Getting to the Blue Mountains

By car

There are two ways to drive from Sydney to the Blue Mountains. The most popular route takes the M4 west from the city and begins climbing into the mountains past Penrith. You'll pass through the villages of Glenbrook, Blaxland, Springwood, Faulconbridge, Wentworth Falls and Leura before reaching Katoomba. This journey takes around 90 minutes.

From Katoomba, you can continue west through Blackheath, Mount Victoria and Hartley to reach Lithgow. This trip takes around 40 minutes. You can also follow this road and turn off to Oberon and Jenolan Caves, which are around one hour and 15 minutes past Katoomba.

(Note that the Great Western Highway is currently closed between Mount Victoria and Hartley. Alternative routes are available. Jenolan Caves Road and the Jenolan Caves precinct are also closed. They are scheduled to reopen in late 2026.)

Wolgan Valley, Blue Mountains

Alternatively, take the Bells Line of Road, a winding, scenic route that passes through charming villages, lush orchards and untouched bushland. Leave Sydney via Richmond in the northwest and drive through pretty Kurrajong in the Hawkesbury region. As you start climbing up the mountain, make a stop in Bilpin for apple picking, cider tasting and delicious pies.

Hillbilly Cider, Bilpin

Make a stop at the Blue Mountains Botanic Garden Mount Tomah, the highest botanic garden in the Southern Hemisphere at 1,000 metres above sea level. If you're not in a rush, hop aboard the historic Zig Zag Railway from Clarence Station for the 90-minute round trip ride. From the town of Bell, where the road officially finishes, you can continue on to Lithgow. The whole journey takes around two and a half hours.

Zig Zag Railway, Clarence - Credit: Zig Zag Railway

For a great road trip, the Greater Blue Mountains Drive is hard to beat – a series of linked drives connecting the Greater Blue Mountains World Heritage Area to surrounding regions. The drive takes in everything from natural wonders to wineries and country markets.

By train

It's easy to get to the Blue Mountains by public transport. Trains on the Blue Mountains Line depart regularly from Central Station, Strathfield, Parramatta, Blacktown, Penrith and Emu Plains. There are stations at most villages in the mountains, including Glenbrook, Springwood, Faulconbridge, Wentworth Falls and Leura, and all the way to Lithgow.

Katoomba Railway Station, Katoomba

Express trains from Sydney to Katoomba have limited stops and take around 90 minutes. Trains that stop at all stations will take up to two hours to reach Katoomba and two and a half hours to Lithgow. You'll need an Opal card or a contactless credit or debit card to travel on Blue Mountains services.

By coach

Australia Wide Coaches runs an express bus service between Sydney and Orange that stops at Glenbrook, Katoomba and Lithgow. It departs from Central Station every day except Saturday and returns from the Blue Mountains every day except Sunday. The trip takes two to two and a half hours.

On a tour

Take the hassle out of your Blue Mountains adventure and book a day trip with a tour company. These tours take around 10 hours and will show you all the main sights, from the Three Sisters and Scenic World to the most beautiful lookouts and waterfalls in the mountains as well as village stops for food and shopping. You can book with Oz Trails, Picture Me and Anderson's Tours. For a unique experience led by an Indigenous guide, try Zanza Tours.

Anderson's Tours offers a small group touring experience to the Blue Mountains

Anderson's Tours, Blue Mountains

Getting around

From Katoomba, there are public buses to popular sites like Echo Point and the Three Sisters, Scenic World, Everglades House, and the start of many popular walking tracks. Or grab a full day ticket for the Blue Mountains Explorer Bus, a hop on hop off service that loops around Katoomba and Leura, and to scenic spots at Gordon Falls, Narrow Neck, Cahill's Lookout and more. The bus runs every hour between 9am and 5pm every day of the week.

If you'd prefer to explore under your own steam, you can hire a bike or e-bike from Blue Mountains Biking Adventures or the Blue Mountains Adventure Company. Cycle between villages, follow mountain bike trails or explore the national park.