Sydney Travelogue | Blue Mountains by Public Transport

I used to drive to the Blue Mountains, which was convenient, but I had to focus on the road the whole time and couldn't really appreciate the scenery, which always felt like something was missing. This time, I wanted to try a different approach – entirely by public transport, and I specifically chose a route that wasn't a round trip: taking the train there in the morning and the ferry back in the afternoon, slowly drifting back to Sydney Harbour along the Parramatta River. After completing the journey, I found it was indeed more interesting than driving, though navigating public transport was a bit tiring.

 

Morning: Depart from Central Station
Board the train at Sydney's Central Station. On the weekday I traveled, it wasn't crowded, and using an Opal card was more convenient. The train ride is about two hours. I recommend sitting on the right side by the window – after Springwood, you can see the valley on the right, and the view there is excellent.

 

To Katoomba: Transfer to Bus 686
Exiting Katoomba station, the bus stop is right outside. Route 686 is a small bus, running every 15 minutes or so, directly to Echo Point – the lookout for the Three Sisters. You can simply tap your Opal card. At Echo Point, the Three Sisters stand majestically on the cliff edge, with the blue valley below – they say the name "Blue Mountains" comes from the blue haze refracted by eucalyptus oil in the air. The weather was great that day, and it truly was a misty blue.

Scenic World: Experience all three rides
Walking a few minutes south from Echo Point brings you to the entrance of Scenic World. I bought my cable car tickets there; it's always good to travel on a weekday as there weren't many people queuing.

 

The first ride I took was the Railway, also known as the Scenic Railway. This ride is known as the steepest passenger railway in the world, with an incline of 52 degrees – you're practically leaning backward when seated, and the initial start feels like a roller coaster. It was originally used by miners to transport coal and is now an attraction for visitors, plunging directly from the mountain top into the rainforest valley.

 

At the bottom of the valley, you can walk a rainforest boardwalk. The wooden path is very well-maintained, flanked by tall eucalyptus trees and ferns. A walk of about 15 minutes will bring you to the Cableway station. The Cableway is a large glass-cabin cable car that slowly pulls you back up to the mountaintop from the valley floor. From this angle, the cliff and waterfall are particularly clear when looking back.

 

The last one is the Skyway, a cable car that spans the valley high in the air. The most amazing feature is the transparent glass floor at the bottom of the cabin – though you can also stand on the regular floor area. The Skyway travels from one end of Scenic World to the other, passing over Katoomba Falls, allowing you to see the waterfall flowing directly beneath your feet. The cabin will pause in the middle, and an announcement will describe the Three Sisters in the distance and the gorge below.

 

The three rides can be taken in any order, and the pass allows unlimited rides. We spent about two hours completing all the routes, including the rainforest walk in between.

 

Lunch and afternoon plans
It was almost 1 PM when we left Scenic World. We had lunch in Katoomba town.

Afternoon: How to return
This is important to mention – many people don't know you can take a ferry back to Sydney, and the scenery is completely different.

 

Around 3 PM, I took the train back from Katoomba, riding the Blue Mountains line directly to Rhodes station. From Rhodes station, it's about a 20-minute walk to the water, where you'll find the Sydney Olympic Park Wharf. The ferry route is called F3 (Parramatta River), departing from Parramatta Wharf, stopping at Sydney Olympic Park Wharf, and eventually heading to Circular Quay. I caught the 4:45 PM ferry that day, which departed just after 5 PM.

On the ferry: This is the highlight
To be honest, this ferry ride surprised me more than the Blue Mountains themselves.
The boat moved steadily, passing Homebush Bay, where you can see the main stadium from the 2000 Olympics (from a distance, it looks like a big white bowl). Then, it slowly navigated through the Parramatta River. First, you see parks converted from industrial sites along the banks, then mansions in affluent areas, and finally, the Harbour Bridge and Opera House suddenly appear before your eyes – that transition from valley to bay is particularly wonderful.

We happened to catch the sunset that day, with golden light reflecting on Sydney Harbour, and many people on board were taking photos. The hour-long journey felt like it passed very quickly.

Practical tips
· Ferry schedule: For those who enjoy watching the sunset over Sydney Harbour from the ferry, check the ferry times and sunset times in advance.
· Physical demands: This route requires a bit of stamina, as it involves taking a train, walking, and then a ferry. It's not suitable for seniors or young children.

Also, a side note, the town of Leura at the foot of the mountains is also quite lovely. You can get off at Leura station and explore its English gardens and antique shops.

 

If you want to know more about Sydney chartered car services: