Awesome Things to do in the Blue Mountains

Don your hiking boots and head out into the fresh mountain air – you’re guaranteed to feel great! The Six Foot Track starts at Katoomba, with the challenging three-day hike ending at Jenolan Caves. You’ll pass through spectacular bush and woodland and spy heritage sights with cascading waterfalls as you trek. There are many camping spots to choose from, and most are remote so you’ll fall asleep to the sounds of the outdoors after a hearty meal around the campfire. Recommended by local insider Angharad Jones

The team at Bilpin Cider Co. have been crafting the good stuff in the heart of the Blue Mountains since 2011. As to be expected, they’re big cider advocates and you will be too after a tour around their tasting shed and cellar. Once you’ve sampled the full range, purchase your favourite tipple from the bar and enjoy while looking out over the orchards. Sundays bring live music and picnic days and, of course, plenty of cider. Recommended by local insider Angharad Jones

A short drive from Sydney and you swap skyscrapers for a subterranean world. The Wombeyan Caves have an array of incredible natural stalagmites and stalactites. Choose from a guided tour or go it alone and explore the many caves. If you want to make a weekend of it, book a cabin or campground in the surrounding Wombeyan Karst Conservation Reserve. It’s a site for endangered species, so keep your eyes peeled for wallabies, possums and wombats. Recommended by local insider Angharad Jones

The wonderfully named Jellybean Pool is a popular swimming hole beside Glenbrook Creek’s sandy beach in the Lower Blue Mountains. A beautifully natural swimming spot surrounded by trees and overhanging rock formations, it is wide enough to get your lengths in, and in places it’s shallow enough for little ones to splash about in. To work up a sweat before you hit the cool waters, take the Jellybean Track and you may be rewarded with the sight of rainbow lorikeets and kingfishers. Recommended by local insider Susanna Smith

The walking trails through the Jamison Valley are handily peppered with picturesque lookouts perfect for a rest and a photo opportunity. Prepare to be amazed by the sandstone formations surrounded by steep cliffs and lush greenery. The brave and adventurous can abseil down the side of said cliffs, and multi-day adventures can be booked to fully immerse yourself in nature. Recommended by local insider Susanna Smith

A beloved writer and artist, the famous Norman Lindsay lived and worked in the Blue Mountains. His former home is now open to visitors showcasing his life’s work – giving a glimpse into the history of the characters in children’s classic The Magic Pudding. Paintings depicting Bohemianism and Arcadian pantheism are found indoors, and his sculptures can be viewed in the adjacent gardens. The biggest fans can book ahead to stay onsite in the Norman Lindsay Cottage. Recommended by local insider Susanna Smith

Camp under the stars and gaze out over the sweeping views of the Capertee Valley from a tent with a difference. An exceptionally unique experience, the inflatable accommodation is entirely off-grid, yet filled with creature comforts. It comes with full kitchen and bathroom facilities, queen-sized bed and an outdoor wood-fired bath. Each of the tents come with telescopes to make the most of the clear skies over the world’s second-largest canyon. Take a trek around the 405-hectare (1,000-acre) working farm to catch the incredible sunsets. Recommended by local insider Susanna Smith