Reviews of seven of the best Blue Mountains day tours, based on value for money, transport, duration, highlights, and tour operator.
The Blue Mountains region is the most popular tourist and weekend getaway destination in Sydney and New South Wales. One of the most convenient and comfortable ways to enjoy the beauty of this national park is by joining a professional Blue Mountains tour.
A day tour to the Blue Mountains is a great way to see all the highlights in comfort and style, especially if you’ve never been there before and don’t have your own transport.
In this article, we will reveal the seven best Blue Mountains tours departing from Sydney, catering to different budgets, all tried and tested by us.
- Best value-for-money Blue Mountains tour:
Diamond Tours - Best private Blue Mountains tour:
Escape Scenes - Best alternative:
Blue Mountains Explorer Bus
Top 7 Blue Mountains Tours:
Top 7 Blue Mountains Tours
The following day tours have been selected based on value for money, destinations along the way, duration, transport, 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 with a maximum of 21 people, which makes the whole experience all the more comfortable and a bit more 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 Explorer Bus
If you want to go a little more DIY and make your own itinerary, 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.
