If you’re looking for an adventure then you’ve come to the right place. Families will love the Blue Mountains. Spend your days hiking, camping, canyoning, rock climbing, or just appreciating the amazing views.
GETTING THERE
Fly cheap on Jetstar within Australia. Hire a car at Apex Car Rentals, Sydney airport and drive up to the mountains (approx. 3 hrs). It is best not to drive up on a Friday afternoon due to weekend traffic. The same applies if returning on a Sunday afternoon.
ACCOMODATION
Accomodation can double in price over a long weekend, so if you can possibly visit off-peak I would highly recommend it. There are plenty of AirBnb’s in the Blue Mountains and also two Tourist Parks, which have good reviews. The Blackheath Glen and Katoomba Falls Parks offer family cabins with prices starting from around AUS$150 to $200 p/n. If you are a family of 5 check out how to save money on accomodation.
THINGS TO DO IN THE BLUE MOUNTAINS
Canyon the Wollangambie (lower section)
Initially we considered doing this canyon independently, but had read that the exit point was hard to find and we also didn’t have all the equipment, so instead we opted to go with a tour company and we were glad we did. The guys at EagleRock Adventures were amazing – they looked after us every slip of the way.
Compared with most other canyons in the Blue Mountains The Wollangambie is a wide, sunny canyon and is graded as EASY. “Oh” I hear you say, “that sounds reassuring”. Well it’s NOT. This rating just refers to the fact that there are no abseils, rock climbs or extreme jumps, but with over 6kms of walking and 5kms of canyoning it takes several hours to complete. So, unless you’re Bear Grylls prepare for a little pain.
The hike into the canyon is not too bad, probably because it’s downhill. A sandy beach greets you at the bottom, with clear shallow water. It’s time to gear up! Everyone, including children have to carry a dry bag with their own belongings in it. These bags help with buoyancy, doubling as a life vest.
After wading into the water it’s obvious why most canyons are done in summer. In the height of January the water is still quite cold. We jump onto our lilo’s and drift off down the river, but the current isn’t very strong and you have paddle to make any real progress. There are times we have to carry our lilo’s and scramble over rocks, or squeeze between large boulders and down narrow waterways.
Lunch is a welcome stop. We sit on a sandy beach eating sandwiches and feeding a resident lizard. But there’s no time to linger.
There are a number of optional rock jumps on the Wollangambie. Some of them are quite high, and this challenges a few of us (ok mostly me). Only the brave commit!
Further along the river some of us opt for a short excursion into a dark, narrow canyon. With torchlight leading the way the green mossy walls start closing in. It’s a surreal experience.
There are times to catch your breath as you drift along on your lilo over the calm water. In the quiet depths of the canyon the dark rock walls tower above you, sunlight glinting on their upper reaches. The Jurrasic-like fauna and unspoilt nature of this canyon make for an ‘out of this world’ experience.
The hike out, which takes around 45 minutes, is mostly up-hill and pretty exhausting. You will need a reasonable level of fitness to do this canyon. The Wollangambie is a great day out, with something for everyone. It’s an adventure you’ll never forget.
Empress Canyon
I personally didn’t go on this canyon as Molly was too young and needed someone to stay with her. The description is from other members in the group. By all accounts this canyon is a lot of fun. There are many jumps from 2-5metres in height and some short swims. It includes a fair bit of rock clambering over slippery boulders, sliding into pools and wading through water. There is only one abseil on this canyon. It just happens to be a 30m waterfall.
Molly and I have time to relax at Conservation Hut before walking down the trail to check out Syliva Falls first.
Then we make our way back to watch the others decend the waterfall. One, by one the girls and their friends are lowered over the edge. Abseiling is slow going. The rocks are slippery and they often disappear beneath the gushing water. Eventually all teens make it to the bottom, letting go of the rope and dropping into the pool below.
We paid between AUS$100 and $150 p/p for these canyons in 2015 and 2016. I would highly recommend EagleRock Adventures. They are very professional and take safety seriously.
Rock Climbing
We didn’t bring any climbing equipment on this trip but our lovely friends and Blue Mountain residents, Jeff & Claire brought all their gear and met us at Medlow Bath for a great day climbing.
Not everyone wanted to climb. Some preferred to catch up on their sleep.
Onsight is the best Rock Climbing Guide for the Blue Mountains. If you’re a beginner and interested in climbing the two companies I would recommend are the Australian School of Mountaineering and BMAC.
Hikes in the Blue Mountains
There are so many incredible hikes in the Blue Mountains I can’t possibly name them all. One of the most scenic, and popular is the National Pass.
Start at Wentworth Falls picnic area and head down past Fletchers Lookout to the top of Wentworth Falls. Descend the Grand Stairway (built by hand over 100 years ago) to the base of the waterfall. You can continue this as a loop by walking to Syliva and Empress Falls.
For more information go to site below and download the National Parks app. You can use this for any national park in NSW. Access park maps, guides and important info before you leave home. It can be viewed even without internet connection or mobile reception.
Scenic Skyway
The Scenic Skyway was Australia’s very first cable car. It opened in 1958. Don’t worry it’s been upgraded since then. The car can now fit 84 passengers and leaves every 10 minutes. It traverses the valley 270m above the ground. You can look through the glass floor and see the rainforest below.
There are fantastic views of Katoomba Falls, The Three Sisters and Mt Solitary. Hop off at East Station and head to lookouts near Echo Point and The Three Sisters.
Best Cheap Eats in the Blue Mountains
According to Jeff and Claire these are some of the best cheap eats in the Blue Mountains.
BLACKHEATH – Altitude Delicatessen (Hamburgers). KATOOMBA – Station Bar (Pizza) book in advance. KATOOMBA – Arjunas Indian (ask for an upstairs table and watch the sunset).