Blue Mountains Wildlife Full-Day Sights and Hiking from Sydney

A great chance to see the natural part of Australia

This was a great chance to see the Blue Mountains. We chose the tour that had a hike and picnic lunch, and I was really glad we did, because while we got to get out to explore the mountains, the rest of the tour went to a restaurant for lunch and never really got an opportunity to see the mountains up close, just little overlooks. They probably had a better lunch than ours, but it was worth it. The hike took us just about an hour and it did finish with a pretty steep climb (on steps), but it wasn't too taxing otherwise. The drive to and from was longer than I expected (about 1.75 hours on the return), but it was still worthwhile.

Well rounded tour!

Fantastic vistas and photo ops. Time to explore Richmond - cutest little town! The wildlife sanctuary is intimate and close up, holding koalas are no longer allowed. Small group, comfortable seating and Paul was a wealth of information. You can see his passion for his work.

Well worth the price paid!

A great day spent in the Blue Mountains. So many magnificent views. Our driver, Billy, was awesome and so knowledgeable about plants, wildlife and history. Kept to the schedule and timed everything just right.

Enjoyable day!

Our guide was so knowledgeable and friendly. Everything was on time. Lunch was delicious. We thoroughly enjoyed the day!

Highly recommend.

Billy the tour guide was excellent at providing context both from an entertaining as well as educational perspective. Great variety and packed itinerary.

One day in Sydney

We had one full day in Sydney so we had to make choices with our time. We prefer nature and active exploration, so for our first time on this beautiful continent it was the perfect option. We also wanted to avoid tourist traps. This was unequivocally the right choice. Eamonn had us in good hands the whole day and was very knowledgeable about each stop. The hike is very manageable but be aware it is not a kiddie ride. Lunch was very good. The veg option was better and tastier than the regular.

Amazing

This was a great experience and it was made extra special by our tour guide Karyn, immensely knowledgeable about the history and shared with us.

A long bus ride, but we'll worth the investment in time

We had a great time on our Blue Mountains Wildlife Sights and Hiking. Our guide Aemonn, was very informative and went out if his way to make sure we had a good time. He even added a side trip when it appeared the Three Sisters would be covered in fog (the fog cleared in enough time). The hike was a little strenuous with a number of steps to descend and climb, but the views were spectacular. The trip left us wishing we could spend more time in the Blue Mountains, but given the distance from Sydney, it afforded a nice taste of the area.

Hiking and touring Blue Mountains

Wonderful tour. Our guides were very knowledgeable and friendly, and the views were incredible. The hike is a bit challenging so make sure to pace yourself! Petting the koala and the kangaroo is a nice bonus.

Pray for good weather

While our tour guide, Kathy, did EVERYTHING in her power to make the best of the day, constant rain meant ZERO visibility for any legitimate “views.” And there was no hiking whatsoever. I know the “operator reserved the right to alter the experience based on weather”.. other non-controllables, yada-yada, the conditions were completely predictable and I would have appreciated the opportunity to spend one of my few days in Sydney doing something else (with or without a refund!). I felt a bit trapped in an experience that was going to be weak from the outset.

Incredible wild life experience

Private tour in awesome places. Wild life was the best! And although the day was cloudy and rainy landscapes were beautiful.

Incredible Views

The trip out to the Blue Mountains was great! The animal reserve in the morning was a great start before hitting the mountains. Absolutely beautiful views. I took so many photos on the hike in hopes to fully capture the experience. Eamonn was a fantastic guide for the day! And the sandwich before the hike was delicious!

Day trip with hike (and wine!)

This was a really wonderful day trip packed with interesting stops and views. I especially loved the midday hike and picnic lunch option and would recommend for folks getting a sample of a region with the hope of going back again for more. I'll definitely plan to return for more hiking in the Blue Mountains now that I know how easy it is to navigate. Wonderful guide, great experience.

Foggy Day, but still beautiful

Unfortunately, the fog was persistent in hanging about and we weren't able to get the incredible views that the Blue Mountains provide. We did get peaks here and there throughout the day though. Our driver, Ross, tried to make amends in every way and was incredibly gracious and good humored. I enjoyed how the day was split between some wildlife and sightseeing.

Not recommended!

They mixed us with another tour package! We payed $295 for the package that had picnic lunch, other people in the group had paid $299 for a package with restaurant lunch plus dessert!! So they didn’t let us sit with the rest of the group in the restaurant because our package was only with “picnic lunch” and we felt terrible about that. Also seemed extremely unfair that they had charged us $295 for the same package without restaurant lunch. The picnic lunch included 2 small chicken sandwiches soaked in mayonnaise!! Very bad taste, plus a slice of cake, a bottle of orange juice and an apple. No entry fees were paid (other than the Calmsley Hill Farm)and I did not understand what did they mean by “entry/admission fee” which was mentioned in the “included section”!! The last part was “Blue Mountains Botanic garden” and they gave us only 15 minutes!! While at least you will need 30-60min to see the garden. In a nutshell, you pay$295 only for transport(without admission fee) to Blue mountains, 3 sisters, Evans lookout,hotel pickup &drop off, Calmsley Hill Farm entry and picnic lunch. I highly recommend to go for another tour.

Great trip to the beautiful Blue Mountains with a visit to meet native Australian animals

The trip was well organized by our guide, Giorgio. We were picked up on time at our hotel and he passed on lots of information on the area as we travelled to our first stop at the farm. The highlight there was Jasper, the koala, who was very active and friendly. He is part of a breeding programme to save the koalas. After some stops at lookouts and a picnic lunch, we hiked extensively in the beautiful blue mountains, mostly avoiding the rain showers but with interesting temperature changes. The views along the cliff trail were spectacular. The many consecutive trail steps can be a challenge for anyone with knee issues but the views may be worth the pain. Giorgio was an excellent guide. I felt bad as we had no smaller bills in Australian dollars to tip him and were unable to find change. Perhaps an option to tip when booking the trip could be added.

Definitely worth it

Tons of fun! Got to see all kinds of lovely animals. Rigorous hike ended with sparkling wine! Yum! I had an allergy and Paul was very accommodating for lunch!

Scenic Trail didn't dissappoint

Loved the hike along the cliff trail. The views, the plant life and the termite mounds were amazing. Well groomed trail but a lot of steps! The box lunch was amazing but saved half til we got back to the top.

Fantastic trip

Was a great trip and Nigel looked after us really well. He pointed out many sights and gave us history and background to the area. Would have been amazing if we had a guide with us on the lovely walk so we could have learnt a little more about the flora and fauna along the way. Maybe a leaflet with what you see and some information would be useful. The picnic lunch was fantastic with really well filled sandwiches. Plentiful water was handed out along the trip and great fizz at the final stop.

Satisfying for heart and soul

I can’t say enough great things about this experience. While my heart loved (adored!) the cuddly animals at the farm, my soul resonated with the important messages our amazing guide Billy taught us about the land, the people and the gravity of colonialism and ongoing racism in Australia today. May all the white dudes be as committed to justice. Thank you for a day to be remembered for decades.

Amazing small group experience if you have limited time available to visit the Blue Mountains

Ian's knowledge throughout the trip really added to the experience and was delivered with humour. His attention to service was second to none and he made sure that everyone's needs were catered to - a real asset to the company! This day was a combination of hiking and a sight seeing trip. We opted for the self guided hike from Evans Lookout which was great for views of a waterfall and across the canyons. Ian picked up a picnic lunch for us beforehand which was excellent - delicious and plentiful. This hiking option is well worth doing if you have the option to. The day was packed with plenty of photo stops along the way. Timings were kept to which meant no wasted time and you got a very good taster tour of the Blue Mountains in one day. We enjoyed seeing the animals up close at the city farm and the Botanic gardens are stunning.

Highs and Lows in the Mountains

Eamonn our driver guide was excellent. He provided really interesting insights throughout the driving. The views through the day were amazing, and the mountain botanical gardens are incredibly beautiful. The company though had not organised things well. Nearly all the guests are older tourists and I heard this is typical. It's really windy and chilly in the morning and no guidance to bring a hoody or jersey etc. Some of us purchased jackets at the lunchtime tourist store (part of a plan?) I heard quite a few moans about that. The lunch picnic sandwich provided to walkers was essentially just a tube wrap full of mayonnaise that burst out of both ends simultaneously on any contact with the mouth. Both inedible and v messy, especially where no bathrooms available. But the biggest issue is the hike to Evans Point. I was OK with it as a regular runner, but found it unpleasant due to long, continuous steep ascents. Some of the older members of the group barely made it. I felt so bad for them. Please know this is a challenging, mostly uphill climb. Not a scenic walk. Great cardio workout but really not fun. Most walkers felt this had not been well articulated. So, a mixed bag I'm afraid.

Blue Mountains

Really good trip. The mountains were beautiful and we saw some of the best bits. Tour guides Roger and Hoof really knowledgable and lovely people. The hike was well worth doing, but a longer time allocated would have stopped it feeling like a rush.

Animals and Moutains

This is a must for a day excursion outside the city to see the mountains. We also really enjoyed our time at the Farm seeing all the animals.

Great trip

Excellent guide. So well informed. Mountains are beautiful. History, geology and natural history of the region fascinating.

Great Experience!

On December 7, Our guide was class A, respectful,patient and kind always. He took us to the most spectacular views and the hiking difficulty was ok except for one lookout that was a bit challenging but still doable. The time spent at the farm with coffee and cookies was good. The food at lunch was delicious. At the end the guide served us wine and spent time at the Botanical Gardens. Overall an excellent experience. This was a luxury tour at an affordable price. I think the tour did more than what the tour description said. Thanks AEA Luxury Tours for a great experience!

A good mix

A very good mix of meeting wildlife up close, sights and trek. The weather stopped us seeing a waterfall and The Three Sisters but the guides tried their hardest to give us some good sights. Packed lunch really substantial. Overall a very good day out.

wonderful day

I had a wonderful day; the walk in the blue mountains was amazing and the guide was very nice. The botanic garden is also stunning. The only bad point was that the vehicle's climatization was super excessive and the cold air on my neck made me really sick for the next couple of days.

Active tour

Wonderful interactive tour. Small group. Only five of us and the your guide who was excellent. But I can't remember her name. 🤦🏼‍♀️ Had two wonderful walks and stopped on one to have lunch with a fantastic view. I like active tours and this was perfect!!!

First-rate tour guide

Our tour guide, Steve, was exceptionally knowledgeable and friendly. We saw numerous highlights in the Blue Mountains, including some viewpoints off the beaten track, and learned so much about Australian history, culture, and biology. This tour is well worth it!

A great day

The day was well organized and there were different stops to see the Blue Mountains area. The guide Steve was amazing and shared a lot of knowledge.

Excellent

Very knowledgeable guide. Excellent host. Loved seeing the indigenous animals at the farm away from crowds of tourists. Viewing points of the blue mou trains well chose.

A great trip with a very knowledgeable guide and a comfortable ride

Took this tour as a solo participant Steve was our guide and he was very knowledgeable, especially about the first nations people of Australia and the history of the British sailors that first came to Australia. He's also been all around the world and it was fun to chat with him in general. The tour van and lunch was nice, and everyone on the tour was friendly. There really wasn't much of what I'd call a hike, but I'm from the mountains of Colorado so my definition is likely quite a bit different. Where I'm from, we'd probably call these the Blue Hills 😉 I enjoyed getting to interact with some wildlife at the Calmsley Hills farm as well. Overall, a great day. Recommended

Wonderful guide, great trip away from city

Steve is an excellent guide and master story-teller. He clearly knows the history of the Blue Mountains and the surrounding area (Katoomba etc) and on current affairs - it was a joy listening to him speak, on top of his dry humor (greatly appreciated). Tourists might want to do a cursory check with the agent to see if the national parks/passes are closed - our trip to the Evans Lookout and Govetts Leap couldn't be attempted as these areas were closed. However, Steve knew the area well enough to bring us to other spots - again, greatly appreciated! The Three Sisters was a nice sight to behold in the clear skies and "blue" backdrop of the Blue Mountains, supplemented with a wonderful Steve regaling us with the Aboriginal story of the Three Sisters. Lunch at the Boiler House was great (just don't order the bruschetta - it is difficult to eat). All in all, it was a great getaway from the city.

Fantastic Blue Mountain Day Tour

Excellent tour of the Blue Mountains. Our tour guide (Dane) was very knowledgeable of the area, animals and vegetation. The Mercedes Benz Sprinter was clean and comfortable for the all day excursion. Lunch at the Boiler House Cafe at the Hydro Majestic was very good. The food was fresh and served promptly on our arrival. The restaurant is located in the Megalong and Kanimbla Valley and offers a great view. Well worth it!

Hiking was cancelled but overall a good day

Due to the ongoing fires, our hiking day got turned into a van driving day but it was still an overall great experience. The guides were very informative and nice.

Too Notch Guide

My new bride and I went to the Blue mountains yesterday. Christopher was our tour guide. I’ve been on dozens of similar tours and I have to say Christopher was the best guide I’ve had. He not only knows a ton of great information about everything we did but he also has an infectious love for what he does. And the sincerity and joy of it comes through at every turn. He actually spends his time off hiking, camping and learning more about the areas he so passionately guides you through. I highly recommend these tours and can’t say enough good things about our experience.

Nice small group excursion. Really not much of a Hiking excursion.

The excursion was only 8 people, We were the only two that hiked. When I booked I thought most of the tour would be hiking. We just were dropped off on a trail and told to take it to the end and the tour guide would pick us up in 75 minutes. My husband and I were the only ones of the eight that hiked. The visits to the farm and botanical gardens were great, and the 3 sisters. We did NOT get wine as advertised. The vehicle and guide were nice. Just thought we would have a guided hike.

WOW - Amazing tour - go if you can!

Graham was a wonderful tour guide. The amount of sites we covered was amazing. Loved the Calmsley Hill Farm - cute little 8 month old joey. The mountains were beautiful. Breathtaking. The care given by the company and Graham was wonderful. Lunch was great too!

Blue Mountains Day Tour - Best Day Ever!

Twenty years ago my wife and I toured the Blue Mountains on a trip to Sydney. On our recent trip to Sydney we wanted to share this experience with our daughter. What a wonderful day of touring. AEA Luxury Tours and our tour guide Paul did not disappoint. The AEA team exceeded our expectations, from the moment we were picked up from our hotel and transported to the mountains in our luxurious Mercedes Van, our tour guide Paul provided us with his knowledge of the area and the local culture and customs. Our visit to the City Farm was delightful and was a great start to our day, the vistas and sites of the Blue Mountains were spectacular and having a small group (7) made it more like a private tour and easier to get to look out areas where most tour groups cannot reach. Our lunch was delicious, the Aussie Meat Pie and traditional desert was a treat. Then back to Sydney in time for dinner in the Rocks. Major Kudos to the AEA team and a special shout out to Paul - you TrueType made the tour memorable!

Blue Mountains

Perfect tour to see the sights and get a nice hike in the middle. Excellent lunch to pack and have half way through the hike. The small tour size was perfect. Our tour guide was highly knowledgeable in giving history of the sights. Would highly recommend this tour.

Amazing views

Definitely do it if you want a break from the city. We were lucky and caught some kangaroos grazing while we stopped for morning tea. Amazing views from the look outs and a nice easy hike with more stunning vistas and champagne to end it! Our guide was very knowledgeable with his commentary and even the drive back through some winding roads made for some great scenery.

Blue Mountains

A very full but excellent day to the Blue Mountains. Our driver/guide Charles did a great job getting us to locations early, ahead of major crowds. My wife could not do the hike so Charles made sure she was looked after during the hike. An added bonus was a quick stop at the Olympic sight in Sydney.

The views were unparalleled, and the...

<p>The views were unparalleled, and the entire day was wonderful. I highly recommend doing the breakfast with the koalas!</p>

Our driver, Peter, provided...

<p>Our driver, Peter, provided excellent guidance and informative commentary throughout our trip. The breakfast with the koalas at Featherdale was amazing. Great hike. Strongly recommend this trip.</p>

Era mentira. No tenían audioguia en español. Y esa era mi razón de haberlos elegido

Elegi esta excursion porque tenia audioguia en español. Cuando se la pedi al guia me dijo que lo sentia mucho pero que no la tenia y que no sabia nada. Gracias a que hablo algo de ingles me enterè de algo. La excursión está bien organizada y es muy recomendable pero el hecho de que no cumplan con lo que dijeron me hace pubtuarla muy bajo. Hubiera cogido otra excursión de aaber que no era en español

Bravissima la nostra guida (spagnolo di nascita)

Belli i luoghi visitati, molte piante di cui ci è stato spiegato nome e particolarità. Pranzato bene a picnic nella foresta. Abbiamo visto anche animali selvatici nel centro di recupero per gli animali. Ma soprattutto bravissima la guida, non ricordo il nome ma era un nome spagnolo.

Eine sehr empfehlenswerte Tour...

<p>Eine sehr empfehlenswerte Tour. Unser sehr kompetente Fahrer, Peter Martin, wusste unglaublich viel zu berichten. Aufgrund der kleinen Gruppe eine sehr persönliche Tour mit viel Kontakt zum Guide. Ein absolutes must ist das Koala Frühstück im Featherdale Wildlife Park. Es ist zwar nicht billig aber: ein unglaublich leckeres Frühstück und der Highlight Koalas zu streicheln ist ein einmaliges Erlebnis!!!<br/> Die selbst geführte Wanderung ca. 2 Stunden Gehzeit ist traumhaft schön mit einer unglaublichen Kulisse. Angemerkt sei, dass man schon halbwegs Kondition haben sollte, denn man überquert ein Tal...<br/> Das Lunchpaket ist auch gut. Ein wunderschöner Abschluss des Tages mit einem Glas Sekt ist im Botanischen Garten Mount Tomah.</p>