4 Tips to Find The Best Blue Mountain Private Tour

The Blue Mountains National Park is one of those must-see destinations when you visit or live in Sydney or even Australia! This stunning UNESCO destination is a one-stop destinations for seeing wildlife (still waiting to see your first kangaroo?), hiking, breathtaking scenic views, or adventure. Escape the city to explore ancient rock formations and valleys that make the Blue Mountains so famous. Whether you are looking for a private tour for a small group or a large group, a short stroll or extreme adventure, the Blue Mountains has it all. And the best part? You can do it all on a day tour. Here are our best tips for finding the best Blue Mountains Private Tour!

1. Can you do a Sydney day trip to Blue Mountains?

Yes, absolutely! The Blue Mountains is one of the most loved and visited destinations nearby Sydney. It really is the perfect day trip located at only 1.5 hours from Sydney. On a Blue Mountains Private Tour you can visit all the sights that are on your to-see list. With iconic nature surrounding cute mountain villages, there are endless adventures to be include in your private Blue Mountains tour!

There is nothing quite like watching the sun come up or go down in the Blue Mountains. Photo by Gilberto Olimpio on Unsplash.

2. Include all the best Blue Mountains Private Tour Highlights!

Visitors are spoiled with choice when visiting the Blue Mountains. From walking trails, waterfalls, spotting of wildlife to mountain bike rides, abseiling tours, cave explorations, and more. The Blue Mountains is a great destination for people of all fitness levels and for those who crave any type of adventure. Whether you want to spend your private Blue Mountains Tour on our luxury bus seeing all the picturesque highlights or whether you want to canyon your way down a river, it’s all possible in the Blue Mountains!

Most private Blue Mountains tours will allow you to visit exactly what you want. So it’s just a matter of talking to the tour operator! We love customising the best Blue Mountains private tours for our clients! Here are a few of our highlights!

A visit to the Blue Mountains National Park is not complete without viewing the Three Sisters.

Visit the Iconic Three Sisters

Can you visit the Blue Mountains without stopping over at the iconic Three Sisters lookout? Heck no! The ancient rock formation is located on the north escarpment of the Jamison Valley and is of cultural significance to the local indigenous Dharug and Gundungurra peoples. If you’re lucky, you may even spot one of the local lyrebirds, who are famous for their ability to copy human sounds like ringtones or cars. Located in the cute mountain village of Katoomba, the Three Sisters are easily the most accessible viewpoints to visit as you can simply hop off the bus and see them in all their glory, so it’s a must-visit on your first Blue Mountains Private Tour!

Jenolan Caves are an iconic destination to experience the magical cave systems of The Blue Mountains.

Explore Jenolan Caves Tours

Another iconic location in the World Heritage Blue Mountains are the famous Jenolan Caves. Often described as a truly magical spot, Jenolan Caves is home to the largest and most popular caves in Australia. Rather than one big cave, Jenolan Caves consists out of 7 different cave systems known as Lucas, Chifley, Imperial, Diamond, Orient, Temple of Baal, and River Cave. If you’re interested in learning more about aboriginal culture, local birds or wildlife, or just have a cool adventure, this is the place to be. You may even get a chance to see the elusive platypus which lives in the local waterways. If you’re interested in this trip, you can talk to our team today.

Pop into Featherdale Wildlife Park on a Blue Mountains Private Tour

While the Blue Mountains are still home to wild endangered koalas, sadly their numbers have dwindled significantly due to various reasons, including development of the region and the deadly bushfires of 2019. That makes the chances of seeing one in the wild are very small. If seeing a koala is something that is very high up on your to-do list, consider including Featherdale Wildlife Park on your tour. The park is a great destination to see Australian wildlife up close and personal in a way that makes sure the animals are kept safe. You can take a selfie with a Quokka (endemic to Western Australia), help feed the koalas or their wallabies! Who could resist all this cuteness?

Should I visit Scenic World on my Blue Mountains tour?

Would you love to see the Three Sisters and Katoomba Falls, but want to see from a one-of-a-kind viewpoint? Include Scenic World in your Blue Mountains Private Tour! You can choose between the Scenic Railway, the Scenic Cable Way, the Scenic Skyway, and the Scenic Walkway, all of which provide fabulous views over the blue-hued eucalyptus trees of these unique location.

Leura Cascade

If you are hoping to get out on a bushwalk, but don’t want to go on one that will have you sweating too much, Leura Cascade is the perfect one! Starting from the picturesque town of Leura, this scenic hike will give you impressive views of the cliff line and spectacular views of Gordon Falls lookout. And if you are in Leura anyway, why not visit the historic Candy Store that has been going strong since 1990!

3. How the weather can affect your Blue Mountains Private Tour?

The weather in the Blue Mountains can be very different than the weather at the beaches in Sydney. It’s always worth keeping an eye on the weather when traveling to the Blue Mountains. When it’s sunny in Sydney, it could be raining in the mountains and the other way around. Other than being a bit wetter than Sydney, don’t let the weather deter you from a day trip to the Blue Mountains. Even if it’s wet weather, the Blue Mountains are so worth the visit! Make sure that you pack an extra layer, as the mountains tend to be a few degrees colder than the coastal areas, and you’re good to go! Check in with your private tour guide and they will be able to help you pack for your day out!

4. Include some Adventure in Your Blue Mountains Private Tour with Canyoning!

Amongst the Blue Mountains locals and Sydney-siders, there are many who spend their weekends exploring the Blue Mountains rivers and canyons! Within our team of tour guides, there are also many lovers of this adventurous sport. In our humble opinion, canyoning is one of the best experiences you can have on any blue mountains tour. It encompasses all the best parts of adventuring: exploring new places, being physically challenged, sliding on natural waterslides, jumping off cliffs and swimming through the fresh mountain water. It’s a pretty epic experience and one that we love to include on our Blue Mountains Private Tours!

The 5 Coolest Sydney Day Tours For Groups

Whether you're visiting just Sydney or living in the city and looking for a fun day out, there are plenty of Sydney Day Tours to choose from. In this article, we'll dive into all the Sydney tour options for you and your group and help you figure out which day tour is perfect for you! See Sydney in a day, go adventuring in the Blue Mountains, taste all the wines in the Hunter Valley or the Southern Highlands, or stay close to home by spending your Sydney day tour in the inner west!

Photo by Christopher Burns via Unsplash

Best Day Tour For Groups: See the Sydney sights on a private bus tour or by bicycle!

Sydney is a large city, is it possible to see Sydney in a day? Of course! With that right tour guide that is. Sydney is jam-packed full of amazing sights, but getting to see them all in a day can be challenging. So can you see the Opera House, the Harbour Bridge, discover the hip inner-west and see one of the famous beaches? Especially if you are wrangling a group of mates! We say, Hell yeah! But how? Sure, public transport can be a way to go, but Sydney is notorious for its 1-hour bus rides everywhere and forget about parking several cars in the CBD.

We recommend hopping on a private bus tour (psssst, we organise a few epic ones!) and finding a company that is willing to customise your trip. A private bus tour is a fantastic option for both small and large groups. Anywhere between 4 and 52 people can hop on one a private Sydney bus tour and see the city. No more worrying about being on time or whether your group is having fun. At Urban Legends, we love customising tours to make sure that you and your group see everything that you want to see, something that is not offered by all Sydney tour companies.

Another option to see Sydney with a group is to move that body and jump on one of our bicycle tours. Accompanied by long-term Sydney locals, we show you the coolest spots. You know, those spots that are hard to find if you haven't lived in the city. Bike riding will also give your group the option of stopping to admire Sydney's best views. Who doesn't love that?! Did you know it is only a 40-minute bike ride from Sydney Opera House to Bondi Beach? You got this!

Explore the Blue Mountains with a group of mates! Image by Christopher Burns via Unsplash

Go on an Adventurous Sydney Day Tour In The Blue Mountains

One of our favourite escapes from the big smoke is a Blue Mountains tour. Whether you are looking to see the famous three sisters, Jenolan Caves or you want to visit one of the lesser knows waterfalls, the Blue Mountains National Park is full of epic places to explore. The hard part is, not getting to the Blue Mountains, but choosing between all the possible hikes, lookouts and waterfalls! If you get the opportunity, we recommend staying overnight and including a sunrise hike to one of the many excellent sunrise lookouts.

Whether your group is visiting the Blue Mountains for the first time and want to get the full tour or whether you are looking to organise transport for your group of experienced hikers to and from a hike, our buses can get you there.

Taste all the wines in the Hunter Valley

The Hunter Valley is the most famous wine destination in NSW and for good reason. We love the Hunter Valley so much that you can find us exploring boutique wineries in the region every weekend. Boutique wineries in the Hunter Valley are our favourite because these beautiful small wineries, which are often family-run, provide the nicest service and serve excellent wines! We are always learning something new about their craft and adore tasting the wines that the Hunter Valley is known for. If you need any more reasons why you should visit boutique wineries, read our blog post here!

The Hunter Valley is located at a 2-2.5h drive from Sydney, so planning a day tour from Sydney means that you will have to have an early start for a day trip! Even though it will be a long day, it is very worth your time. We love this destination so much that we even offer several customisable Hunter Valley wine tours! If you would rather have a shorter day tour, check out the scenic tours of the Southern Highlands below.

The gorgeous Southern Highlands is known for it’s beautiful flower gardens and great cool weather wines.

Scenic wine tasting in the Southern Highlands

The Southern Highlands is a wonderful destination all year round and is particularly popular in the autumn season due to its large number of deciduous trees. The colder climate also makes the region perfect for producing excellent Pinot Noir and Pinot Gris. Location at only 1.5h drive, it is actually our favourite NSW winery tour location for a Sydney day tour!

Become a craft beer expert in Sydney's Inner West

Who says that you have to leave Sydney for an epic Sydney day tour! One of the best ways to get to know the real Sydney is through bar hopping the Inner West of the city. The local craft breweries serve a few of Australia's best craft beers and allow you to soak up the local culture better than any other activity. The area of Sydney's inner west is full of beautiful murals and street art and there is more delicious food than you can ever finish!

Plan your own walking brewery tour by sticking to one suburb, Marrickville, or get your group to join one of our popular Sydney brewery tours. This tour combines all the best Sydney craft beers together in a meticulously organised day so your group can relax and focus on having fun. All our tours include a behind-the-scenes tour where you learn how these delicious beers get made and are combinable with one of the many fun add-ons such as axe-throwing, lawn bowls, go-karting, and more!

Feature image by Christopher Burns via Unsplash

The 7 Best Easy Mountain Bike Trails in Sydney: Cycling Routes In & Around the NSW Capital

As the biggest city of Australia, Sydney is great to explore by bike. While any type of bike will do, Sydney's hilly landscape, especially near the beaches, is perfectly suited for mountain biking. In this article, we are exploring the 7 best easy mountain bike trails in Sydney plus a few more further away from the city. Great for first-time visitors or locals who want to explore the city in a new way! We focus on the easy cycle routes and will leave the challenging mountain bike trails to the experts.

Mountain Bike Trails in Sydney

Sydney and its surrounding suburbs are home to a few famous and must-do mountain bike trails. From classics such as cycling across the Harbour Bridge to local secrets in the Inner Western suburbs. The Sydney-based mountain bike trails are suitable for all levels of fitness and for city bikes as well. If you want to rough it, skip the inner city and head to the below section where we discover mountain bike trails outside of the city.

From The Harbour Bridge to The Anzac Bridge & The Rocks

Let's start with the most iconic bike trail in Sydney, from the Sydney Harbour Bridge to the Anzac Bridge. You get to explore The Rocks and its iconic landmarks including great views onto the Harbour Bridge and the Opera House; locations that are not to be missed on a trip to Sydney.

Start your bike adventure in Kirribilli, the suburb on the other side of the bridge and home to spectacular views of the CBD, Opera House, and bridge. From here, take the dedicated bike path across the bridge into the city to reach Kent Street cycleway. Both the bike path across the bridge and the Kent Street cycleway are perfectly made for bicycles, meaning that it is very safe from the busy traffic this area is known for.

Follow the Kent Street cycleway to the luxurious finger wharfs of Millers Point and along Barangaroo to the Pyrmont Bridge. Don't forget to stop by the Sydney Observatory to see one of Sydney's most epic views onto the Harbour Bridge. From here, cross over to Pyrmont via the Pyrmont Bridge and discover even more of the Sydney harbour area. Make your way around the suburb via the water or ride through Pyrmont streets to discover it's beautiful historic buildings.

The Bay Run: Cycle around Sydney’s Inner-West

The Bay Run is a 7km long shared-use path for both cyclists and pedestrians along the water in the inner western suburbs and another great mountain bike trail in Sydney. To reach the Bay Run route, you need only to cross the Anzac Bridge and keep going straight until you hit the water on the other side of Rozelle. We highly recommend going zigzagging through the wonderful areas of Rozelle, Lilyfield, Drummoyne and the beautiful waterfront areas close to Birkenhead Point. This trail is easily combined with the previous route from the Harbour Bridge to the Anzac Bridge.

An alternative, one that we prefer for our Sydney mountain bike tours is bypassing the Anzac Bridge and riding along the gorgeous Blackwattle Bay of Glebe. As one of our founder Jared's favourite spots of all time, we consider it a must on your visit to Sydney. Besides, the view from across a bridge is always better than being on the actual bridge, am I right?

Narrabeen Lake Trail

For this mountain bike trail in Sydney, we head to the Northern Beaches. Narrabeen Lagoon is an 8.4km circumference, graded as easy and offering the perfect break from the big smoke. Surrounded by wildlife and nature, this cycle route replenishes the soul and will give you a good exercise fix. If you are looking to extend your day trip even more, rent one of the kayaks or paddle-boards and explore the area on the water.

Centennial Park

A green oasis in the middle of Sydney, Centennial Park is one of the most popular inner-city Sydney mountain bike trails. Centennial Park's Cyclists Avenue opened in 1900 and sees around 75.000 cyclists each year. It offers a 3.5km Grand Drive loop around the park showcasing the history of the park and its rich collection of native and exotic plants. While this might not satisfy your off-road cravings, it's an absolute cracker of a relaxing bike adventure in Sydney. We highly recommend sneaking in a cheeky picnic to complete the day.

Mountain Bike and Cycling Trails around Sydney

The Blue Mountains

Looking to go behind and discover your inner adventurer on real Sydney mountain bike that are fully off-road? The Blue Mountains is where you need to head! The mountainous forests of eucalyptus reachable by train or car from Sydney is famous for its blue hue and is home to many mountain bike trails. The trails through these forests are graded from easy to extremely challenging. Two easy mountain bike trails that we recommend are Hanging Rock Trail in Blackheath and Blue Gum Swamp Trail in Winmalee.

Both mountain bike trails are rated easy to medium difficulty and are a great way to explore this national park!

Hunter Valley

Sydney's favourite wine area, the Hunter Valley, is only a few hours north. Home to over 120 wineries, there is plenty of exploring to do. Offering a multitude of off-road locations, the Hunter Valley draws in all types of mountain bikers, from beginners to advanced. They even have an annual mountain bike festival! The Wollombi Wild Ride is a 13.5 km, 30 km or 60 km mountain bike trail all around the vineyards. Mountain biking is the perfect way to spend a day in the Hunter Valley and why not combine it with one of our Hunter Valley Wine Tours?

Mountain Bike & Cycling Tours & Bike Hire

There are many ways you get around the Sydney sights and bike riding is an absolutely fantastic option! There are a few locations that will allow you to rent you a bike for the day, have a look here to see where your closest bike rental is. There are even facilities both in the Blue Mountains and in the Hunter Valley that offer these services.

If you want to skip the research and jump on a mountain bike or cycling tour instead, we offer fully customisable bicycle tours for any size group. Focusing on local venues and showing you the spots that most tourists don't get to see, we absolutely love our exclusive cycle route. Jump on the chat if you have any questions or head to our detailed booking page to discover more!

Is Bike Riding Safe in Sydney?

We won't fool you to say that Sydney is as bike-friendly as Amsterdam or Copenhagen, but with a few precautions, you will find your cycling experience to be very safe. We have gathered a few safety tips if you are exploring Sydney by bike on your own. If you are partaking in one of our tours, we'll make sure that you are safe at all times:

1. Wearing a helmet is obligatory when cycling around Australia, please wear one at all times.

2. We recommend wearing a fluorescent vest if you are planning to bike ride around Sydney at dusk or in the dark.

3. Keep to the cycle paths as much as possible, if there is one available.

4. Try to keep to the left of the road as much as you can.

5. Use your arms to indicate your direction well in advance. Always look back to see whether it is safe before you cross the road.

6. Avoid busy roads if you are not comfortable with fast-paced traffic

That's it legends! Have a great time exploring the Sydney sights by bicycle or mountain bike!