Part of the Blue Mountains World Heritage Area, Blue Mountains National Park is one of Australia's most famous wilderness areas. The park lies about 60 kilometers from Sydney and is one of the city's most popular day trips. Named for the blue haze emanating from its many eucalyptus trees, the Blue Mountains is a region of stunning mountain scenery. Rugged rock formations, pristine eucalyptus forests, abundant wildlife, waterfalls, ravines, and more than 140 kilometers of hiking trails and heritage tracks make this a haven for nature lovers.

Wilderness adventures abound. The park's dramatic topography provides a superb setting for rock climbing, canyoning, caving, canoeing, abseiling, mountain biking, horseback riding, and camping. If you're less adventurous, you can view the park's top features via scenic lookouts or explore the park on the self-guided Greater Blue Mountains Drive, an interconnected network of roads with 18 Discovery Trails that venture deep into the park. You can also experience the sweeping vistas via cableway, skyway, and the steepest railway in the world.

The region's charming mountain towns are also popular for weekend getaways - especially during summer, when the cooler temperatures provide a welcome refuge from the city heat. You can enjoy the galleries, gardens, gift shops, cafés, and heritage-listed hotels in charming mountain towns such as Katoomba and upscale Leura, where many writers, musicians, and artists make their home.