Hiking the Blue Mountains: A Day Trip from Sydney

The Blue Mountains had been on my list ever since I arrived in Australia. Just two hours by train from Sydney’s Central Station, this UNESCO World Heritage area promises dramatic cliff faces, cascading waterfalls, and that famous blue haze that gives the mountains their name.

Getting There

I caught the early morning train from Central, watching Sydney’s suburbs gradually give way to bushland. The train winds through increasingly dramatic scenery as it climbs into the mountains, and by the time we pulled into Katoomba station, I was already itching to start exploring.

The Three Sisters

No visit to the Blue Mountains is complete without seeing the Three Sisters—those iconic sandstone pillars that jut out from the cliff edge at Echo Point. I arrived just as the morning mist was lifting, and the view was absolutely spectacular.

The Dreamtime legend tells of three sisters who were turned to stone by their father, a tribal elder, to protect them from a threatening bunyip. He intended to reverse the spell but was killed in battle, leaving them frozen forever. Standing there, watching the light play across the ancient rock, it’s easy to see why this place inspires such stories.

The Giant Stairway

I decided to take the Giant Stairway down into the Jamison Valley—over 900 steps carved into the cliff face. It’s steep, and my legs were definitely feeling it, but the changing perspectives of the Sisters and the valley below made every step worth it.

“The Blue Mountains aren’t really mountains at all—they’re a deeply eroded sandstone plateau carved over millions of years by wind and water.”

At the bottom, the Scenic Railway (the world’s steepest) offered an easy return to the top, rattling up through rainforest in an open-air car that felt like something from a theme park.

The Blue Haze

What makes the mountains blue? Eucalyptus oil released by the millions of gum trees creates a fine mist that scatters sunlight, producing that distinctive blue-grey tinge. Standing at Govetts Leap lookout in the afternoon, I watched the haze settle into the valleys below—it’s like looking at a watercolor painting in real time.

Tips for Visitors

• Best time: Early morning for the Three Sisters (fewer crowds, better light)
• Footwear: Sturdy hiking boots essential for the trails
• Weather: It’s always cooler up here than Sydney—bring layers
• Food: Katoomba Street has great cafes for post-hike fuel

The Blue Mountains exceeded all my expectations. There’s something humbling about standing on the edge of a cliff that’s been eroding for 270 million years, surrounded by forest that feels utterly unchanged by time.