Blue Mountains

The Blue Mountains Area consists of 10,300 square kilometres of land and comprises several towns and villages. The vast expanses of wilderness are equal in size to one third of Belgium or double the size of Brunei. Within the Blue Mountains Area are seven outstanding national parks which are, Blue Mountains National Park, Wollemi National Park, Yengo National Park, Nattai national Park,  Kanangra-Boyd National Park, Gardens of Stone, National Park and Thirlmere Lakes National Park

Holidays in the Blue Mountains are very popular with both first timers and repeat visitors to Australia. Holidays to the Blue Mountains are also very popular with Sydney residents who seek cooler climates in the summer months. Only 50 minutes drive away from Sydney, the Lower Blue Mountains offer clean fresh air, spectacular flora and fauna and very conformable and temperate climate. The Lower Blue Mountains also offer a number of modern recreational facilities including shopping, cinemas, restaurants, cafés, theatre, clubs and pubs.

There are total of 36 towns and villages in the Blue Mountains Area and these range from entirely uninhabited areas to populations that range from 164 to 11,262 people. Each town and village has something special and unique to offer.

For those travelling by car, the M4 Motorway out of Sydney (starting at Strathfield) is the most direct route, taking less than two hours to get from the heart of Sydney to Katoomba. From there, you can view the stunning Three Sisters rock formation at Echo Point, do a spot of Blue Mountains bushwalking, or explore the Blue Mountains National Park. Train travel is a relaxing way to travel to the Blue Mountains, with Sydney trains services departing almost hourly from Sydney Central Station for Wentworth Falls, Leura, Katoomba, Blackheath, Mount Victoria and Lithgow. As a guide, the approximate travel time from Central to Katoomba is two hours.

The Blue Mountains is a great destination to visit all through the year, and each season offers its own unique treats.   

The Blue Mountains are often promoted as a winter destination, but the reality is that there is no one season that can truly do justice to this fascinating and stunning landscape. The Blue Mountains are divided into the Lower and Upper Mountains. The Lower Mountains include areas such as Springwood and Glenbrook and the Upper Mountains include areas such as Katoomba, Leura and Blackheath.  

Autumn

  Autumn is from March to May and this is the season which welcomes the Blue Mountains Folk Music Festival. Like in spring, the profusion of colours in the Autumn are breath taking. The area comes alive with the unique autumnal sights, not least the spectacular colour variations of the wonderful temperate gardens with their flaming reds, russet browns and golds contrasting with the rich colours of the native trees and flowers. The weather is crisp and cool and yet there is something special when engaging in outdoor activities during this season.  

Summer Visits

  Summer in the Blue Mountains is from December to February. This is the obvious time to visit if you want to indulge in outdoor activities. The days are warm but bearable and the nights are cool and delightful. February and March are the 2 months that appeal most to outdoor enthusiasts visiting the Blue Mountains Area. There is also the annual outdoor exhibition which stretches over two months during the summer.

Winter

  Winter is from June to August and this is the time where many of the events in the area take place. Yulefest in the winter months is the time when the whole region is captivated under the spell of revelry and this is clearly the most awaited time of the year.   June offers the highly anticipated and popular community event known as the Winter Magic Festival when dancers, artists, musicians and costumed performers take to the streets to celebrate the Winter Solstice. Winter is peak season in the Blue Mountains and the weather is chilly so warm clothes are a must. Snow is highly likely during the winter so skiing can be possible.

Spring

  Spring is from September – November and the Blue Mountains present an array of colours as the flowers start to bloom. Spring is perhaps when the natural beauty of the Blue Mountains is at its best. The Leura Garden Festival takes place in October and is a must see event.