Last updated: May 3, 2022
One of the most popular tourist and weekend-getaway destinations in Sydney and New South Wales is of course the Blue Mountains, a World-Heritage-listed area less than two hours away from Sydney.
And one of the most convenient ways to enjoy the beauty of this popular national park is by booking 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. This is especially true if you’ve never been there before and you don’t have your own transport.
We have shortlisted the seven best Blue Mountains tours departing from Sydney, based on transport, operator, inclusions, reviews, and price.
Top 7 Blue Mountains Tours:
Top 7 Blue Mountains Tours
The following 7 day tours are selected based on value for money, destinations along the way, duration, transport, inclusions, and general quality and reputation of the tour operator.
1. Blue Mountains Deluxe Minivan Group Tour
Offered by Diamond Tours, this popular Blue Mountains day tour includes a visit to Featherdale Wildlife Park, all rides at Scenic World, a visit to Echo Point and the Three Sisters, and a visit to Leura.
What’s great about this particular tour is that you’ll be transported in a deluxe minivan with a maximum of 21 people, which makes the whole experience all the more comfortable.
The day ends with a visit to Featherdale, before driving back to the Sydney CBD to four major drop-off points.
Tour inclusions:
- Air-conditioned minivan (max 21 people)
- Scenic World rides
- Admission to Featherdale Wildlife Park
2. All Inclusive Blue Mountains Small-Group Day Trip
This well organised and comfortable all-inclusive tour brings you to Featherdale, Scenic World, Echo Point, and the Three Sisters. It also includes a short and easy guided walk to beautiful lookout points.
A comfortable air-conditioned minibus and a knowledgeable tour guide make for a personalised experience, with a chef-prepared lunch to add to the experience.
To finish the day, a relaxing Harbour cruise along the Parramatta River brings you back to Sydney Harbour.
Tour inclusions:
- Mini bus (max 20 people)
- Scenic World rides
- Chef prepared lunch
- Admission to Featherdale Wildlife Park
- Cruise to Sydney Harbour
3. Blue Mountains Day Trip with River Cruise
This full-day (10 hours) Blue Mountains day tour includes the Katoomba highlights, such as the Three Sisters, Echo Point, and the Jamison Valley.
You also have the option to include the three Scenic World rides (Cableway, Skyway, and Railway), and you can bring your own lunch or buy lunch at one of the various stops on the day.
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 Fantasea River Cruise on the Parramatta River, bringing you back to Circular Quay to conclude the day tour.
Tour inclusions:
- Transport by air-conditioned bus
- Scenic World rides (optional)
- Admission to Featherdale Wildlife Park
- River cruise back to Circular Quay
4. Small-Group Blue Mountains Day Trip
This small group Blue Mountains tour included a visit to Featherdale Wildlife Park, and also a stop at Echo Point and the Three Sisters.
One of the highlights of the tour is a guided bushwalk in the Wentworth Falls where you’ll be enjoying a few amazing lookout points and incredible natural scenery.
You will also be visiting Katoomba where you can enjoy lunch at one of the many cafes (not included), or otherwise, bring your own picnic.
Tour inclusions:
- Transport by air-conditioned coach
- Guided walk to Wentworth Falls
- Admission to Featherdale Wildlife Park
5. Blue Mountains Day Adventure with BBQ Lunch
This fun Blue Mountains day tour from Sydney stands out in that it’s a highly informal tour suitable for travelers between the ages of 18 and 39. It’s an affordable tour where you get to see all the highlights in a friendly atmosphere.
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. And what’s better than an authentic Aussie-style BBQ for lunch?
Try this tour out if you’re looking to spend a fun and exciting day out in the Blue Mountains with like-minded people.
Tour inclusions:
- Air-conditioned vehicle (max 20 people)
- Aussie BBQ (vegan options)
- Local guides
6. Fully Inclusive Blue Mountains Private Tour
If you prefer a comprehensive private tour for just you and your group, this fully inclusive Blue Mountains tour may just be a perfect choice.
Operated by Sydney Private Day Tours, you will be transported to the Blue Mountains in a luxury minivan or SUV, driven by a professional driver and guide.
You will be picked up from your hotel (or any requested location), and be taken to the major highlights in the Blue Mountains, including Scenic World, Echo Point, the Three Sisters, and Leura, plus a trip to Featherdale Wildlife Park.
Tour inclusions:
- Private transport by minivan or SUV
- Admission to Featherdale Wildlife Park
- Scenic World rides
- Complimentary morning tea
7. Blue Mountains Afternoon and Sunset Tour
This particular Blue Mountains tour is a bit different from the rest on this list in that it is an afternoon tour avoiding an early morning rush hour start.
This tour has a strong focus on the native flora and fauna and also 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, and a nice picnic lunch is included in the tour.
Tour inclusions:
- Transport by air-conditioned mini coach
- Guided bush walk
- Picnic lunch
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 gives you the freedom to spend as much time as you like at the most popular spots.
It’s incredibly easy to travel to the Blue Mountains by train, 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 useful background information about the different highlights.
You can purchase two different types of tickets. One option is to buy a ticket just for the bus, and the other option is to include a full-day pass to all attractions at Scenic World at a discounted price.
What to Look For in a Blue Mountains Tour?
If you’re interested in booking a Blue Mountains tour, please keep the following criteria in mind for guidance.
1. Price and Inclusions
Prices can vary between tours. Make sure you check the inclusions as sometimes an expensive lunch is included which can inflate the price. Also, check whether any entry tickets are included or if you need to purchase these yourself.
2. Reviews
The best way to determine whether a specific tour is suitable for you is by reading the reviews. Tour websites like GetYourGuide and Viator usually have a good amount of reviews per tour which often reveal more details.
3. Transport and Duration
While most day tours take around 8-10 hours, make sure that you’re happy with the advertised duration. Also check what type of vehicle is used to get you to the Blue Mountains. A big coach typically means that the hotel pick-up process in the morning can take quite some time, whereas a small van is much quicker.
Also note that some Blue Mountains tours use a ferry to bring you back to the city, which is a nice way to see more parts of Sydney that you would otherwise not see.
4. Featherdale Wildlife Park
Some tours include entrance to Featherdale Wildlife Park in Doonside, east of the Blue Mountains. This is a great little park but if you’ve already seen Australian wildlife from close by or if you’re simply not interested, find a tour that doesn’t include this destination.
Who Should Book a Blue Mountains Tour?
Most Sydney-siders know their city quite well and most likely will have visited the Blue Mountains several times.
But if you’re a tourist from overseas or interstate coming to visit Sydney for a week or so, you may not know how to get around and which highlights to visit. In that case, a day tour to the Blue Mountains is highly recommended.
Focus on Highlights
One could spend a whole week in the Blue Mountains and still not see all the highlights. The Blue Mountains region is huge, with just so much to see and do.
So if you only have one, or perhaps two days to spend in the Blue Mountains, then it’s best to focus on the absolute highlights.
Save Your Time
And that’s exactly what most Blue Mountains tours involve. Doing a tour means you don’t have to waste time researching where to go, how to get there, and so forth.
If you book a good quality Blue Mountains tour, you can simply relax and let the professionals take you to these highlights, often complemented with excellent background information.
Or Do It Yourself
You could also catch a train or rent a car to explore the Blue Mountains by yourself. As long as you do your own research and you know where to go, this can be a very good idea.
The benefit of doing it this way is that you’re in full control and you can decide for yourself where to go and where not to go.
Final Thoughts
Hopefully, this guide to the best Blue Mountains tours departing from Sydney has given you some good insights into what to expect if you book a tour instead of going DIY.
Tours are great, but if you do have your own transport and you have some spare time to prepare yourself, it may be a good idea to plan a visit to the Blue Mountains yourself. This way you can do everything at your own pace and you have more freedom around which sites you would like to visit.
Keep in mind that if you are visiting Sydney in the November to February summer season, it is worth booking your Blue Mountains tour well in advance. The summer season is quite a busy time of the year, so make sure you don’t have to miss out.
Enjoy your day out in the Blue Mountains!
