A day trip to the Blue Mountains from Sydney, which takes a different route up and down, incorporating the Nepean River and the town of Windsor, the stone fruit growing towns of Kurrajong and Bilpin, the mining town of Lithgow and the major towns and scenic attractions of the Blue Mountains.

Along the way enjoy different views of the Blue Mountains to those traditionally seen, pass the Sydney 2000 Olympics Regatta centre, the Lithgow Zig Zig railway, local produce stalls, the abandoned Lapstone and Glenbrook railway deviations and travel along the first road across the mountains. The tour commences from and finishes at Parramatta business district.


Depart Parramatta via Gt Western Hwy towards Penrith.

At Penrith, turn right into Castlereagh Rd. Pass Sydney International Regatta Centre on right (Castlereagh Rd). Proceed through Castlereagh to Richmond. At Richmond, left into Kurrajong Rd. Proceed westerly along Kurrajong Rd to Kurrajong Heights (city views), Bilpin, Berambing, Mt Tomah (botanical gardens), Bell and Lithgow.


Lithgow is a Mining town on the far side of the Blue Mtns, 17 km beyond Bell on Bells Line of Rd. Detours from Lithgow: Zig Zag Railway (tourist steam railway travels over a series of viaducts and tunnels).

Follow signs off Lithgow Rd at Clarence. Hartley (historic village) is 21 km from Lithgow on Harley Valley Rd. Jenolan Caves (caves with guided tours) is 77 km from Lithgow on Jenolan Caves Rd. 32 km beyond Jenolan Caves (unsealed road) you will reach Kanangra (stunning mountain and canyon vistas with dramatic waterfalls). Yerranderie is a former mining village, now a ghost town. 109 km beyond Jenolan Caves (unsealed road, 4wd only) is the historic village of Oberon. 64 km from Lithgow on Tarana Rd is the historic mining site of Newnes (shale mining ruins, glow worm tunnel, spectacular valley views)