Blue Mountains Grand Traverse - 4 Days

Blue Mountains Grand Traverse - 4 Days

4 Days
Moderate

Blue Mountains Grand Traverse - 4 Days

from $2,095 / person

Overview

Just 90 minutes from Sydney, the Blue Mountains rank among the most awe-inspiring landscapes in the world. One million hectares of pristine wilderness opens up across waterfalls, canyons, and subtropical forest, with views that have made this place famous and charming accommodation perched at the very edge of it all.

This walk takes in the finest trails the Blue Mountains has to offer.


Highlights

  • Charming accommodation
  • Panoramic views that stretch out to the horizon and breathtaking landscapes
  • Pack free with Australia's most experienced walking company
  • Get up close to the Three Sisters
  • Grand Cliff Top Walk and the Six Foot Track
  • Ruined Castle or Grand Canyon

Itinerary

Day 1

Arrival and Grand Clifftop Walk

The best way to arrive in the mountains is by 2 hr train journey which leave regularly from Central Station. The Katoomba train station is a short 60 m walk from the hotel. Your guide will meet you at your accommodation. We would like you to arrive by 11.00 am so we can fit in all of today's stunning walk, which is a great introduction to the region. It includes marvellous views over the Valley and ends at the Three Sisters. If you are up to it, we can also add on the Giant Stairway, so you can see the 3 Sisters right up close. You will have time to explore Katoomba at the end of the day. Please speak to the office and let us know your arrival time.

Accommodation

3-star Hotel in Katoomba

Meals

Dinner

What's Included

Accommodation

3-star Hotel (3 nights)

Meals

3 breakfasts, 3 lunches, and 3 dinners

Transfers

  • Private Vehicle Transfers

Guidance & Support

  • Itinerary & Walk Notes
  • 24/7 on-trip support

Included Activities

  • Scenic world

How We Rate This Walk

3

Auswalk Walking Grade

Moderate

Rated by our team — we walk every route before we recommend it.

Expect some hills and longer walking days. A reasonable level of fitness will help you enjoy the experience.

View Fitness Guide

2

Days on the trail

10-11 km

Daily distance range

Daily ascent range

5/10

Trail difficulty

Where You'll Stay

All three nights are spent at the Carrington in Katoomba, a traditional art deco hotel that has been a landmark in the Blue Mountains for generations. The three-star rooms come with en-suite facilities, and the property's old-fashioned charm sits perfectly alongside the landscape and walks it overlooks.

What You'll Eat

Meals are well covered on this tour, with three breakfasts, three lunches and three dinners included throughout. Breakfast is continental, with a generous spread of bread, yoghurt, fresh fruit, Bircher and muesli, cereals, cold meats, cheese and cake. Walker's lunches are provided on each walking day, and dinners are two-course à la carte affairs at excellent local restaurants, including one evening at the Carrington itself. Please advise us of any food allergies or intolerances at the time of booking. If you have severe allergies, bringing some of your own snacks is recommended, as specialist ingredients can be harder to source along the way.

Note: Drinks and alcohol are not included with meals, with the exception of tea, coffee and juice served with breakfast.

More About This Trip

The walk both starts and finishes in Katoomba, in the Blue Mountains of New South Wales, Australia. The most practical way to reach Katoomba is by train from Sydney Central Station, with journey times of around 2 hours. Trains can also be picked up at Sydney Airport, with a change at Central. Services run frequently throughout the day, with no advance booking required; tickets can be purchased at the station.

As the walk returns to Katoomba, the same train connections apply for the journey back to Sydney.

Departure dates for this guided group walk are set for spring and autumn, with departures in September, October, November, March and April. Spring brings warming days and wildflowers on the escarpment, with October and November particularly pleasant. March and April offer cool, settled conditions ideal for the longer sections of this traverse. Summer heat and higher rainfall are avoided, as are the coldest winter months, when July can bring occasional snowfalls. Pack layers and a waterproof whatever the month.

This walk is graded easy to moderate. Daily walks average 14.3 kilometres with around 400 metres of ascent and descent, and a terrain difficulty rating of 6 out of 10. The walks have been selected to showcase the best of the Blue Mountains, though please be aware that the area is subject to occasional closures due to rainfall and its effects, which may require alterations to the planned routes. Good walking boots with reliable ankle support are recommended.

A regular walking routine of two to three times per week in the months before departure is sufficient preparation.

You must hold adequate travel insurance for your trip, including cover for personal liability and accidental injury and illness. For all trips involving international travel, your policy must also include emergency medical treatment, evacuation and repatriation cover. We strongly recommend your policy also covers trip cancellation and curtailment, and loss of or damage to luggage.

A cancellation fee usually applies if you cancel after your booking is confirmed. Travel insurance with cancellation cover will generally cover this fee, so it's worth arranging your policy at the time of booking.

Full insurance requirements are set out in our booking terms and conditions.

A detailed information pack and itinerary will be sent to you around six weeks before departure, covering everything you need to know for a seamless experience. In the meantime, our team is always on hand to answer any questions.

The Blue Mountains Cultural Centre in Katoomba is free to visit and houses the Blue Mountains City Art Gallery alongside the Into the Blue World Heritage interpretive exhibition, exploring the natural landscape, geology and Aboriginal cultural history of the Greater Blue Mountains through interactive displays.

Dates & Pricing

Choose Your Departure

Select a fixed group departure - places are limited

Prices shown are per person, twin/double share basis.

Blue Mountains reviews

4.9
47 reviews
5 Star
44
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Darren M
3 months ago

The scenery was stunning on each day. We managed to spot, or hear, several lyrebirds during the walk. Be aware that the scramble over the landslide section towards Ruined Castle requires a lot of care. And the descent at the start of the 6 foot track into Nellies gully is very steep in places, and also requires a lot of care (and good knees!). But after Nellies is quite easy. The accommodation at both Blackheath and Katoomba were very good. The Carrington in Katoomba is a wonderful old style art deco hotel that was one of the trip highlights in fact.

Anne-Louise F
4 months ago

We thoroughly enjoyed our Auswalk self-guided walk in the Blue Mountains. Accommodation choices were great. Clear communication, maps, walking notes and APP all worked to deliver a great holiday. Thank you.

Catherine W
4 months ago

Overall we LOVED the walks and the variety that they offered. Great family holiday.

Deborah K
7 months ago

The guides were extremely friendly and professional.

Jenny S
9 months ago

The Blue Mountains is a paradise for walkers and this Auswalk Grand traverse 4 day walk covered some beautiful features

Jenny S
9 months ago

The Blue Mountains is a paradise for walkers and Auswalk Blue Mountains walk covered some beautiful features

Frequently Asked Questions

Everything you need to know before walking in the Blue Mountains

Mobile coverage can be limited in parts of the Blue Mountains. Auswalk provides a walking app with GPX files that can be downloaded and viewed offline, making navigation straightforward even without reception. We also recommend downloading the free Emergency+ app before you go — it uses GPS to pinpoint your exact location even without phone signal, and allows you to call emergency services directly with your coordinates sent automatically.

The Blue Mountains walks are known for opening and closing at short notice due to sustained wet weather, landslides and infrastructure works. We monitor track conditions daily and will contact you with alternative walk options if a closure affects your itinerary before departure. Your walk notes also include contact numbers and park links so you can monitor conditions once your walk has begun. Flexibility is key to enjoying the Blue Mountains.

Your main luggage is transferred between accommodations while you walk, so you only need to carry a daypack each day. Bags must weigh no more than 23kg. Please do not exceed this limit as it can cause problems for those handling your luggage.

Water cannot be refilled along most sections of the track, so carry a minimum of two litres in cool weather and three litres in hot weather. Always plan ahead and fill up before you set off each day.

Key items include waterproof walking shoes or boots with good ankle support and grip, a quality waterproof jacket with hood, warm layers, a wide-brimmed sun hat, sunscreen (50+), sunglasses, a medium-sized daypack and a basic first aid kit. A portable phone charger is also strongly recommended. Walking poles are optional and not supplied by Auswalk. A full packing list will be included in your information pack sent four to six weeks before departure.

The Blue Mountains is generally cooler than Sydney. May through August brings cool to cold days with little rain — considered the best walking conditions. Spring and autumn are mild, while summer can bring warm temperatures, heavy rainfall and humidity. Always layer your clothing and be prepared for conditions to change quickly. Check the Bureau of Meteorology before departure for the most up-to-date forecasts.

Yes. Please advise us of any dietary requirements at the time of booking so we can inform your restaurants and accommodation hosts. If you have a very restricted diet, providing a list of foods you can eat is helpful. The sooner we know, the better we can prepare.

Credit cards are widely accepted, including in smaller towns, but carrying some Australian dollars at all times is recommended. ATMs are available in the main towns along the route, though they can be less frequent between stops. The currency throughout Australia is the Australian Dollar.

Want to Know More?

The Blue Mountains Experience

Wonder
Descend the Giant Stairway beside the Three Sisters and their Aboriginal legend
Trace old miners’ routes to Ruined Castle beneath the Jamison Valley escarpments
View Govetts Leap and Pulpit Rock over vast blue-hazed sandstone country
Wellness
Challenge yourself on the Grand Canyon loop through ferns, waterfalls and cool shade
Refresh beside spectacular Wentworth Falls after cliff-carved tracks and airy lookouts
Savour substantial walkers lunches at fabulous trackside spots between mountain stages
Nature
Walk through eucalyptus forest, where the mountains glow with their distinctive blue haze
Wander beneath giant tree ferns, mossy grottoes and overhanging cliffs in Waterfall Valley
Listen for birdsong and flowing water, with lyrebirds and currawongs along the track