Blue Mountains

We will be in Sydney for 3 days following our cruise in Sept. First day we have a private Sydney tour set once we get off the ship. Any suggestions for the Blue Mountains for our second day. Would guess our third day would a little low keyed before our 14 hour flight back to LA. Really confused on what is out there for the BM. Thanks

The easiest way is to take the train to Katoomba then use the HOHO bus to sightsee. http://www.explorerbus.com.au/home.aspx

Recommended highlights:

Echo Point and the Three Sisters - allow an hour or so to walk around to the top of the Three Sisters

Scenic World - http://www.scenicworld.com.au/ Allow a couple of hours here.

Descend into the valley on the Scenic Railway, then come back up on the Cableway. You could do this the other way around but I think the Railway trip down is more spectacular.

In the valley there is a lovely walk through the bush to the base of Katoomba Falls.

Back up top, cross the valley on the Skyway for aerial views of Katoomba Falls.

Leura Village is a very pretty little shopping village with good cafes and some interesting shops. Worth a visit and a good place for lunch or a coffee break.

Also for your last day in Sydney, if your flight departure time allows, take the ferry to Manly and walk from the harbour to the ocean through The Corso plaza.

If possible do the gentle walk around to Shelly Beach. Look out for the sea creature art in the rocks on the side of the walk. Very cute.

This will allow you to have some gentle exercise and fresh sea air before your long flight.

If you don't have the time to go to Manly then a walk around Circular Quay, past the Opera House, and through the Botanic Gardens, would also be a nice pre-flight option.

Ozkiwijj. Thanks for the helpful advice. We'll be in Sydney for a week end of Oct. Plan to catch train to Blue Mountains and then use the HoHo. Your tips re which stops to use are helpful

Docking in Sydney for one day on a cruise ship...have to be back on board by 7p. Do you think we would have time to do this train ride and HoHo bus and be back to the ship in time? Not sure how long the train ride is or where you catch it??

Thanks for any tips.

It's definitely doable

Assuming you're docking at the OPT, if you give yourself 30 minutes to catch the train from Circular Quay to Central station (giving you time to walk from the ship & buy tickets) that is heaps of time (the train only takes 10 minutes). You could get a taxi but by the time you wait in a queue and then negotiate city traffic you could be there on the train.

From Central station it's a 2 hour train journey to Katoomba

So return journey all up would be about 5 hours. If you can manage to get off the boat early (let's pick 8am as a good basis) you'd be in the mountains by10.30. If you have to be back on board by 7pm, if you leave at 4pm you'll be back by about 6.30, which would leave you with at least 5 hours in the mountains. HEAPS of time :D

I did that quick time calculation based on a weekday, obviously it could take longer on a weekend (with connections etc). If the ship is docking at White Bay you'd need to add extra time (although you could probably get a taxi from there to Central in about 30 mins anyway).

Madwoofer...thank you sooo much for your quick response and detailed instructions. I will check our docking location and make plans.

I appreciate your time and expertise.:p

Dolores

Just be careful as on some weekends track work results in buses replacing trains and the journey time is blown out. This is advertised in advance on the website of

http://www.sydneytrains.info/

The Blue Mountains are a World Heritage National Park. On a clear day the views are breath taking!

What would cost of the return trip from Central to Katoomba be?

What would cost of the return trip from Central to Katoomba be?

$17.20 for a return ticket.

Docking in Sydney for one day on a cruise ship...have to be back on board by 7p. Do you think we would have time to do this train ride and HoHo bus and be back to the ship in time? Not sure how long the train ride is or where you catch it??

 

Thanks for any tips.

Well, it is DOABLE, as others mentioned, but it seems a bit of a stressful day. Iyt would be like docking in NYC for a day and then go and see Atlantic City.

Don't get me wrong, the Blue Mountains are beautiful and are one of our favourite (long) day trips from SYD (but we drive ourselves), but unless you do not have mountains (or hills) where you come from, I'd suggest a nice and relaxing day in SYD. So much to do and see.

Trains from Central to the mountains (Katoomba is the main village) run normally hourly and take 2 hours. (AUD 17.20 return) So if you are lucky and catch the right train you could be in Katoomba around 10.30. You would need to leave not later than 4 pm to make it back to the ship without too much running.

That gives you perhaps 5 hours in the mountains (which are a large, spread out area). The HoHo bus (AUD 40) runs twice an hour or so, but it is a bit flexible. 10 15 up or down from the published timetable are quite common.

There are some combined tickets you can buy for traintravel SYD - Katoomba - SYD + HoHo bus. To buy that one you have to ask for a Blue Mountains Explorer ticket. Might save you a few bucks. Not sure.

http://www.explorerbus.com.au/home.aspx

http://www.sydneytrains.info/tickets/which/explorerlink

We had a wonderful tour with

Sydney Great Escapes Pty Ltd

PO Box 332

KINGS LANGLEY NSW 2147

Phone:+61 (0)2 9624 6217

Fax: +61 (0)2 9624 6218

Email: sydneygreatescapes@lycos.com

Web: http://www.sydneygreatescapes.com

Fantastic tour, which included the Featherdale animal park (super).

We had a wonderful tour with

Sydney Great Escapes Pty Ltd

PO Box 332

KINGS LANGLEY NSW 2147

 

Phone:+61 (0)2 9624 6217

Fax: +61 (0)2 9624 6218

Email: sydneygreatescapes@lycos.com

Web: http://www.sydneygreatescapes.com

 

Fantastic tour, which included the Featherdale animal park (super).

We also used Sydney Great Escapes for our pre-cruise Blue Mountains tour, and highly recommend them.