Frommer's Australia from $50 a Day 13th Edition - To Parent Directory

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CHAPTER 4 . NEW SOUTH WALES
around A$100 (US$65) for a full-day’s introductory rock-climbing course including
abseiling, and between A$99 to A$125 (US$64–US$81) for a day’s canyoning.
If you feel like some adventure on your own, you could always hire a mountain
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-socio-economic 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
(following 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 Station.
Trains leave almost hourly, stopping at Katoomba, and then at Mt. Victoria
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 If you take the train to Katoomba from Sydney, walk
up the stairs from the station onto Katoomba Street; at the top of the street
you’ll see the Savoy, formerly a theater, now a restaurant.
The best way to get around the Blue Mountains without 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$12.50 (US$8) for children,
and A$62.50 (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, costs A$38.60 (US$25) for adults, A$15.40 (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-car on wheels with commentary. An allday
pass costs A$12 (US$7.80), and for this you get to see various attractions
around Katoomba and Leura, too. The trolley leaves Katoomba Station each
hour, connecting with the trains from Sydney.
Fantastic Aussie Tours (& 1300/300 915 in Australia, or 02/4782 1866;
www.fantastic-aussie-tours.com.au) runs several tours of the area, including a
Blue Mountains Highlight Tour which takes you to many of the best sites. Tours
leave at 10:30am (finishing at 1:15pm), 11:30am (to 3:15pm), and 2pm (to
5:15pm). Tours cost A$37.50 (US$24) for adults, A$18.75 (US$12) for children,
and A$88 (US$57) for a family.