Day 1: Arrival, Cold Air & Familiar Roads
I packed light for this trip, one Samsonite backpack, minimalist and intentional. Clothes stacked in the centre, books and toiletries in the side sections. I brought a Lee Child novel, “safe enough” to read near the fire, and a little handheld emulation device that looks like an old Game Boy. Maybe I’d get some retro gaming in by the fire if it worked.
We left Newcastle in the cold, heading down the M1, through the NorthConnex tunnel, and onto the M4. The sun was setting directly into our eyes, turning the sky orange as we climbed into the mountains. That moment, the sun dropping behind the ridge lines, was a quiet wow moment. A reminder of why we take these trips: to reset, to avoid burnout, to breathe.
We passed Blaxland, Wentworth Falls, and Leura, familiar names from childhood trips and followed the winding roads to the Fairmont. Stepping out of the car, the cold hit instantly. Sharp, windy, straight through my hoodie. Tomorrow I’d need the Kathmandu jacket, beanie, and gloves.
Inside, the lobby warmth wrapped around us. Large wooden beams, mountain‑lodge style, and the roof lit in Christmas colours, green and red with a big Christmas tree in the centre. When we walked in, I said, “Why are there Christmas decorations?” and my wife lit up and said, “Christmas in July!” I hadn’t even clicked, I just figured they left them up all year for no good reason. Her excitement set the tone immediately. Staff wearing Santa hats. Fun for the kids. The last glimpse of the valley disappeared into darkness as we checked in.
Two people complimented my name, standard. I’m probably the only Tayven most people have ever met.
We skipped the main restaurant (pricey, nothing catching the eye) and went to the lobby bar instead. Beer, burger, shared chocolate brownie. The gas fire was taken, you need luck to get that spot but even from across the room we could feel its warmth radiating through the space. Families filled the bar, kids loud at first but drifting off soon after.
My wife laughed at the loud kids running around, teacher instincts kicking in but once they trotted off, she settled in and enjoyed the cosy winter vibe.
I taught the family Texas Hold ’em and Blackjack. We played for invisible money, going all‑in on a pair of twos, bluffing with nothing. Back in the day we played for matchsticks or 5c pieces. Tonight it was invisible millions.
Back in the room, the hallway smelled like old room‑service dishes, everyone leaving trays outside their doors. I was short 500 steps for my daily 10k, so I walked five laps of Level 3’s hallway. Outside the window: pure blackness. The room was warm, clean, tidy, and comfortable.
A good start.
Day 2: Scenic World, Nostalgia & Valley Air
I woke at 6am. The buffet opened at 7. Before sunrise, the sky glowed orange and red behind the hills, silhouetting the landscape in black. No wind. Just birds waking up.
Breakfast was eggs, bacon, Bircher muesli, and coffee. Simple, warm, perfect.
Before heading in, we stopped at the old Skyway carriage on display. It looks ancient now, but it’s the one we rode as kids. Seeing it again brought back that childhood feeling, the thrill of floating over the valley for the first time.
We arrived at Scenic World a few minutes after opening. Quiet morning. The Skyway was almost empty, just a handful of people. We crossed over and back, taking in the Three Sisters, Katoomba Falls, and the valley stretching endlessly below. The clear glass floor is still fun to stand on, looking straight down into the trees.
The air was cool out in the middle of the valley, gloves and beanie weather.
Next was the Scenic Railway. The steepest in the world. We set the seat to “cliff‑hanger” mode and dropped into the valley. My son loved it. At the bottom, we walked the rainforest tracks, warm in the sun, freezing in the shade and then took the Cableway back up and then back down to catch the Scenic Railway in reverse. Going backwards up the Scenic Railway was a real thrill and the energy in the carriage matched my wife’s excitement. Her laugh made the whole thing even better.
The final Skyway crossing was packed, and as we walked out of Scenic World my son announced loudly to the crowd lining up around the corner, “Glad we got here early and didn’t have to line up!” Classic. Back at the Fairmont, he discovered the $2 dry slide, which was a fun little thrill. Then we headed to Leura for flower‑pot scones at Wayzgooze Café, where my wife worked out how to extract the scone from the flowerpot in one clean piece, while my slice‑and‑dice approach left crumbs everywhere. A very teacher‑like level of precision. We browsed Leura Mall, bought UNO from Woolworths. Being a teacher, she loved the kids’ section at Megalong Books, she always checks it out. We then played tennis in the afternoon sun. Warm enough for t‑shirts, rare in winter.
That night we sat by the fire again, shared pizza, and played Texas Hold ’em for “champion of the universe.” I dropped a full house during this round. Earlier in the night my son put down a king‑high straight and said, “Thanks for coming,” ready to take the pot and then my wife calmly laid down an ace‑high straight and absolutely blew him away. It was a full “how do you like them apples” moment. My son still won the jackpot later with two pairs.
Day 3: Lookouts, Steep Stairs & Grand Valleys
We slept in and aimed for the buffet window seat. We didn’t get it, but the second row back still gave us a perfect view. Fog hung over Jamison Valley like a giant pillow. I finished a massive plate of bacon and eggs and dropped my usual Simpsons line: “Does this look like the actions of a man who’s had all he can eat.” My son said it was too early for Simpsons quotes. A funny contrast to a few years ago when he would’ve proudly said, “No, that could have been me.”
Echo Point was crisp and quiet. A few years ago I started a new tradition: collecting a pointless, valueless item from each trip, a keyring to hang in my wardrobe. I found one with the Three Sisters on it. Success.
We walked down toward the Three Sisters lookout. The final descent is steep, not for the faint‑hearted but manageable with handrails. I’ve done the full Giant Stairway before: 998 steps carved into the cliff. You can walk back up all 998 if you’re keen. I took the Scenic Railway back up last time.
The Honeymoon Bridge, which once connected the stairway to the first sister, is now permanently closed due to rockfall hazards. We’ve all crossed it before. It was always a thrill. Now it’s a memory I’m glad we experienced while it still existed.
Down at the lookout, I asked a guy flying a drone, “When are we going to be on YouTube?” and he just grunted at me, but his wife laughed, probably because his channel doesn’t get many views.
Next we drove to Govetts Leap. Childhood memories flooded back, staying in Blackheath, walking the tracks, hearing the legend of the Blue Mountains panther. My dad used to tell us a big cat escaped from a zoo or travelling circus and ended up living wild in the bush. As kids, we’d walk through the trees imagining glowing eyes watching from the shadows. Years later I looked it up and discovered the legend wasn’t just a family myth, locals have reported sightings for over a century, with more than 500 reports in the last 20 years. Whether it ever existed or not, it added a sense of mystery to those childhood walks: ladders bolted into rock, caves carved by wind, and the feeling that anything could be hiding in the valley.
Govetts Leap was still, cold, and grand. When no one spoke, you could hear only the waterfall and the birds. Sunbeams cut through the clouds, lighting up cliffs and the thick forest canopy, so dense you can’t see the bottom.
Lunch in Leura was at Red Door Café. Massive toasties and great coffee. We browsed Megalong Books, picked up orange rocky road from Josophan’s (rich chocolate, crunchy, sweet marshmallows), and joked about who would want ice‑cream in this weather. Seconds later my son asked for ice‑cream.
Finally, we visited Sublime Point. A lookout I’d driven past for years but never stopped at. I turned the corner suddenly without saying anything and both of them said, “Hey, where are we going?” and I replied, “Where we’re going, we don’t need roads.” I paid the $3 parking and we walked the short track. The view reveals the other side of the Three Sisters. Four young fellas were standing right on the edge hogging the prime viewpoint, talking about how many beers they had yesterday and how many they were having tonight. It was actually kinda cool to see four mates standing there chewing the fat like that, so we stood on the other side quietly at the railing, breathing in the view together.
That night we sat by the fire again, played cards, read books, shared pizza and rocky road, and played one last round of Texas Hold ’em. My son won. Again.
Day 4: Final Lookout, Harbour Bridge & Heading Home
Our final buffet breakfast was one more full spread. Bacon, eggs, Bircher muesli, and three decaf cappuccinos. I was buffeted out, but it was worth it. The fog hung low over Jamison Valley like a soft blanket.
We drove to Wentworth Falls for one last lookout. The fog still clung to the valley. The walk to the falls is fantastic, and the cliff‑side track beyond it is spectacular. From here you get the eastern‑most view of Mount Solitary, which we’d seen from Scenic World, Echo Point, and Sublime Point. The top lookout alone is worth the drive.
Just before we left the Wentworth Falls lookout for the last time, we all looked back for one final view over the mountains, and my wife thanked me for being their tour guide. It was a small moment, but it meant a lot. Maybe there’s something in that for me. I write a travel blog, after all.
The descent from the mountains was uneventful. Perfect final‑day driving. The weather was perfect. We listened to Family Trips with the Myers Brothers with Josh Johnson as the guest.
Driving through Sydney meant crossing the Sydney Harbour Bridge, a rare treat for me. I’ve climbed it before, years ago, on a work sales prize back before I moved into IT and Cyber. I still remember the red and purple sky setting over Darling Harbour, the Opera House glowing below, Luna Park lit up across the water. Standing on top of the bridge felt surreal. One of those moments that stays with you. Driving over it today reminded me why it’s one of the world’s most famous bridges. It’s spectacular.
The highway home was boring, repetitive, and exactly the kind of drive that makes you ready to arrive. Stepping out of the car at home felt like summer, shorts and t‑shirt weather after days in the cold mountains.
I unpacked, cleaned up, cooked dinner for everyone, and finally sat down. Phew.
Why the Blue Mountains Endure
Across four days we saw Mount Solitary and Jamison Valley from Scenic World, Echo Point, Sublime Point, and Wentworth Falls. We saw the Grose Valley from Govetts Leap. Every angle was different. Every lookout felt new.
The Blue Mountains showcases Australia’s natural beauty in a way few places do. The grand lookouts, the bush walks, the cliff walls, the valleys, the waterfalls. It’s easy to enjoy, even if you only make it to Katoomba. There’s so much to see, and every viewpoint feels like a reward.
Like Uluru and the Twelve Apostles, the Three Sisters is a great Australian natural icon. And this trip reminded me why it’s worth returning to again and again: the mountains stay the same, but each visit grows with you.
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