus leaves from outside Katoomba train station every hour from 9:30am until 4:30pm and stops at 27 attractions, resorts, galleries, and tearooms in and around Katoomba and Leura. You can get on and off as often as you want. Tickets cost A$32 (US$26/UK£13) for adults, A$16 (US$13/UK£6.50) for children, and A$75 (US$60/UK£30) for a family; prices include discounts on the Scenic Railway and the Skyway, and at some other attractions and restaurants. Interestingly, you can also link this tour bus with the CityRail train from Sydney, and some prices are cheaper! The Blue Mountains Explorer Link Ticket, available from CityRail stations, includes same-day, round-trip train fare and Explorer Bus tickets and costs A$42 (US$34/UK£17) for adults, A$17 (US$13/UK£6.50) for children, and A$65 (US$52/UK£26) for a family. A 3-day ticket, allowing you to travel by CityRail train on 2 days and stay a whole day in the mountains, costs A$58 (US$46/UK£23) for adults and A$24 (US$19/UK£9.50) for kids. There's no family ticket. If you are spending a few days in the mountains then you might want to consider the Explorer Bus Pass allowing up to 7-day's travel in the mountains. It costs an extra A$32 (US$26/UK£13) for adults, A$16 (US$13/UK£6.50) for kids, and A$80 (US$64/UK£32) for adults.

Another option is Trolley Tours (tel. 1800/801 577 in Australia; www.trolleytours.com.au), which is a kind of tram on wheels with commentary. An all-day pass costs A$15 (US$12/UK£6) and includes stops at 29 various attractions around Katoomba and Leura, too. The trolley leaves Katoomba Station each hour, connecting with the trains from Sydney.