Reviews of seven of the best Blue Mountains day tours, rated on value for money, transport, inclusions, duration, highlights, and tour operator.
The Blue Mountains region is one of the most popular destinations for visitors to Sydney and New South Wales. Joining a guided tour is one of the easiest ways to experience the region’s highlights without the hassle of organising transport.
A day tour is perfect if you’re short on time, don’t have your own car, or aren’t familiar with the area, offering comfort and convenience while seeing the best sights.
In this guide, we share seven of the top Blue Mountains tours from Sydney, catering to different budgets, and all personally tried and tested.
- Best value-for-money Blue Mountains tour:
Diamond Tours - Best private Blue Mountains tour:
Escape Scenes - Best alternative:
Blue Mountains Hop On Hop Off Bus
Top 7 Blue Mountains Tours:
The following tours have been selected and reviewed based on value for money, destinations along the way, duration, transportation, customer reviews, inclusions, and general quality and reputation of the tour operator.
1. Diamond Tours Blue Mountains Day Tour
Offered by Diamond Tours, this popular Blue Mountains day tour includes a visit to Sydney Zoo, all rides at Scenic World, a visit to Echo Point and the Three Sisters, the Cahill’s Lookout, and a visit to Leura for lunch (at own expense).
What’s great about this particular tour is that you’ll be transported in a luxury minivan, accommodating a maximum of 21 people, which makes the whole experience all the more comfortable and intimate.
You will be picked up in the morning from one of three available and easily accessible pick-up locations in the Sydney CBD.
After visiting the Blue Mountains, the day continues with a stop at the popular Sydney Zoo (with feeding sessions), before a pleasant ferry trip from Sydney Olympic Park brings you back to the city via Circular Quay.
We like this Blue Mountains day tour because it offers excellent value for money. It’s not the most expensive tour, but it includes the most popular highlights and offers a high degree of professionalism.
| Diamond Tours Blue Mountains Day Tour | |
|---|---|
| Operator: | Diamond Tours |
| Duration: | 10 Hours |
| Transport: | Air-conditioned minivan (max 21 people) |
| Inclusions: | Scenic World rides, entry to Sydney Zoo, ferry to Circular Quay |
2. Anderson’s Tours Blue Mountains Day Trip
This well-organised and comfortable all-inclusive tour brings you to Featherdale Wildlife Park, Scenic World, Echo Point, and the Three Sisters.
It also includes visits to beautiful lookout points overlooking the Jamison Valley and a guided boardwalk through the rainforest.
A comfortable air-conditioned minibus and a knowledgeable tour guide make for a personalised experience, with a freshly prepared lunch (included in the price) to add to the experience.
To finish the day, a relaxing Harbour cruise along the Parramatta River brings you back to Sydney Harbour with Barangaroo as the final destination.
| Anderson’s Tours Blue Mountains Day Trip | |
|---|---|
| Operator: | Anderson’s Tours |
| Duration: | 11 Hours |
| Transport: | Air-conditioned minibus (max 20 people) |
| Inclusions: | Scenic World rides, entry to wildlife park, lunch (with diet options), ferry to Barangaroo |
3. Coast Warriors Blue Mountains Day Adventure
This fun Blue Mountains day tour from Sydney stands out because it’s a highly informal tour suitable for single or couple travellers (no young families) with some degree of fitness.
It’s an affordable tour without the fancy bells and whistles (i.e. wildlife park and Scenic World), but with exposure to beautiful lookouts and Blue Mountains scenery in a friendly atmosphere. Also included is a freshly prepared picnic lunch.
The tour includes a visit to Wentworth Falls, Three Sisters, Echo Point, and even a visit to a local swimming spot during the warmer summer months. There is a limit of 20 people on this tour, and with knowledgeable and local guides, you are guaranteed to have a personalised experience.
We love this Blue Mountains tour because it’s a little bit more adventurous than most other tours. Book this adventure if you want to spend a fun and exciting day out in the Blue Mountains with like-minded people!
| Coast Warriors Blue Mountains Day Adventure | |
|---|---|
| Operator: | Coast Warriors |
| Duration: | 11 Hours |
| Transport: | Air-conditioned minibus (max 20 people) |
| Inclusions: | Professional guide, freshly made picnic lunch (with diet options) |
4. Private Escape The Crowds Tour
The Escape the Crowds tour offered by Escape Scenes is our top recommendation if you’re after a private tour.
While there’s a suggested itinerary, including the major tourist spots in the Blue Mountains, you’re free to suggest changes on the day. You’ll be travelling in a Mercedes V-Class, adding to the comfort of the experience.
This tour is perfect for families or small groups who want the convenience and luxury of a private tour, along with the freedom to choose where they go. A highlight of the day is a visit to Blackheath and the impressive Govetts Leap Lookout.
Pickup is from your hotel or any preferred location. At the end of the day, you’ll be dropped off at the same place. A return trip by ferry can also be arranged if preferred.
| Private Escape The Crowds Tour | |
|---|---|
| Operator: | Escape Scenes |
| Duration: | 8 Hours |
| Transport: | Luxury van or SUV |
| Inclusions: | Hotel pickup, Blue Mountains top spots, refreshments |
5. FJ Tours Blue Mountains Full-Day Trip
This full-day (10 hours) Blue Mountains day tour includes the Katoomba highlights, such as the Three Sisters, Echo Point, and the Jamison Valley.
Like many others, this tour includes the three Scenic World rides (Cableway, Skyway, and Railway). When it comes to lunch, you can bring your own food or buy lunch at one of the various cafes in Leura.
The first stop of this tour is at the Featherdale Wildlife Park, where you can get up close and personal with kangaroos, wombats, and crocodiles.
On your return trip, you get to enjoy the serenity of a 1-hour ferry cruise on the Parramatta River, bringing you back to Circular Quay to conclude the day tour.
| FJ Tours Blue Mountains Full-Day Trip | |
|---|---|
| Operator: | FJ Tours |
| Duration: | 10 Hours |
| Transport: | Air-conditioned coach |
| Inclusions: | Scenic World rides, entry to wildlife park, lunch (with diet options), ferry to Circular Quay |
6. Activity Tours Small-Group Blue Mountains Day Tour
This small-group Blue Mountains tour includes a visit to Featherdale Wildlife Park, in addition to a stop at Echo Point and the Three Sisters.
This tour stands out in that it offers tailored guided bushwalks, where you’ll be enjoying panoramic lookout points and beautiful scenery in the Wentworth Falls area that many other tourists miss out on.
You will also be visiting Katoomba, where you can enjoy lunch at one of the many cafes (not included) or bring your own food to eat outdoors.
Note that this tour does not include the Scenic World rides or a ferry trip back to the city. Instead, this tour focuses more on showcasing various lookouts and walking trails to get the best out of the Blue Mountains.
| Activity Tours Small-Group Blue Mountains Day Tour | |
|---|---|
| Operator: | Activity Tours |
| Duration: | 10 Hours |
| Transport: | Air-conditioned minibus (max 20 people) |
| Inclusions: | Entry to wildlife park, guided bushwalks |
7. Wildlife Tours Blue Mountains Afternoon Sunset Tour
This Blue Mountains tour is a bit different from the rest on this list because it is an afternoon tour, avoiding an early morning rush hour start.
This tour strongly focuses on the native flora and fauna and the local Aboriginal history and culture. The day starts with an easy bushwalk in the Wentworth Falls area, including a spectacular lookout.
The day continues in the Katoomba area with a visit to Echo Point and the Three Sisters, before settling in for a beautiful sunset.
Transport is with an air-conditioned mini-coach, with a pick-up location next to Central Station. Book this tour if you’re looking for a casual Blue Mountains outing focused on natural attractions.
| Wildlife Tours Blue Mountains Afternoon Sunset Tour | |
|---|---|
| Operator: | Wildlife Tours Australia |
| Duration: | 10 Hours |
| Transport: | Air-conditioned minibus |
| Inclusions: | Experienced driver and guide, guided bushwalk |
Alternative: Blue Mountains Hop On Hop Off Bus
If you want to go a little more DIY and make your own itinerary, the Blue Mountains Hop On Hop Off Bus, also known as the Blue Mountains Explorer Bus, is the perfect solution. This classic Hop-On-Hop-Off bus allows you to spend as much time as you like at the most popular spots.
Travelling to the Blue Mountains by train is quite easy and comfortable, and once you arrive at Katoomba train station, you can jump straight on the Explorer Bus to get to all the highlights.
When you’re ready to go to the next highlight, simply wait for the bus to arrive and hop on. The bus drivers are super friendly and provide excellent and valuable background information about the different highlights.
You can purchase two types of tickets:
- Bus ticket:
This ticket is for the bus only. If you’re not planning to go to Scenic World, this is the best ticket to purchase. - Bus ticket + full-day Scenic World pass:
This ticket includes the bus and full access to all rides at Scenic World at a discounted price.
Things to Consider Before Booking a Tour
Most Sydneysiders know their city well and will likely have visited the Blue Mountains several times. However, if you’re a tourist from overseas or interstate visiting Sydney for a week or just a few days, you may not know how to get around or which highlights to focus on. In that case, a day tour of the Blue Mountains can be a great option.
If you’re considering booking a Blue Mountains tour, keep the following points in mind.
1. Price and Inclusions
Prices can vary between tours, so it’s worth checking exactly what’s included. In some cases, an expensive lunch is part of the package, which can inflate the overall price.
It’s also important to check whether entry tickets to Scenic World or zoos are included, or if you’ll need to purchase these separately.
Most tours do include a visit to Scenic World, and while we do enjoy it, not everyone feels the need to go there. You can have a fantastic time in the Blue Mountains without doing the rides at Scenic World.
If your visit to the Blue Mountains is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, make sure you choose a tour that covers the key highlights.
These must-see spots include Echo Point, the Three Sisters, and time in Katoomba and Leura. We’re also big fans of Wentworth Falls, so it’s a bonus if a tour includes a stop at this beautiful waterfall.
2. Customer Reviews
One of the best ways to work out whether a particular tour is right for you is by reading reviews from people who have already joined it.
Tour websites such as GetYourGuide and Viator usually feature a good number of reviews for each tour, and these often reveal useful and sometimes unexpected details.
3. Transport and Duration
Most day tours run for around 8 to 12 hours, so make sure you’re comfortable with the advertised duration.
It’s also worth checking what type of vehicle is used to get you to the Blue Mountains. A large coach often means the hotel pick-up process can take some time, while a smaller van is usually much quicker.
Additionally, note that some Blue Mountains tours include a ferry trip back to the city, which is a great way to see parts of Sydney you might otherwise miss.
4. Additional Zoo Visit
Some tours include entry to Featherdale Wildlife Park in Doonside, east of the Blue Mountains. It’s a great little park, but if you’ve already seen Australian wildlife up close or simply aren’t interested, it may be worth choosing a tour that doesn’t include this stop.
Other tours include a visit to Sydney Zoo, which is a larger wildlife park than Featherdale. Sydney Zoo is one of Sydney’s best zoos and wildlife parks, with a wide range of animals to see.
When booking your Blue Mountains tour, it’s worth looking into both wildlife parks and deciding which one, if any, you would prefer to visit. We don’t have a strong preference, as both offer their own experiences and can add value as part of a Blue Mountains day trip.
5. Book in Advance
If you’re visiting Sydney during the October to March spring and summer season, it’s important to book your Blue Mountains tour well in advance.
This is a particularly busy time of year, and locking in your preferred tour early helps ensure you don’t miss out.
6. Consider Doing It Yourself
It’s perfectly fine to catch a train or rent a car and explore the Blue Mountains on your own. As long as you do a bit of research and know where you want to go, this can be an excellent option.
The main benefit of travelling independently is that you’re in complete control and can decide for yourself where to go and what to skip. The downside is that it can be more time-consuming, particularly if you’re relying on public transport.
If you choose to use public transport, we recommend taking a train from Central Station to Katoomba, then using the Blue Mountains Explorer Bus to visit the major highlights.
Have a great trip!
