8 fun family-friendly activities in the Blue Mountains

There are endless ways to keep the kids entertained in the Blue Mountains. From challenging walks to gazing at the night sky, there’s a ‘wow’ moment around every corner.

Catch the bus

The Explorer Bus is a laid-back family adventure and the best way to get to know the Blue Mountains. Take the one-hour tour for a front-row-seat to the most famous sites, from waterfalls and lookouts to galleries and cafes. The experienced guide will offer informative and entertaining commentary along the way. If you prefer to explore at your own pace, buy a full day hop on, hop off ticket and see some of the 37 stops along the route at your own pace.

Blue Mountains Explorer Bus, Katoomba

Connect with First Nations culture

Indigenous communities have called the greater Blue Mountains World Heritage area home for thousands of years. You can help your kids forge a real connection to this fascinating living culture at the Blue Mountains Heritage Centre in Blackheath, where the enlightening Outside In exhibit reveals the landscapes of the Grose Valley through Aboriginal eyes. Then strap on Oculus Quest goggles for a virtual zoom through the immense Claustral Canyon, spotting wildlife and waterfalls.

Blue Mountains Heritage Centre, Blackheath

Take in the views

There's a jaw-dropping vista around every corner in the Blue Mountains. Start with the most famous one – the Three Sisters from Katoomba's Echo Point Lookout. Follow the Fairfax Heritage walking track to see them from George Phillip Lookout. Wentworth Falls Lookout faces the spectacular, 100-metre falls that tumble dramatically over a cliff. Other breathtaking views await at Govetts Leap Lookout, Cahills Lookout and Olympian Rock Lookout.

Group enjoying the scenic view with Diamond Tours at Cahill's Lookout, Katoomba

Diamond Tours, Cahill's Lookout, Katoomba

Walk this way

Get those little legs moving on one of the many hiking trails that thread through the mountains' beautiful bushland. The Cliff Top walking track is a three-hour return trek that follows the cliff edge from Govetts Leap lookout to Evans lookout with epic views and plenty of birdlife. The family-friendly Three Sisters Walk takes you down a gentle slope to an outcrop near the iconic landmark. The Charles Darwin walk is an easy 2.4-kilometre track that the famous naturalist once graced back in 1836 and has a lovely rock pool with cascading waters.

Govetts Leap Lookout, Blackheath

Get sky high at Scenic World

At Katoomba's Scenic World the Scenic Skyway glides between clifftops, 270 metres above the valley floor. The views are incredible from inside the glass-walled cabin, but if you've got kids over 10 they can go one step further. Strap on a harness and climb through a hatch onto the roof for the thrilling Beyond Skyway experience. There's also the world's steepest passenger train, which travels from the escarpment 310 metres down into the forest on a 52-degree rail incline. Take the train's return trip or catch the 545-metre Scenic Cableway back.

Scenic World, Katoomba

Look to the stars

Got any amateur astronomers in the family? With Blue Mountains Stargazing, your kids will get to meet astrophysicist Dr Dimitri Douchin who will guide them through the brilliant night sky. Spot stars, planets and constellations with the naked eye, then look through a telescope to see the moon's craters and seas, Saturn's rings, and far off galaxies. The experience is held at Wentworth Falls lookout – arrive a bit early to catch the incredible sunset.

Blue Mountains Stargazing, Wentworth Falls

Go biking in the bush

Take in the beauty of the mountains on two wheels. The national park has a huge network of mountain bike trails and well-groomed fire trails to explore. Try the 13-kilometre Faulconbridge Point Lookout trail, the easy ride through Blue Gum Swamp or the 31-kilometre Andersons Fire Trail in Wentworth Falls that will take you deep into the wilderness. Bring your own bikes or hire some from Blue Mountains Biking Adventures – their mobile service can meet you at the start of the track.

Family enjoying a day of mountain biking in the Blue Mountains National Park, Blue Mountains

Mountain biking, Blue Mountains

Set up camp

There are dozens of campgrounds dotted all over the Blue Mountains, ranging from remote off-grid sites to holiday parks with all the facilities. Euroka Campground is great for families or novice campers, with toilets and barbecues (though you will need to bring your own water). Tell spooky stories around the campfire at Private Town Campground in the ghost town of Yerranderie and spot wombats waddling across the grass at Dunphys Campground. For a little luxury, check in to a cabin or glamping tent at Turon Gates then enjoy the fishing, horse riding, mountain biking and kayaking.