There are trails through the mountains which range from just an hour's walk to probably a lot longer (I didn't go for much longer than about an hour in each direction). You can take a really fun funicular ride, the Katoombah Scenic Railway, which plummets down hundreds of meters and is an amazing and scary experience!

I'd definitely recommend a trip to the Blue Mountains if you have lots of time in Sydney. But if your time is limited, then only visit the mountains if you're a real hiking or nature aficionado.

After visiting the sanctuary, you head to the Blue Mountains for a a 4 wheel drive. This a true 4 wheel trip on an unkept road. You'll bounce around in the truck like you never thought possible. (This trip is not for someone who gets motion sickness.) You'll stop to look out at some of the sheer cliffs.

Next, you'll drive up another mountain to a small restaurant which used to be the old post office. Lunch is included with the tour and is authentic Austrlian BBQ steak, grilled pumkin, salad, and soup.

Later you'll head to Katoomba where you can view the 3 sisters rock formation and the guide tells you about the folklore behind the name. Then onto Govett's leap where you can view a beautiful waterfall and hear more stories.

After all this, your guide will stop in an open park where you'll see a flogging stone that was used on the Australian convicts. The guides make coffee and open a box of cookies for you. Then they'll show you how to throw a boomerang and play a the digeridoo an aboriginal instrument made from tree branches that have been hollowed out by termites.

Its a long day, but its you'll see some amazing natural formations and learn a lot about Austrlian history and folklore.

Another thing to note: On a small group trip like this you tend to bond more with the others even if they are strangers to you. I met a two people from Sweden, and 1 from Baltimore MD that I still keep in touch with.

You can take the train, as I did, from Sydney’s Central Station to Katoomba. The ride is dirt cheap (A$12 round trip, off peak), comfortable and easy. Sit in the upstairs section of the double-decker train car for a better view of the scenery.

Katoomba is touristy, but not without charm. On the 20-minute walk down Katoomba Street from the train station to the trailheads, you’ll pass some fun galleries and shops, nice cafes and convenience stores for those last-minute supplies.

Try the National Park Service information desk at Echo Point for hiking trail information. The nearby trailhead will take you down the Giant Stairway (860 steps), around the famous Three Sisters rock formation, and into the Jamison Valley. It’s a down-up hike, with the hard part, the ascent, towards the end of the trip, so budget your energy accordingly. And watch your footing on the way down; sections of the trail here are steep.

When you arrive on the valley floor, the trail levels out. Keep a sharp eye out for the elusive lyrebird, so called because its tail feathers when fanned out resemble a lyre. After hiking the valley floor for about a mile, you’ll arrive at the funicular railroad, which once transported ore from local mines, but now carries tourists in and out of the valley. You can continue beyond this point to see the mine and the site of a landslide, or if you’ve had it with hiking, you can hop on the tram. A better option is to take the Furber Steps up out of the valley. This trail offers some impressive views of the Katoomba Falls that you’d otherwise miss.

When you reach the top of the steps, you can connect with the Prince Henry Cliff Walk, which leads back to the trailhead at Echo Point. Along the way, there are several lookouts that provide stunning views of the Three Sisters and offer perspective on the awesome expanse of this valley.

The entire hike, which I’d rate as moderately strenuous, takes about three hours to complete. Once back at Echo Point, you can return to the station via Katoomba or Lurline Streets.

During the summer months, the mountains can get crowded on weekends. You’ll have more room in town and on the trails if you visit mid-week. If you have an extra day and want to do more hiking, other trails originate in nearby Leura and Wentworth. And a note on the weather: if it is cloudy or raining in Sydney, it is probably worse up here at 3,000 feet. Wait for a sunny day to visit.