Two hours from Sydney and around three hours from Newcastle, the Blue Mountains is one of the easiest big-day-out destinations for families looking for a change of scenery. Between the clifftop lookouts, the cable cars, the waterfalls and the villages full of cafes, there’s enough here for a satisfying day trip or a full family weekend away.
This guide covers the best things to do in the Blue Mountains with kids of every age, from babies through to teens, along with where to eat, where to stay and the practical details that make the difference between a smooth day out and a stressful one.
Jump to: Top Attractions | Family Walks & Waterfalls | Toddler-Friendly Picks | Where to Eat | Where to Stay | Sample Itinerary | Practical Tips | FAQs
Things to Do in the Blue Mountains with Kids
Scenic World
Scenic World in Katoomba is the attraction most families build their Blue Mountains day around, and it earns the hype. An Unlimited Discovery Pass gets you all-day access to four experiences in one spot.
The Scenic Railway is the steepest passenger railway in the world, dropping at a 52-degree incline (there’s even a steeper 64-degree “Cliffhanger” mode if the kids are keen).
The Scenic Skyway is a cable car crossing 270 metres above the Jamison Valley with a glass floor section in the middle, not for the faint-hearted.
The Scenic Cableway descends 545 metres into the valley and connects to the Scenic Walkway, a flat, stroller-friendly 2.4km boardwalk through ancient rainforest.
The walkway totals 2.4 kilometres and is ideal if you want to push a stroller or pram around. Just keep in mind you won’t be able to take it on the Scenic Railway. You’ll need to travel on the Cableway back.
Dinosaur Valley is included with every pass year-round now, not just over summer. Kids walk elevated rainforest boardwalks spotting more than 50 life-sized dinosaurs, with a free Junior Field Guide to tick off each species as they go.
Walking along the elevated rainforest boardwalks in the beautiful Jamison Valley look out for the 25 species of dinosaur and over 50 dinosaurs, including the sweetest little dinosaur hatchlings. Kids will enjoy using the free Junior Field Guide to mark off each species as they spot them.
All experiences suit children of any age, though babies and toddlers need to be held on the rides as there are no baby seats. Pram parking, baby change facilities and lockers are available in the Main Building. Family passes can be tailored to your group size, with a discount for additional children.
As you enter the complex, you can see the iconic Three Sisters rock formation across the valley. Known to locals as Meehni, Wimlah and Gunneddoo, the Three Sisters feature in local Aboriginal stories.
These three weathered sandstone peaks stand at 912m, 918m and 906m respectively and judging by the cameras clicking around us are easily the most photographed attraction in the Blue Mountains.
Insider Tip: It can get really busy at Scenic World with tour groups day tripping from Sydney. Either get there early in the morning or after lunch. Stop for lunch at Terrace Café which offers a range of different food as well as sensational views across the valley.
For more information, read the Newy with Kids review of Scenic World.
Scenic World Corner of Violet Street & Cliff Drive, Katoomba, NSW
1 300 SKYWAY or (02) 2 4780 0200
Website
Echo Point Lookout
For a closer look at the Three Sisters formation, venture to the Echo Point Lookout. The best view of The Three Sisters is from the Echo Point lookout. From here, you’ll enjoy views of the entire Jamison Valley. From the lookout, you can do a number of walks.
For those with young kids, there’s the short 0.8 km Three Sisters Walk. This flat walk starts near the Echo Point Visitor Centre. It’s an easy gentle slope for the first 400 metres as you get closer to the Three Sisters and the usual blue haze of the Valley (which comes from the eucalypt forests). You’ll approach the Lady Game formation for a view of the rock formation. Finally, a short steep set of stairs leads you to Honeymoon Bridge which connects to the first Sister. On the way back, stop off and see Spooners Lookout which has a great view of the Three Sisters as well.
If your family has more energy, follow the Prince Henry Cliff Walk which connects Echo Point to Leura Cascades or go down the more than 800 steps of “The Giant Stairway” walk to explore the valley floor.
Insider Tips: Visit early in the morning or later in the afternoon to avoid the crowds from tour buses. There’s lots of paid parking in Echo Point parking lot. Use the toilets at the Echo Point Visitor Centre.
Echo Point
Katoomba, NSW
Website
Sublime Point
The Sublime Point lookout is a favourite of locals as it’s never busy and the views are simply sublime. (There’s not enough space for tour buses to stop or park so it’s a lot less busy than other lookouts). As it’s a minor lookout, the fencing isn’t as secure as other lookouts, so if you take kids along, hold on to their hands.
Insider Tip: Watch the sun set at Sublime Point.
Zig Zag Railway
The historic Zig Zag Railway near Lithgow reopened after a long restoration and is running again, though on a limited schedule of every second weekend, with no midweek services. The 90-minute round trip takes passengers through tunnels and across viaducts built in the 1860s, when this line was the only way to connect Sydney to western NSW. For more information, read the Newy with Kids review of the Zig Zag Railway.
Tickets must be booked online in advance (they aren’t sold on the day), and adult tickets are around $45, with concession and child tickets around $27.50.
Insider tip: Check the Zig Zag Railway website calendar before you plan your visit, since it only operates on specific weekends.
Zig Zag Railway
Lithgow, NSW
Website
Blue Mountains Cultural Centre
To learn more about the history and natural landscape of the Blue Mountains, visit the Blue Mountains Cultural Centre. The permanent collection includes information about the geology, flora and fauna of the Blue Mountains. Watch Into the Blue, a multimedia exhibition that explores the history and natural landscape of the region. There’s also temporary exhibitions which are hosted by the Centre. If it’s a nice day, venture outside to the viewing platform where you can enjoy views of Katoomba and the mountains.
Insider Tip: It’s a great spot to take the kids on a rainy day. Combine it with a trip to the library next door.
Blue Mountains Cultural Centre
30 Parke Street, Katoomba NSW
02 4780 5410
Website
Everglades House & Gardens
Located in Leura, the Everglades House and Gardens are a wonderful treat for both kids and adults. Now a National Trust site, the 1930s Art Deco home is set upon 5.2 hectares of gardens and enjoys unrivalled views of Mt Solitary and the Jamison Valley. Explore the gardens – you’ll find trees from all over the world. Follow winding paths and discover the Reflection Pool and the Grotto pool.
For those with young kids aged 3 to 7, purchase the kids pack My Adventure at Everglades. This will keep them busy with activities such as the Garden Detective Program, Sculpture Trail, activity book and more.
Enjoy Devonshire Tea in the Everglades tea rooms. The tea rooms are open all week, year-round and you can enjoy tea (including herbals), local apple juice, Devonshire tea and freshly baked cake. Just contact Everglades prior to your visit to ensure the Tea Rooms aren’t booked out as it’s run by volunteers.
Insider Tip: If you can, visit in spring when the cherry blossoms and daffodils are blooming or visit in autumn when the leaves change colour.
Everglades House & Gardens
37 Everglades Avenue, Leura, NSW
02 4784 1938
Website
Govetts Leap Lookout, Blackheath
A quieter, wheelchair and pram-accessible alternative to Echo Point, Govetts Leap looks out over the Grose Valley and Bridal Veil Falls, the tallest waterfall in the Blue Mountains at 180m. The view is visible straight from the car park, which makes it an easy stop with a pram or a sleeping toddler. It’s also the trailhead for the longer Grand Cliff Top Walk and Pulpit Rock, if older kids want to stretch their legs further. Located at Govetts Leap Road, Blackheath.
Insider tip: This lookout gets far fewer tour buses than Echo Point, so it’s a good pick if you want the views without the crowds.
Blue Mountains Botanic Garden, Mount Tomah
Sitting at 1,000m above sea level, this is Australia’s only cool-climate botanic garden inside a World Heritage Area, and it’s free to enter. Kids can follow the self-guided Children’s Adventure Quest trail through the gardens, and there’s a bog garden and giant Wollemi pines to spot along the way. The Tomah Café on site makes it easy to turn this into a half-day outing with lunch included. Located at Bells Line of Road, Mount Tomah.
Insider tip: This is a good rainy-day-adjacent option too, since much of the walking is on formed paths and boardwalks.
Megalong Valley
A scenic drive down from Blackheath, Megalong Valley is a good half-day add-on for families who want open space rather than another lookout. There’s horse riding for kids and beginners through a couple of local operators, and the family-run cellar door at Megalong Creek Estate has plenty of room for kids to run around while the adults have a break, with the owners’ own kids often around to play with.
Insider tip: Pair this with lunch at the Megalong Valley Tearooms (see Where to Eat) to make a full outing of it.
Jenolan Caves (CLOSED)
Please note: Jenolan Caves remains closed to the public, with NSW National Parks confirming the closure runs until 31 December 2026 while major road repairs and precinct upgrades continue. There’s no access via Jenolan Caves Road or the Six Foot Track. If you had this on your list, it’s worth checking the Jenolan Caves website closer to your travel dates in case the reopening timeline shifts, but don’t build a 2026 Blue Mountains trip around it.
Explore the mysteries of underground at the Jenolan Caves. These caves formations are fascinating to walk through. Although there are more than 300 documented caves, only 5 caves are accessible to the public via a guided tour.
Although you can walk around the outside of Jenolan Caves, it’s recommended to do a guided tour of one of the caves. There’s many to choose from depending on what you want to see and the age of your children. We opted for the Chifley Cave when we visited before the closure.
During the 1 hour tour, you’ll learn how the caves are created and see different geological features including an amazing rainbow light display inside a cave. Even if kids aren’t that interested in learning about caves, it’s a fascinating tour as during the Chifley tour, we ascend metal stairways and squeeze through narrow passages.
It’s a fascinating introduction to the world of caves with interesting things to see such as stalagmites and stalactites.
Your family can also try adventure caving. Kids aged 10 and up and their parents can go on the Plughole Adventure’ tour, a 2 hour adventure that involves a series of climbs, squeezes and crawls.
If you want to do a scenic walk outside the cave complex, the including the Carlotta Arch Walk where you’ll see a sensational view through the arch. This is the only walk currently open at Jenolan Caves.
Insider Tip: For families, the best caves to tour would be the Imperial or the Chifley. For families with kids aged toddler to four, the Imperial Cave is ideal being the easiest cave to navigate. For kids who are four and older, the Chifley is recommended. For older kids, consider caves such as the Orient or Temple of Baal. The caves can be a bit cold so layer accordingly.
Download the Jenolan App ahead of time (Wifi is pretty weak at Jenolan) to learn more about the caves.
Jenolan Caves
4655 Jenolan Caves Road, Jenolan Caves, NSW
1 300 763 311
Website
Bushwalking in the Blue Mountains
Best Family Walks & Waterfalls in the Blue Mountains
Choosing the right walk for your family’s fitness level and kids’ ages matters more here than almost anywhere else in NSW, since some of the region’s best-known walks involve serious stairs.
Charles Darwin Walk (Wentworth Falls): A flat 5km return walk starting at Wilson Park, following a boardwalk and bush track with rock pools to cool off in along the way. Good for primary-school-aged kids who can manage some distance. Tell your kids that they’re following in the footsteps of the famous naturalist, Charles Darwin, who walked this popular track in 1836.
Gordon Falls Reserve (Leura): A family-friendly lookout, picnic area and playground in one spot. The Lyrebird Dell track down to the Pool of Siloam is a step up in difficulty and better suited to older kids.
Leura Cascades to Bridal Veil Falls: An easy, gentle walk through mossy fern gullies, with the option to continue up to the clifftop for a view of Bridal Veil Falls. A good middle option between a flat stroller walk and a full bushwalk.
Wentworth Falls Lake & Adventure Playground: A proper playground alongside a flat, roughly one-hour circuit walk around the lake, mostly through bush. This is one of the easiest combinations of “let the kids run around” and “actually go for a walk” in the whole region, and it has picnic tables, toilets and parking on site.
South Lawson Waterfall Circuit – Explore four unique waterfalls in one scenic 3km bushwalk. It’s easy access, located just 1km from Lawson Railway Station
National Pass (Wentworth Falls): A serious walk at 2.5 to 3.5 hours, passing waterfalls and valley lookouts before reaching the historic Grand Stairway. Save this one for confident older kids and teens. It starts at Wentworth Falls picnic area and passes stunning lookouts with sweeping views of the valley as well as waterfalls splunging down into the Jamison Valley, before reaching the historic Grand Stairway.
Blue Mountains with Toddlers: What Actually Works
If you’re travelling with a toddler, stick to the flat, pram-friendly options rather than anything involving stairs or long walks. The Scenic Walkway at Scenic World, the Three Sisters Walk at Echo Point and the lookout at Govetts Leap are all manageable with a pram right up to the view.
Wentworth Falls Lake combines a flat walking loop with a proper playground, which makes it one of the easiest all-in-one stops for this age group. Gordon Falls Reserve’s picnic area and playground is another easy, low-stress stop that doesn’t require any walking at all if you don’t want it.
Build in more time than you think you’ll need for feeding, naps and general toddler pace, and pick one or two attractions rather than trying to pack in a full day.
Where to Eat in the Blue Mountains with Kids
The Conservation Hut, Wentworth Falls, is popular with families starting or finishing a bushwalk, but it’s also worth a visit just for the National Park views from the balcony. Fletcher Street, Wentworth Falls
Insider tip: Grab an outdoor table on a warm day.
The Bunker Leura has a dedicated kids’ menu, a garden area where little ones can play while you finish your meal, and kids eat free on Thursday nights between 5pm and 9pm (one free kids’ meal per paying adult). Bookings are recommended, especially on weekends. Located at 117-121 Leura Mall, Leura
Blue Mountains Cultural Centre Café in Katoomba is a good option if you’re already visiting the exhibitions next door. It’s family-friendly with high chairs on hand, and the library and art gallery are in the same building if you want to extend the visit. 30 Parke Street, Katoomba
Megalong Valley Tearooms make a lovely stop if you’re driving through the valley. There’s a big garden to run around in, farm animals to look at over the fence, and a simple menu of scones, pies and toasties. 824 Megalong Road, Megalong Valley
Where to Stay: Family-Friendly Accommodation
Fairmont Resort & Spa Blue Mountains, MGallery Collection (Leura): The largest family resort in the mountains, with an indoor ice-skating rink, the Rainbow Slide, a treetop ropes adventure, two pools, tennis courts and the Ubika Day Spa if the adults want a break. There’s a golf course next door and three on-site restaurants. 1 Sublime Point Road, Leura
Leisure Inn Spires (Leura): Self-contained studios and one and two-bedroom apartments with full kitchens, set on 3 acres of grounds and an easy walk to Leura’s café strip and train station. Good for families who prefer to self-cater. 100 Leura Mall, Leura
Blue Mountains YHA (Katoomba): Budget-friendly, centrally located in a restored National Trust building, with family rooms available (minimum one child under 18 plus one or two adults). Free parking and wifi, and an Aldi within walking distance for self-catering. 207 Katoomba Street, Katoomba
Sample One-Day Blue Mountains Itinerary with Kids
Morning: Start at Echo Point for the Three Sisters view, then walk the flat Three Sisters Walk.
Midday: Head to Scenic World for lunch and a few hours of rides, finishing with Dinosaur Valley.
Afternoon: Wander Leura Mall for a coffee and browse, or stop at Gordon Falls Reserve if the kids need to burn off energy at a playground before the drive home.
If you’re staying overnight, add the Zig Zag Railway (check it’s running on your dates) or a walk at Wentworth Falls the next morning before heading back.
Practical Tips for Visiting the Blue Mountains with Kids
The Blue Mountains is around a three-hour drive from Newcastle via Sydney using the M2 and M7 toll roads, and around two hours from Sydney.
It’s genuinely a few degrees cooler up here than in Sydney or Newcastle, and the gap can be bigger than expected, so pack an extra layer for everyone even in summer, and proper jackets if you’re visiting in winter.
Parking at the major lookouts (Echo Point, Scenic World) is limited and paid on busy weekends, so arrive early if you can. School holidays, long weekends and events like Ultra-Trail Australia bring heavy tour bus traffic and booked-out accommodation to Katoomba and Leura, so a midweek visit outside these periods is noticeably quieter and easier with young kids.
Frequently Asked Questions
It’s around a three-hour drive from Newcastle via Sydney, using the M2 and M7 toll roads.
Yes, if you stick to flat, pram-friendly options like the Scenic Walkway at Scenic World, the Three Sisters Walk at Echo Point, Govetts Leap Lookout, or Wentworth Falls Lake, which combines a flat walk with a playground. Avoid the longer bushwalks and anything involving stairs.
No. Jenolan Caves remains closed for major infrastructure repairs, with NSW National Parks confirming the closure runs until 31 December 2026.
Yes, but on a limited schedule of every second weekend, with tickets booked online in advance only.
A single day covers the highlights (Echo Point, Scenic World, a short walk), but two days lets you add a bushwalk, the Zig Zag Railway or a relaxed morning in Leura without feeling rushed.
Echo Point Lookout, Govetts Leap Lookout and the Three Sisters Walk are all free, as is the Blue Mountains Botanic Garden at Mount Tomah and a stop at Gordon Falls Reserve or Wentworth Falls Lake, both of which have playgrounds.
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