Things To Do In The Blue Mountains
The best things to do in the Blue Mountains, from fire-cooked dinners to canyon walks
The best things to do in the Blue Mountains go well beyond the Three Sisters and a flat white. Just two hours from Sydney, the mountains now have a food scene worth the drive alone, plus craft breweries, cellar doors, night walks and a wellness scene that’s quietly become world-class.
Tucked in the heart of Leura, Little Sista is a tiny focaccia café and vinyl bar from the family behind Café Leura. Order the Everything She Wants, stacked with prosciutto, mortadella and sopressa, then grab a canned tiramisu for the trail. Open daily 8am–4pm.
At Blaq in Blackheath’s Kyah Hotel, chef Alejandro Huerta (ex-Noma, Pujol) and pastry chef Galia Valadez serve a seasonal, produce-led menu with subtle Mexican influences. Expect bold, playful dishes, inventive desserts and a fire-lit dining room, recognised in the SMH Good Food Guide 2026.
A cult favourite in Katoomba, Black Cockatoo Bakery is renowned for its slow-fermented sourdough and buttery viennoiserie. Their croissants, recently crowned the second-best in NSW, have become a pilgrimage-worthy treat for pastry lovers. Paired with excellent coffee, it's the perfect morning fuel before hitting the trails.
Mountain Culture Beer Co. has earned its stripes as one of Australia’s leading craft breweries, pouring hazy IPAs, sours and lagers brewed on-site in a restored 1912 Katoomba building. Settle in on the sunny deck with an OG Burger and a flagship Status Quo.
Inside The Carrington Hotel, Champagne Charlie’s is Katoomba’s oldest cocktail bar, a nod to champagne merchant Charles Heidsieck’s famous nickname. Settle in beneath the stained-glass dome for expertly shaken classics, boutique beer, wine and all-day bites. Open daily from 11am.
Head into the Megalong Valley for one of the Blue Mountains’ most scenic wine stops. Dryridge Estate’s cellar door serves tastings with sweeping Narrow Neck escarpment views, best with a cheese board or ploughman’s lunch. Dogs are welcome. Open weekends only.
Founded by two Aidans, Fidelity Coffee is a Katoomba magnet for serious coffee lovers, curating a rotating lineup of single origins from leading Australian and international roasters. Try a coffee flight or avocado toast with house-made chilli oil. Open daily, 6am–1pm.
No Blue Mountains weekend is complete without a bushwalk. Tackle the 6.3km Grand Canyon loop, or take in Govetts Leap Lookout. After dark, the free 1.5km Katoomba Falls Night-Lit Walk glows past Orphan Rock, Witches Leap and the Cascades. Check NPWS alerts for closures.
Beyond Skyway lets you step out on top of the Scenic Skyway, harnessed and guided by the crew, 270 metres above the Jamison Valley. Enjoy 360-degree views of the World Heritage-listed national park and a complimentary drink on the way back. From $349 per person.
Reset at Aqua Ignis, a bathhouse in a restored Blackheath heritage building that blends Japanese onsen, Nordic sauna and herbal steam traditions. Move through a 38-degree magnesium pool, hot rock sauna, herbal steam room and cold plunge pools. Sessions are around $65–70.
Nestled in the Blue Mountains, Kyah Boutique Hotel is a Palm Springs-inspired retreat in a transformed 1970s motel, with 46 rooms in retro-modern interiors. Expect a sauna, spa pool, firepit and tennis court, plus Blaq restaurant on site, making checking out feel optional.
Perched above the Megalong Valley in Medlow Bath, the Hydro Majestic is an iconic heritage hotel reimagined for today’s traveller. Treat yourself to Wintergarden High Tea, served daily from 11am with sweeping valley views, then stay the night for a quintessentially refined mountain escape.