Are you visiting The Blue Mountains and looking for unique things to do in Katoomba? I’ve lived in the Blue Mountains for 18 Years and explored every corner of the beautiful region, so this list is full of my favourite natural gems, delicious food, and amazing experiences.
The Blue Mountains are a magical National Park in New South Wales, Australia, only 2 hours from Sydney. Its beautiful forests, mountain landscapes, and laidback lifestyle draw people from around the world. With 18 years of experience exploring the Blue Mountains, you can be sure everything on this list really is the best there is to do!
1. Visit The Iconic Three Sisters
When you visit Paris you have to see the Eiffel Tower. When you visit Egypt you have to see the pyramids. And though it’s not quite as large scale, when you’re visiting the Blue Mountains, there’s no question you have to see the Three Sisters.
Though it’s undoubtably the most built up and touristy site in the Mountains’, it’s like that for a reason. The beautiful rock formations jut out of the side of the cliff, surrounded by a valley of green uninterrupted bushland.
For the best experience, come here at sunrise or golden hour to sunset. Sunrise will be much quieter, while sunset is one of the busiest times to be at the lookout, but both will be beautiful.
Note that streets are busy, parking metered, and it’s very hard to find a spot, so I’d recommend taking a bus. Buses run from the Main Street (Katoomba Street), and most will stop at Echo Point. To check bus times, the TripViewLite app is the local app for public transport in Sydney and surrounds. It’s very useful if you plan on taking any public transport in the region!
2. Swim Under A Waterfall At Minnehaha Falls
After living in the Blue Mountains for 18 years and exploring countless swimming spots and waterholes, Minnehaha Falls in Katoomba is still my favourite place to swim. I’ve been there at least 50 times and it never gets any less beautiful! The huge waterfall tumbles down into a beautiful green pool. It’s surrounded by cliffs with jumping spots, places to relax, and beautiful bushland all around.
The hike in and out of Minnehaha isn’t long, 2.5km in length and takes an average of 45 minutes round trip. There are steep stair sections and it’s uphill a lot of the way back, so make sure you wear good shoes and bring at least a litre of drinking water.
Are you planning a trip to the Blue Mountains? With 18 years of exploring the Blue Mountains, years of travel under my belt and travel planning expertise, I can create a perfect custom trip itinerary for you! Inquire below to find out more.
3. Dine Out At The Avalon Restaurant
The Avalon Restaurant is one of the most underrated places to eat in all of the Blue Mountains. Found at the top of Katoomba street, the restaurant has vibrant vintage decor and old timey atmosphere.
The vibes here are unmatched, and it’s without a doubt one of my favourite places to eat in Katoomba. Everything on the menu is good, but the baked brie and bread entree is especially worth having!
4. Rock Climb, Abseil, And Canyon With Mountain Adventure Company
The Blue Mountains is considered to be one of the outdoors meccas of Australia. Many locals, like me, live here for easy access to its world class rock climbing and outdoor adventure.
If you aren’t a professional but would still like to experience rock climbing, abseiling, or canyoning while you’re in the Mountains’, Mountain Adventure Company offer all sorts of guided adventures for different experience levels!
5. Walk The Grand Clifftop Track
If you’re heading to the Blue Mountains looking for an adventure, this brand new 19km, 2 day walking track linking Wentworth Falls, Leura, and Katoomba, may be just the thing. Taking you along the edge of the escarpment linking 3 of the Mountains’ largest villages, you’ll see many of the best views in the area on your way.
If you aren’t a hiker, you can do smaller sections of the hike as it passes by each village. The official Grand Clifftop Track page on the National Parks website is the best place to go for maps and up to date track information.
Just a few of the beautiful sites along the track are the Three Sisters, Katoomba Falls, Wentworth Falls, Leura Cascades, Empress Falls, Indigenous rock paintings, and lots of views of the Jamison Valley!
6. Explore The vintage Stores On Katoomba Street
If you like vintage and antiques, Katoomba’s shopping scene is going to be your style. Katoomba Street is lined with eccentric vintage stores, Op Shops (thrift stores), and little miscellaneous shops full of things to find.
The most popular shops to visit include stores like Pickwick’s, Macame Peacocks, and Yesterday, which is a very cool curated vintage clothing store. But if you just walk up and down the street (which is only about 500m long) you’ll find lots of unique shops to explore!
7. See The Milky Way With A Night Trip To Lincoln’s Rock
If you’ve ever looked up photos of the Blue Mountains, you’ve definitely seen Lincoln’s Rock. The flat overhanging plate like lookout with beautiful views of the valley beneath it is one of the most instagrammed lookouts in the Mountains’. But while Lincoln’s Rock is beautiful during the day, it gets even better when the sun goes down.
The Blue Mountains has very little light pollution, making it the perfect place to stargaze. Many nights, the sky is bright with hundreds and thousands of stars, and lots of the time you can see the Milky Way. If you want to get out of town for some uninterrupted time under the stars, Lincoln Rock is the place to go.
However, it’s important to keep in mind that Lincoln Rock is a cliff edge, and especially in the dark it’s important to keep your distance. Put safety first and stay a few metres away from the edge at all times.
8. Visit CanBlue, The Studio Ghibli Themed Bubble Tea Shop
Another unique shop on Katoomba Street is CanBlue. It’s a favourite spot among locals for its endless combinations of smoothies and bubble teas. The best part of CanBlue is its decor, completely decorated in a pastel studio Ghibli aesthetic with life sized studio Ghibli statues!
If you want a quick snack on your way down Katoomba Street, you can’t go wrong with CanBlue. It’s fun, unique, and always tastes good.
9. Sunset At Narrowneck Plateau
Narrowneck Plateau is a lesser known lookout in Katoomba, but one of the best places to catch a beautiful Mountains’ sunset. Away from the tourists and out in nature, Narrowneck is a much more authentic experience than popular lookouts like the Three Sisters.
You can make it an occasion by packing a picnic dinner to have at one of the picnic tables around, you’ll probably have the place a lot to yourself. The lookout is only a 6 minute drive from the centre of Katoomba, and well worth heading to on a clear evening.
10. Buy A New Book At The Magical Little Lost Bookshop
I can’t do a best things to do in Katoomba roundup without mentioning my favourite bookshop in town. The Little Lost Bookshop is tucked away in a backstreet corner, it has a magical small town atmosphere.
There are two levels to the shop. The lower level is full of games and new books in every genre. Up the fairy light lined staircase there’s a smaller second floor full of vintage and second hand books. I could spend hours tucked up there reading, it’s so cute!
12. Have A Brew At Mountain Culture Beer Company
Mountain Culture has quickly risen to be Australia’s #1 rated brewery, but it all started here in Katoomba! A trip to the Katoomba brewpub is a fun way to spend the afternoon among locals and visitors alike.
They serve delicious burgers, all of their amazing beers, and have a dog friendly back deck where you can watch the sun set. They’re open for dine in Wednesday through to Sunday, and it’s only 2 minutes walk from Katoomba Station. It couldn’t be easier!
11. Take A Drive To The Neighbouring Town Of Blackheath
Just 12 minutes drive up the mountain from Katoomba is the magical town of Blackheath. Much smaller than Katoomba, with about half the population, Blackheath stands out as a nature lovers dream.
Among the best things to do in Blackheath are the famous Grand Canyon walk, Govetts Leap Lookout, the Cliff Top Track (Govetts Leap to Evans Lookout), and Logan Brae apple orchard.
In Autumn, the town also transforms as the leaves on the trees that arch over the roads turn a burning bright red. It creates a beautiful red archway over the street (but please don’t take photos in the middle of the road, locals hate it!).
13. Swim At the Pool Of Siloam
Minnehaha isn’t the only beautiful swimming spot in Katoomba. The Pool Of Siloam is a beautiful little swimming hole in the middle of the rainforest, and is something more family friendly and relaxed.
The pool is shallow, with a small waterfall running behind it, a stepping stone pathway, and surrounded by moss and fern fronds. The pool can be reached with a 1.6km out and back bushwalk starting from Gordon Falls picnic area, it takes an average of 30 minutes round trip.
The walk is also a small section of the Grand Cliff Top Walk, which I mentioned above!
14. Ride Over The Valley At Scenic World
Though this is far from off-the-beaten-track, it’s a great way to get a new perspective of the Mountain’s! Scenic World is a very popular tourist attraction in Katoomba. It features rainforest bushwalks, historical sites, the and steepest railway in the world. But its best attraction is the Scenic Skyway.
The skyway is a see through glass cable car, the largest in the Southern Hemisphere. It travels 720 metres across, and 270 metres above the Jamison Valley. Taking you right past the three sisters, Katoomba Falls, and Mt Solitary.
So while Scenic World is busy and touristy, the new perspective of the Blue Mountains beautiful landscape is worth the hassle!
15. See Live Music On Weekends At The Bootlegger bar
And finally, if you’re in the mood for live music and an upbeat local atmosphere, Bootlegger Bar is a favourite place to spend the evening. They offer lots of specialty drinks and amazing smokehouse style food.
The best time to go has to be Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, when the bar gets loud with live music from amazing local artists. The vibes are unmatched!
Katoomba, Blue Mountains FAQ’S
How Many Days Do You Need In Katoomba?
While you only need one or two days to explore Katoomba, I recommend spending four days in the town and using the other two days to explore some of the Blue Mountains beautiful smaller villages.
What Months Does It Snow In Katoomba?
You’d have to be very lucky to catch snowfall in Katoomba. It only snows a few days per year, and they are usually small flurries that don’t settle. To read up more on the best places to see snow in Australia (and the Blue Mountains), read my guide on Snow In Australia.
How Do You Get Around Katoomba?
Public transport, specifically buses, is the most common way to get around Katoomba. While renting a car will definitely make your time easier and let you visit some more off-the-beaten- path destinations and smaller towns, it’s definitely not necessary.
is Katoomba Worth Visiting?
Yes, Katoomba is definitely worth visiting. But make sure to explore some of the Mountains’ smaller towns while you’re there, the most beautiful places are a little farther out!
Conclusion: Best Things To Do In Katoomba
This list includes all of my favourite things to do in Katoomba as a lifelong local and traveler. From exploring the Blue Mountains beautiful landscapes, swimming spots, lookouts and forests; to cosy vintage stores and the best places to eat or drink, this list has everything you need to have an amazing time in Katoomba.
