3 days in the Blue Mountains

From Echo Point Visitor Centre just outside Katoomba, the Jamison Valley unfolds before you. You can’t miss the soaring sandstone turrets of the Three Sisters, named after the Aboriginal tale that describes how they were formed.

The world’s steepest passenger train, incredible cable car views and elevated boardwalks through the forest – those are just three reasons to head straight to Scenic World. Catch the Scenic Cableway up, then take the glass-encased Scenic Skyway.

Naturally, the bushwalking here is sublime – and the choices endless. Try the two-hour Govetts Leap descent in Blackheath. Start at the Govetts Leap Lookout, which has stunning views over escarpments, cliffs and valleys.

You’re spoilt for picturesque golf courses across the Blue Mountains. Practice your swing at the scenic Leura Golf Club, be wooed by nature at Blackheath Golf Club and enjoy the view at Wentworth Falls Country Club. 

The stunning views don’t have to end when you reach your accommodation. Check in to the Victorian-era Lilianfels Resort & Spa or enjoy the glamorous old-world surrounds of the Hydro Majestic.

With very low light pollution, the Blue Mountains are a great base for gazing at the heavens. Marvel at the moon and its craters, the Orion nebula and the rings of Saturn on an out-of-this-world stargazing tour with Blue Mountains Stargazing.

Whether you visit Katoomba, Leura or Blackheath, villages in the Blue Mountains come with plenty of charm. Browse antique stores, vintage emporiums and cafés dishing up tasty local treats and great coffee.

Got a head for heights? Visit the Pulpit Rock lookout for stunning panoramic views of the valleys below. The lookout can be reached on a scenic drive down Hat Hill Road and also serves as the starting point for the clifftop Pulpit Walking Track.

The Blue Mountains Adventure Company and High and Wild Australian Adventures in Katoomba offer abseiling experiences that are sure to get your heart pumping. Begin with small drops before tackling larger descents.

Megalong Valley Farm is immense – some 800 hectares, in fact. You can explore the native bushland here on the back of one of the farm’s beautiful horses, taking in views of the valley and maybe meeting a resident kangaroo.

E-biking with Blue Mountains Bikes is a blast. You'll traverse the Hanging Rock Trail and Burramoko Ridge fire trail en route to spectacular Hanging Rock and its incredible views over the Grose Valley.

After dark, visit the Katoomba Falls Reserve and take the Night-lit Walk. The 1.3km (0.8mi) stroll is well lit and gives you a very different perspective of features such as Orphan Rock and the falls themselves.

The Blue Mountains Botanic Garden Mount Tomah is home to cool-climate plants from around the world. Regardless of the season, the grounds are an explosion of colour. Refuel at the on-site café. 

Australia’s largest cool-climate gardens, Mayfield Garden is a wonderland of oaks, maples, rhododendrons and pastel-hued lilies. Stroll over bridges and through grottoes, pausing to test your skill in the hedge maze.

The small town of Bilpin is famous for its apples. There are a number of stalls selling the local bounty, as well as breweries where you can sip cider. Between January and June, you can also stop around town to pick your own fruit.

The Blue Mountains has its fair share of waterfalls. Wentworth Falls is one of the most picturesque, where the Jamison Creek drops over the escarpment and plunges 297m (974ft) into a large pool. Bushwalks in the area vary from 10 minutes to a full day. 

Some 300 caves comprise Jenolan, the largest cave system in Australia and the oldest of its kind in the world. Nine grottoes are open to visitors on a range of guided experiences, taking you through a labyrinth of limestone chasms carved over millennia by underground rivers.

On the edge of the Capertee Valley – the second biggest canyon in the world – Bubbletent Australia offers a very special sleeping experience. The glam off-grid tents are transparent, so the stars will lull you to sleep.