blue mountains traverse
home of the three sisters

INN-to-INN walking holiday Self guided or guided departures  5 or 7 day itineraries  (includes 3 or 5 days of walking)

highlights

• World Heritage Area renowned for the recent discovery of the prehistoric Wollemi Pine

• Retrace the route of early explorers as they forged a way through the rugged mountains

• Hike the "Mid Cliff Track" as it wends its way through magnificent Waterfall Valley

See a folio of photographs taken by Auswalk customers on this trip.

Auswalk's Blue Mountains Traverse is an INN-to-INN accommodated walking holiday.  You walk through the National Park from one delightful accommodation to the next.  We move your luggage for you while you are out walking.  This holiday can be done Self-Guided. Guided trips are also available for a minimum of 2 people booking together. Note that if these trips are too long we also have a Blue Mountains Weekender trip.

Some of the tracks are cut into cliff faces

There's an Aboriginal legend about three gorgeous sisters who belonged to the Katoomba tribe. Word of their incredible beauty spread and soon a coastal tribe wanted to claim the maidens. Tribal laws prohibited the sisters from marrying outside their own tribe so a terrible battle raged across the mountains. Blood flowed and stained the rocks red. The Katoomba tribe were losing the battle and the frightened maidens ran to the cliff edge where their father turned them into stone. He had planned to change them back after the battle but alas he died before he could. So now we have the famous 3 Sisters rock formation, and to this day no one has discovered the magic spell that will set the gorgeous sisters free!

On this hike, you'll descend the Giant Stairway and get close enough to touch the sisters. And there's a whole lot more waiting to be discovered on foot in this prestigious World Heritage Area. In Waterfall Valley (7 day trip only), expect to see cascading waterfalls with hanging swamps growing out of the cliffs. Hike into the depths of stunning canyons where forest giants tower overhead and the only sounds are flowing water, bird song and the wind in the trees. Walk along the cliff top track to see Bridal Veil Falls plummet 180 metres in a single drop. Hike through eucalyptus forests and learn how the evocative blue haze is produced, giving the mountains their name. A real highlight is the Mid Cliff Walk (7 day trip only) where a wide path has been carved into the sheer cliff face. Handrails, ladders and airy lookouts provide a birds-eye view over the vast forests of the remote Jamison Valley. This is our longest running trip and always a favourite.

location
The Blue Mountains is about 2 hours west of Sydney, easily accessible by local train or car. We can also arrange private transfers from Sydney airport or city hotels.

grading
30% easy, 35% moderate, 35% harder. Longest day has 6.5 hours walking (can be reduced). Good public transport allows you to shorten walks if required. See Fact Sheet for detailed breakdown of daily walking distances and times.

accommodation
B&Bs and historic guesthouse - private rooms with ensuite bathrooms. More images can be found on the Fact Sheet.

Typical accommodation in the Blue Mountains

regional wine & food
The Blue Mountains is noted for its international cuisine with restaurants attracting some of the best chefs in the country. Accompany with award winning wines from the nearby Hunter Valley winery district.

what's included

7 day itinerary: 6 nights accommodation, 6 breakfasts, 5 lunches, 4 dinners, luggage transfers, National Park fees, Scenicworld pass including Scenic Railway ride & Sceniscender gondola ride, information booklets, insulated lunch bag, map case, walking notes, maps, guiding (on guided itineraries).

5 day itinerary: 4 nights accommodation, 4 breakfasts, 3 lunches, 3 dinners, luggage transfers, National Park fees, Scenicworld pass including Scenic Railway ride & Sceniscender gondola ride, information booklets, insulated lunch bag, map case, walking notes, maps, guiding (on guided itineraries).

Not included: Local train travel (allow $10pp), alcohol, additional meals.

the best time to go
Available all year except July. October-November is usually mild to warm. Temperatures warm up from December-February. March-April is usually cool to mild. Temperatures drop from May onwards and the days are cool to cold. July brings occasional snowfalls. Warmer, spring weather returns around September.

Stunning waratah flowers add a
splash of colour to the bush

departure dates
Self guided INN-to-INN - any day of the year except July, with a minimum of 2 people booking together. 
Guided INN-to-INN - any day of the year except July, with a minimum of 2 people bookingr

prices
Please see our Prices section of the website

Click here to read a client's poem about this Blue Mountains trip.

Look closely and you'll see hikers at
the middle level of Wentworth Falls!

itinerary guide - 7 days
(includes 6 nights accommodation & 5 days walking)

Day 1: Starts at Mt Victoria any time after 2pm. There is no walking scheduled for today. Accommodation: Mt Victoria

Day 2: The walk begins with an easy climb to the highest point in the mountains, Mt Piddington, followed by a descent through remote forest into the heart of Cox’s Cave. Marvel at the tenacity of the early explorers who forged a route through this rugged terrain! There’s more remote walking this afternoon as you explore the first pretty canyon, emerging into a huge natural rock amphitheatre. Finish the day with a stroll through magnificent rhododendron gardens nearby. Accommodation: Blackheath

Day 3: Skirt around sheer cliff tops to see Bridal Veil Falls plummet 180 metres in a single drop! Enjoy breathtaking views from Govetts Leap, at the same time discovering why the Blue Mountains appear "blue". Then descend into the depths of the Grand Canyon where surreal forest giants tower overhead and the path allows glimpses into the deep, dark clefts of the canyon itself. Accommodation: Blackheath

Riding the Scenic Railway

Day 4: Take an exhilarating ride down the Scenic Railway into the depths of the rainforest then retrace the route used by coal miners over 100 years ago. Mining relics, tunnels and adits can be seen along the way and observant walkers are often rewarded with a glimpse of an elusive lyrebird. Lunch today will be shared with flocks of cheeky currawongs at an impressive rocky outcrop called Ruined Castle. Will you rise to the Furber Challenge? An alternative to riding up the Scenic Railway, this track climbs steeply through dense rainforest past delightful waterfalls and pretty grottoes. Accommodation: Katoomba

Day 5: Learn the Aboriginal legend of how the famous 3 Sisters were formed as you descend the 862 steps of the Giant Stairway. Then it’s away from the throng of tourists and into the depths of Leura Forest. Delicate ferns and mosses hug the rainforest trees as filtered sunlight creates a magical scene. Accommodation: Leura

The famous 3 Sisters rock formation

Day 6: The setting for the grand finale is Waterfall Valley. The route winds its way past waterfalls, beneath overhanging cliffs and through magnificent grottoes. A real highlight today is the "mid-cliff" walk along a wide path that has been carved into the sheer cliff face! Handrails, ladders and airy lookouts provide a birds-eye view over hundreds of miles of forests. The spray from spectacular Wentworth Falls refreshes weary walkers before climbing to the cliff top. Accommodation: Leura

Day 7: Trip finishes after breakfast

Pretty waterfalls abound

itinerary guide - 5 days
(includes 4 nights accommodation & 3 days walking)

Day 1: Starts in Blackheath any time after 2pm.  There is an optional afternoon walk available.

Days 2-4: As for days 3-5 above

Day 5: As for day 7 above

Another of the magnificent
waterfalls on this walking holiday

fact sheets
Would you like more detailed information about this trip?

Download our Blue Mountains Traverse self guided INN-to-INN Fact Sheet.

Download our Blue Mountains Traverse guided INN-to-INN Fact Sheet.

They contains a detailed itineraries with walking times and distances and more information on accommodations including photos of places you will stay at.

Note: If you are having trouble opening this Fact Sheet, please click on the link to download the latest version of Adobe Reader.

prices
See the prices section

how to book
See the booking section

View a sample page of Self-Guided walking notes

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Phone +61 (0)3 5356 4971 | Fax +61 (0)3 5356 4970 | Email info@auswalk.com.au