Blue Mountains, Scenic World and Sydney Zoo Tour with Koala Photo

Echo Point and the Three Sisters

Echo Point in Katoomba is the classic first stop on any Blue Mountains day trip from Sydney. From its wide viewing platforms you face the Three Sisters, three sandstone pillars rising above the Jamison Valley, with Mount Solitary and a sea of eucalyptus forest beyond. The blue haze that gives the range its name comes from fine droplets of oil released by the eucalyptus trees, which scatter sunlight and tint the distant ridges.

Your guide shares the Aboriginal story of the Three Sisters, told by the traditional custodians of these valleys, and explains how wind and rain carved the cliffs over millions of years. The Greater Blue Mountains Area has been on the UNESCO World Heritage list since 2000 for its rich eucalyptus forests. Expect about 30 to 40 minutes here, enough for photos from several platforms. Mornings usually bring the clearest air, which is why the tour starts early.

Katoomba Cascades

A short drive from Echo Point, the Katoomba Cascades tumble over a series of sandstone ledges before plunging towards the valley as Katoomba Falls. Boardwalks and viewing platforms lead through ferns and tall gum trees, and at the bottom of the cascades you can cross on stepping stones while the water runs past your feet. It is a cool, shady place on a hot day and one of the easiest waterfall walks in the mountains.

The cascades are especially full after rain, when the creek runs strongly through the green gully. Allow around 20 minutes, and wear shoes with a good grip, since the rocks near the water can be wet. The stop sits on the edge of the same cliff line as Scenic World, so it also gives you a first look at the valley you will ride into next.

Scenic World: Railway, Skyway and Cableway

Scenic World is the highlight for many travellers, and your tour includes all three rides. The Scenic Railway began life in the late nineteenth century hauling coal and oil shale out of the valley, and today it is the steepest passenger railway in the world, dropping through a cliff tunnel into the rainforest at an incline of about 52 degrees. The Scenic Skyway glides between cliff tops about 270 metres above the ravine, with a glass floor that shows the forest far below and wide views of Katoomba Falls, Orphan Rock and the Three Sisters.

The Scenic Cableway, the steepest aerial cable car in the southern hemisphere, carries you gently between the valley floor and the escarpment. Between rides, a raised boardwalk loops through ancient rainforest past old mining relics. Plan about one and a half hours here to enjoy the rides without rushing.

Cahill's Lookout and the Megalong Valley

Cahill's Lookout, on the western edge of Katoomba, is a quieter alternative to Echo Point with views every bit as grand. From the fenced platform you look straight down into the Megalong Valley, a wide farming valley framed by sheer sandstone walls, and across to the narrow ridge known as Narrow Neck. A short path leads to Boars Head Rock, a cliff formation whose outline really does resemble the head of a wild boar.

Because few coach groups stop here, this is often the best place on the tour for calm photos and a moment of silence above the forest. Late in the morning the light falls across the cliffs and brings out their orange and gold bands. Allow about 20 minutes. Our guide will point out where the valley's old coal mine tracks and walking trails run below.

Leura Village

Leura is the prettiest village in the upper Blue Mountains, with a main street called the Mall lined by cherry and elm trees, small galleries, sweet shops, bookshops and cafés in early twentieth-century buildings. Its large private gardens made the village a favourite mountain retreat for Sydney families from the 1900s, and in spring the town bursts with blossom and tulips.

On the default option your lunch is included in Leura (drinks are at your own expense), followed by free time to stroll the Mall or browse for local crafts and treats. If you choose the option without lunch, you have the same free time to buy a meal at one of the village cafés. Plan about an hour here. Leura sits only a few minutes from Katoomba, at around 1,000 metres above sea level, so it is often noticeably cooler than Sydney.

Sydney Zoo and the Harbour Ferry

On the drive back towards the city you stop at Sydney Zoo, a modern zoo opened in 2019 in western Sydney. Its Australian section lets you see koalas, kangaroos, wombats and other native animals at close range, and your entry includes an up-close digital photo with a koala, a memorable keepsake of the trip. You also have time to wander past animals from other continents before rejoining the group, with about an hour and a half in total at the zoo.

The day ends on the water. Instead of sitting in evening traffic, you board a ferry that runs through the harbour into Circular Quay, slipping under the Sydney Harbour Bridge with the Opera House shining ahead. It is a relaxing finish and a short walk from trains, buses and many central hotels. Your guide explains which ferry to board.