Blackheath
Blackheath Village Guide
Perched high in the mountains, Blackheath is a village of contrasts, dramatic escarpments, cool-climate gardens, vintage charm, and a welcoming ...
Glenbrook
Glenbrook and Lapstone Village Guide
Crest Lapstone Hill and things start to change. The city skyline is replaced with dense bushland, the sandstone cliffs start t...
Katoomba
Photo by Calvin Kurlekar on Unsplash
Katoomba Village Guide
Famous the world over, Katoomba is home to the Three Sisters. But there’s far more to the heart of...
Mount Victoria
Mount Victoria Village Guide
At the top of the Blue Mountains lies a small village where a warm welcome awaits visitors. Not surprising really, as it’s a place where goo...
Frequently Asked Questions
Leura in spring, when the gardens spill over with colour. Blackheath in autumn, when the streets turn red and gold. But in a region surrounded by more than a million hectares of World Heritage-listed landscape, it’s hard to give the title to just one place. Part of the fun is finding your own favourite.
Choose Katoomba for convenience, with the Three Sisters, Scenic World, restaurants and shops close by. Choose Blackheath for a smaller village feel, bushwalks and lookouts on the doorstep, and streets that turn red, orange and gold in autumn. Both are on the train line and only around 15 minutes apart, so you can easily experience both in one visit, which is definitely our recommendation.
Blackheath is famous for the Grand Canyon Track, a winding 6km hike through rainforest and sandstone cliffs, with waterfalls tumbling along the way. It’s also known for the famous view over Govetts Leap, its red, orange and gold autumn colours, and some of Australia’s best rock climbing.
Glenbrook is known for its swimming spots. Follow the track to Jellybean Pool for a cool-off on a hot day, get adventurous on the Glenbrook Gorge hike, or swap two feet for two wheels on nearby mountain biking trails. Back in the village, cafés, brunch spots and independent boutiques offer a slower way to spend the day.
Katoomba is home to two of the Blue Mountains’ most famous sights: the sandstone pillars of the Three Sisters and Scenic World. At Scenic World, ride the world’s steepest passenger railway into the Jamison Valley, glide 270 metres above the rainforest on the Skyway or take the Cableway down to the valley floor. Beyond the big attractions, Katoomba is also known for its bushwalks, lookouts, galleries and choice of cafes and restaurants.
Absolutely. Drive just a few minutes beyond Blackheath and you’ll find a quieter side of the Blue Mountains. Mount Victoria is one of the region’s most historic villages, with heritage buildings, an old-school cinema, bushwalks and tracks leading to waterfalls, caves and lookouts. It’s 100% worth driving those extra few kilometres to see a part of the Mountains many visitors miss.