Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Other excellent adventure operators are
The Blue Mountains Adventure
Company,
P.O. Box 242, Katoomba, NSW 2780 (
&
02/4782 1271;
bmac@
bmac.com.au), located in Katoomba at 84a Bathurst Rd. (above the Summit
Gear Shop); and the
Australian School of Mountaineering,
166b Katoomba
St., Katoomba, NSW 2780 (
&
02/4782 2014
). Both offer rock climbing, rap-
pelling, and canyoning trips. The company also offers caving and mountain bik-
ing, and the Australian School of Mountaineering offers bushcraft and survival
training. Expect to pay around A$100 (US$65) for a daylong introductory rock-
climbing course including rappelling, and between A$99 and A$125
(US$64-US$81) for a day's canyoning.
If you feel like some adventure on your own, you could always rent a moun-
tain bike from
Cycletech,
182 Katoomba St., Katoomba (
&
02/4782 2800
).
Standard mountain bikes cost A$19 (US$12) for half a day and A$28 (US$18)
for a full day (superior front-suspension mountain bikes cost A$28/US$18 for a
half day and A$50/US$33 for a full day).
KATOOMBA: GATEWAY TO THE BLUE MOUNTAINS
114km (71 miles) W of Sydney
Katoomba (pop. 11,200) is the largest town in the Blue Mountains and the focal
point of the Blue Mountains National Park. It's an easy 1
1
⁄
2
- to 2-hour trip by
train, bus, or car. The town is a low-socioeconomic pocket in a very affluent
region, with one of the highest unemployment rates in the State.
GETTING THERE
By car from central Sydney travel along Parramatta Road
and turn off onto the M4 motorway (around 2 hr. to Katoomba). Another route
is via the Harbour Bridge to North Sydney, along the Warringah Freeway (fol-
lowing the signs to the M2). Then, travel along the M2 to its end and follow the
signs to the M4, and the Blue Mountains. This takes around 1
1
⁄
2
hours.
Frequent rail services connect Sydney to Katoomba from Central Station;
contact
CityRail
(
&
13 15 00
) or
Countrylink
(
&
13 22 32
) for details. The
train trip takes 2 hours, leaving from platform nos. 12 and 13 of Central Sta-
tion. Trains leave almost hourly, stopping at Katoomba, and then at Mt. Victo-
ria and Lithgow. An adult day-return round-trip ticket costs A$12 (US$7.80)
off-peak and A$20 (US$13) during commuter hours. A child's day-return
round-trip ticket costs A$3 (US$1.95).
GETTING AROUND
The best way to get around the Blue Mountains with-
out your own transport is with the
Blue Mountains Explorer Bus
(
&
02/4782
4807;
www.explorerbus.com.au). This double-decker bus leaves from outside
Katoomba train station every hour from 9:30am until 4:30pm and stops at 27
attractions, resorts, galleries, and tearooms in and around Katoomba and Leura.
You can get on and off as often as you want. Tickets cost A$25 (US$16) for
adults, A$13 (US$8) for children, and A$63 (US$41) for a family. You can also
link this tour bus with the CityRail train from Sydney. The Blue Mountains
Explorer Link Ticket, available from CityRail stations cost A$39 (US$25) for
adults, A$15 (US$10) for children, and A$62 (US$40) for a family, and
includes return train fare and Explorer Bus tickets.
Another option is
Trolley Tours
(
&
1800/801 577
in Australia; www.trolley
tours.com.au), which is a kind of tram on wheels with commentary. An all-day
pass costs A$12 (US$7.80) and includes stops at various attractions around
Katoomba and Leura, too. The trolley leaves Katoomba Station each hour, con-
necting with the trains from Sydney.
