How to go from Sydney Airport to the Blue Mountains?

Sydney . 2013 . May 19

This post is part of our Sydney 7 days 6 nights Trip Itinerary and Report. Do check out the full itinerary and our reviews here.

Enjoying a day at Blue Mountains is one of the reasons that attract tourists like ourselves to Sydney. Most people would take a day trip to the Blue Mountains from Sydney City where you can visit the Scenic World and view the famous Three Sisters Rock Formation in Katoomba.

Travelling time from the Sydney city to the Blue Mountains takes around two hours by City Rail train or driving. Considering the relative long travel time to and from the city in a day trip, we decided to stay a night at the Blue Mountains area in The Carrington Hotels in Katoomba. You might want to check out our review of the hotel here. This gave us ample time to add in a trip to the Jenolan Caves besides exploring the Blue Mountains area around Katoomba.

Check out all the best deals of the day for accomodation options at the Blue Mountains here!

Getting from the Airport to Blue Mountains

If you would like to start your Sydney journey with a trip to the Blue Mountains straight from the Airport, do read on as we share our experiences of making that journey.

Do grab some free Sydney Guide at the airport before moving on. You never know when it would come in useful.

Step No 1 - Take the Airport Train to Sydney City

There are clear directions within the airport that lead you to the Airport Train platform. Just follow the signs and you should reach a lift to get to the train level.

Lift to the Trains. You would need to take the lift down to the Train Station level.

You can buy the tickets to Katoomba (Blue Mountains) directly from the manned ticket office or from the ticket machine. Note that you would need to transfer trains at Central Station.

We have cropped the Airport Rail Map to zoom in on the stations between International Airport Station to the Central Station (City) for easy reference. There are 3 stations (Domestic Airport, Mascot and Green Square) between them on the Airport & East Hills Line (GREEN). The journey from the International Airport station to Central Station takes around 12 minutes. You may want to click here for the full map.

Airport Link Map (Source: http://www.airportlink.com.au/sydney-city-map.php)

Our Airport Train Ticket to Katoomba. A single trip ticket costs AUD $20.70. If you have not booked your accomodation at the Blue Mountains yet, its time to look for one here. :)

Entrance to the Train Station. Just tap your card and the doors will open automatically.

Once you have past the entrance, take the lift to the Train Platform 1 to board the train towards Central Station.

Train Information at the Platform Level.

The train is double decker and there are plenty of seats available. There are spaces where you can place your bulky luggages if you are travelling to stay a night or two at the Blue Mountains.

Step No 2 - Transfer Platform to Train to Katoomba

 The train will arrive at Central Station at Platform 21. You would then need to transfer to Platform 12 to catch the Blue Mountains Line at Central Station for your onward journey to Katoomba. Click here to take a look at the full City Rail Network Map. Look out for the Blue Moutains Line.

You might want to grab something to eat on the train as the journey from Central Station to Katoomba Station would take around 2 hours. Don't worry - Eating is allowed on the trains.

Once you are on board the train, relax and enjoy the beautiful scenery as you make your way to the Blue Mountains! :)

This post is part of our Sydney 7 days 6 nights Trip Itinerary and Report. Do check out the full itinerary and our reviews here.

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