Katoomba is the largest and best-known town in the Blue Mountains. It serves as the main base for travellers to the Blue Mountains, and the main gateway to the two most popular tourist spots at Echo Point and Scenic World. It has the most shops with all the supplies you need, tourist offices, motels, transport restaurants and even some nightlife. However, it has lost the quaint village charm to Leura, its immediately adjacent neighbour to the east.
Understand
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Before the British colonial period, Katoomba and the surrounding Blue Mountains were home to the Gundungurra and Darug indigenous peoples, who referred to the area as kedumba, meaning "shining falling water". Around the turn of the 20th century, Many Aboriginal peoples were forcibly relocated to settlements such as The Gully, a tract of land in the middle of town.
Katoomba developed as a popular mountain resort town in the early 20th century, with holidaymakers taking advantage of the train services along the current line from Sydney. The town reached an early heyday in the period between the world wars, attested to today by the numerous examples of art deco architecture and shop fronts along the main street of the town.
The town is 1,017 m (3,337 ft) above sea level.
Get in
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By car
[edit]Katoomba is around 100 km (60 miles) from Sydney, just off the Great Western Highway, and is a well signposted destination. Parking is available in town, with timed parking on the street. Parking fees are charged at Echo Point and availability is limited, so if you are also visiting Scenic World, consider parking there in its large car park, and walking to Echo Point from the Scenic Skyway terminus.
By train
[edit]Situated on the northern end of the town centre is 1 Katoomba station. The station is staffed all day and is wheelchair accessible.
Sydney Trains
[edit]From Sydney's Central station, it sees hourly services from the Blue Mountains Line, taking about 2 hr; similar hourly services run from Lithgow, taking about 1½ hr. There is also the twice daily Bathurst Bullet from Bathurst in the early morning, taking about 2 hr. As of 2026, the fare from Sydney is $7.46; opal cards are accepted.
NSW Trainlink
[edit]NSW Trainlink runs daily services from Dubbo, taking about 5 hr; from the outback town of Broken Hill, there's the weekly Broken Hill Xplorer taking about 12 hr. As of 2026 the fare from Dubbo is $39; from Broken Hill it's $65. You must book in advance to travel on these services, which opens 180 days prior to travel.
By coach
[edit]Australia Wide Coaches operate a daily express service from Katoomba to the Sydney City and on to Sydney airport every morning, and return in the afternoon.
By bus
[edit]Bus 690K runs daily (except Su) from Springwood. Bus 698V runs three times a day M-F from Mount Victoria. Bus 685 runs five times M-F, four times Sa and two times Su from Leura and Wentworth Falls. Opal cards accepted.
Get around
[edit]By public bus
[edit]Buses radiate outwards from 1 Carrington Hotel bus stop, near the railway station. Bus 686 runs every 20 minutes south to Scenic World and Echo Point all day; except in the early morning and evenings when you need to take bus 686G, which runs every 20 minutes. Plan your journey on transportnsw.info.
Buses accept Opal and contactless cards only. Cash is not accepted.
By tourist bus
[edit]Alternatively, you can take the Blue Mountains Explorer Bus (a hop-on hop-off bus), which leaves hourly from just outside the Carrington Hotel. The bus departs each hour and goes to Leura, along the canyon edge to Three Sisters, Echo Point, Scenic World and back also stopping at some resorts, golf courses and museums.
As of Apr 2026, the bus costs adults $55 for a day pass from around 9AM to 5PM ($15 for children), but ask nicely at their sales office near the train station and you may get stamps for extra days for free; note however, that these buses are not Opal enabled (and overall aren't super worth the money if you're okay with longer waits). Their ticket office is across the street from Katoomba railway station.
See
[edit]- 1 Echo Point. A 'must see' for any visitor to Sydney, there are spectacular views of the Three Sisters rock formation from this lookout. There are a lot of tourists, although the platforms are well structured to give you a great view. There are numerous walking trails from here, including a 30-minute walk to the Three Sisters. There's also an information centre here with displays about the environment of the area, so it's a good place to start your visit to the mountains. Maps and souvenirs available for sale. Come back at night to see the area lit up. There is an easy walk down to a bridge where you can walk to the base of the sisters. Free, although parking at $5 an hour.
- 2 Katoomba Falls, Cliff Dr.
- 3 Scenic World, 1 Violet Street, ☏ +61 2 4782 2699, [email protected]. M-F 10AM-4PM, Sa-Su 9AM-5PM. The Scenic Skyway and Scenic Railway have been part of a visit to the Blue Mountains for as long as any Sydneysider can remember. It is home to the world's steepest railway at an incline of 52 degrees (128% gradient). The scenic cableway is much more sedate as descends down into the forest, and although it is common to do the railway down and the cableway back, if you want to enjoy the ride and not just the view, you'll have more fun just taking the railway both directions. Renovations to the railway have made it not quite as scary as it once was. Down in the valley you can walk on boardwalks along in the rainforest, the avalanche and see some mining remnant artifacts. There can be crowds on weekends, but you'll still get on okay. There can be school groups too, so just have a cup of coffee and wait for them to do their thing. $64 on weekdays, $70 on weekends and during school holidays.
- 4 Varuna (The Writers' House), 141 Cascade St.
A little outside
[edit]- 5 The Hydro Majestic, 52–88 Great Western Highway, Medlow Bath, ☏ +61 2 4782 6885. This grand hotel began its life in 1904 as a health resort, and it is the main attraction of Medlow Bath. The view from over the Megalong Valley is simply stunning, with large glass windows in the restaurants and lobby. The hotel has been renovated. If you are not staying here, it is still worth having high tea in the Wintergarden.
- 6 Explorers Tree (west of Katoomba). This is well known as the tree where (supposedly) Gregory Blaxland, William Lawson and William Charles Wentworth, who were the first known European explorers who crossed the Blue Mountains in 1813, vandalised the tree by carving their initials in 1813 on this Eucalyptus oreades specimen. The tree has been removed although the platform where it stood still exists.
Do
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- Bushwalking in the valleys, including longer walks to the Ruined Castle (an eroded mountain) and Mt Solitary. Watch out for large, noisy lyrebirds scratching up food on the ground. If you're not prepared for bushwalking in the mountains, stick to walks along the cliff base, or connect with a guide. Good shoes, a bottle of water and some sun protection are highly recommended.
- 1 The Edge cinema, 225 Great Western Highway, ☏ +61 2 4782 8900. The main attraction is a 38-minute giant screen movie about the Blue Mountains, called Wild Australia: The Edge. This is an amazing show about the stunning scenery and the rainforest, filmed from an "adventure sports" and "conservation" viewpoint; not at all tacky or "touristy". The cinema also screens other giant screen films and conventional movies including classic films, so be sure to check the schedule before making the trip.
- Winter Magic Festival.
- Vertical Film Festival (VFF).
- 2 The Baroque Room, 15 Katoomba St. 18+ venue. Ornate live performance venue.
Buy
[edit]- 1 Trains, Planes & Automobiles, 1 Goldsmith Pl, ☏ +61 2 4787 7974. M F Sa 10AM–4PM. Has been operating for over 20 years and features a stellar collection of antique toys and collectibles.
Eat
[edit]- 1 Avalon, 18 Katoomba St, ☏ +61 2 4782 5532, [email protected]. W-Th Su-M 5:30PM-9PM, F-Sa 5:30PM-10PM. A stylish restaurant in the dress circle of the old Savoy theatre with beautiful views down the valley. It is moderately expensive, but they have generous servings and huge desserts. Friendly yet unobtrusive staff and a classy atmosphere. The main dining room is accessible by stairs only. Mains up to $42.
- 2 The Yellow Deli (formerly Common Ground café), 214 Katoomba St (cnr Katoomba St and Waratah St), ☏ +61 2 4782 9744. M-Th 7AM-7PM, F 7AM-3PM, Sa noon-7PM. Excellent personal service, fairly nice prices for delicious food, but is run by the Twelve Tribes cult (a Christian nationalist cult) and they are known to recruit people in. Ambiance is cosy and private. Sometimes live music. Great for lunch or dinner.
- 3 Thai Square, 6 Katoomba St, ☏ +61 2 4782 2000, [email protected]. Daily 11:30AM-2:30PM, 5PM-10PM. Thai food for those wishing to test their tastebuds.
- 4 Blue Mountains Seafood, 191 Katoomba St, ☏ +61 2 4782 2964. Tu-Sa 10:45AM-7:30PM, Su 11AM-7:30PM. A fish and chips takeaway which also sells beef burgers.
- 5 Grand Dining Room. Tu-Sa 5:30-8PM. The dining room of the Carrington Hotel, one of the few remaining in Australia. $62 for 2 courses.
Drink
[edit]Traditional pubs, less heavy on live entertainment than the Clarendon, cluster around Katoomba railway station. The nightlife is this area is not fantastic - by 9PM on a Friday night the streets are almost empty - but those looking for a drink should try:
- 1 Old City Bank Bar & Brasserie (formerly The Carrington Saloon Bar), 15 Katoomba St. Daily noon-10PM. The most upmarket of the pubs, it contains rather less drunken young people than the others on the average Friday or Saturday night. Sometimes has live piano music. It also has an excellent restaurant upstairs.
- 2 Champagne Charlie’s. Daily 11AM-4:30PM. Katoomba's oldest cocktail bar. May have once been called the "Carrington" and "Carrington Main Bar".
- 3 Clarendon Guesthouse, 68 Lurline St. Has a licensed entertainment restaurant that features live music, comedy and theatre.
All live music venues in Katoomba publish advertisements listing their upcoming attractions in the entertainment section of the Blue Mountains Gazette, which is published on Wednesdays and can be bought at newsagencies.
Sleep
[edit]Budget
[edit]- 1 Blue Mountains YHA, 207 Katoomba St, ☏ +61 2 4782 1416, fax: +61 2 4782 6203, [email protected]. Reception open 7AM to 10PM.
- 2 No. 14 Lovel St, 14 Lovel Street, ☏ +61 2 4782 7104, [email protected]. Check-in: 2PM, check-out: 10AM. A relaxed, homely hostel with polished floors, cosy fires, clean and tidy, with a leafy veranda with valley views. It is family-run and the friendly staff will gladly provide you with all necessary information about the blue mountains. Free internet, tea and coffee. Only 10 minutes walk from town center, 5 minutes from the railway station. There are four-bed-dorms, twin and double rooms, all are centrally heated for those chilly mountain nights.
- 3 The Flying Fox Hostel (350 metres from railway station), ☏ +61 4 6654 3800, [email protected]. Check-in: 10AM, check-out: 10AM. A small, friendly hostel with a laid back atmosphere. Garden, outside fireplace. The owner knows the mountains well and helps plan walks. Dorms and private rooms. Guest kitchen. Free WiFi, breakfast, tea and coffee.
- 4 The Gearin (formerly Hotel Gearin), 1 Goldsmith Place, ☏ +61 0405 589 906, [email protected]. The former Hotel Gearin and pub closed in March 2019. It reopened as a guesthouse not long after, but the pub remains closed. From $79 for a single room, $99 for a double. Discounted rates available for longer stays.
Mid-range
[edit]- 5 3 Explorers Motel, 197 Lurline Street, ☏ +61 2 4782 1733, 1300 721 733 (reservations local rate call)Country code missing. All rooms in this small motel have queen sized beds, private bathrooms, and televisions. There are also a small number of "spa suites" with two or three private rooms and a two person spa. Rates for. Call the reservations number for special deals if staying both Friday and Saturday nights. Su-Th $96 per night, F $106 per night and Sa $136 per night for a double room.
- 6 3 Sisters Motel, 348 Katoomba St, ☏ +61 2 4782 2911, fax: +61 2 4782 6263, [email protected]. Check-in: 2PM, check-out: 10AM. A very comfortable and very reasonably priced hotel 5 minutes walk from Echo Point. Great meals.
- 7 Palais Royale, 230 Katoomba St, ☏ +61 2 4784 6300, [email protected]. Check-in: 2PM, check-out: 10AM. A hotel which is 700 metres from the train station, 170 metres from the shops and has a dumbwaiter elevator inside the hotel.
Splurge
[edit]- 8 Lilianfels Blue Mountains Resort & Spa, 5-19 Lilianfels Ave, Echo Point, ☏ +62 2 4780 1200. An historic country house hotel set amidst two acres of manicured gardens. It's a short walk from Echo Point, and some of the rooms have spectacular views of the Jamison Valley. Has its own restaurant, Darley's.
- 9 The Carrington Hotel, 15-47 Katoomba St, ☏ +61 2 4782 1111. Check-in: 2PM, check-out: 10AM. This historic hotel (built in 1880) has friendly staff and exudes charm. It is located right on Katoomba's main street and a short walk from the train station. Some of the rooms have breathtaking views of the valley. The formal dining room has great meals. Unfortunately, it lacks a modern elevator, and has too many steps for guests arriving with luggage. Still, a great choice if you like old-world charm and a choice location over modern convenience.
Go next
[edit]- Jenolan Caves – further west, with guided bus tours from Katoomba
- Leura – neighbouring town to the east that merges with Katoomba
- Medlow Bath – five minutes by car or train to the west/north