Blue Mountains Opening Hours
The Blue Mountains hours of operation are from 9 am to 5 pm in the summer and from 9 am to 4 pm in the winter.
The Blue Mountains’ opening hours change depending on the season and the attractions.
The Blue Mountains are open on all public holidays except Christmas Day and New Year’s Day.
The Blue Mountains are also spectacular at night when the city lights make for a stunning backdrop.
Note: Due to prolonged rainy weather, subsidence dangers, significant landslides, or infrastructure renovations, several walking trails, roads, and fire routes inside Blue Mountains National Park remain closed.
Find updated details for specific attractions on the NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service’s official website.
The National Parks contact center is open daily from 7 am to 7 pm.
Below are the opening hours for popular attractions in or near the Blue Mountains.
| Attraction | Opening Hours |
|---|---|
| Blue Mountains National Park | 24 hours, Monday to Sunday |
| Echo Point Lookout | 24 hours, Monday to Sunday |
| Scenic World* | 10 am to 4 pm, Monday to Friday9 am to 5 pm, Saturday to Sunday |
| Jenolan Caves* | 7 am to 6 pm, Monday to Sunday |
| Mayfield Garden | 9 am to 4 pm, Monday to Sunday |
| Featherdale Sydney Wildlife Park | 9 am to 4 pm, Monday to Sunday |
Within the Blue Mountains region, the iconic Echo Point (Three Sisters) lookout is open 24 hours a day.
However, the Echo Point Information Centre is open from 9 am to 4 pm, seven days a week.
The other popular attraction in the Blue Mountains, right across from the Three Sisters, is Scenic World.
Scenic World’s opening hours vary seasonally.
It is open Monday to Friday from 10 am to 4 pm in regular months. The last tickets, however, are sold at 2.45 pm.
It opens from 9 am to 5 pm on Saturday and Sunday, while the last tickets are sold at 3.45 pm.
Scenic World operates seven days a week during school holidays, from 9 am to 5 pm. The last tickets are sold at 3.45 pm.
The Scenic World Blue Mountains cable car opening hours remain consistent with Scenic World’s overall schedule.
Jenolan Caves in the Jenolan Karst Conservation Reserve near Oberon are open daily at 7 am.
Reservations are necessary to access the caves. Pre-book your one-day tour of Jenolan Caves and the Blue Mountains.
Only four of the eleven caves are open to the public: the Imperial, Chifley, and Orient.
Only the guests staying overnight can access the Temple of Baal Cave.
Day visitors to Jenolan Caves must depart by 6 pm.
Jenolan Caves Road may be closed due to severe weather-related damage. Check the caves’ official website for timely Jenolan Caves opening hours updates.
Featherdale Wildlife Park’s opening hours are 9 am to 4 pm every day.
The park is, however, closed on Christmas Day.
Another attraction near Oberon, the Mayfield Garden, opens daily from 9 am until 4 pm, with the last entry at 3 pm.
Best time to visit the Blue Mountains
The best time to visit the Blue Mountains is also the busiest, the summer months of December to February.
It is the most popular time of year for tourists to escape the sweltering heat of significant cities, including Sydney, and enjoy the milder Blue Mountains weather.
Summer is the peak season in the Blue Mountains.
With abundant sunshine, the opportunities for outdoor activities, including swimming, hiking, bird watching, and wildlife spotting, are limitless.
The unlimited hop-on hop-off bus tour and Scenic World Blue Mountain day pass hours are tailored to provide flexible access to the attractions so you can explore wonders at your pace throughout the day.
Book a day trip to Katoomba attractions and the Featherdale Wildlife Park in advance to avoid last-minute disappointment.
| Read more about tips for visiting the Blue Mountains. |
Blue Mountain timings vary depending on the season, offering different activities and experiences throughout the year.
The winter season, June through August, is a great time to visit the mountains.
You can avoid the crowds of the summer months while enjoying affordable accommodations and Yulefest celebrations.
You may go bushwalking, or sip mulled wine in front of a roaring fire among the sparse trees and serene surroundings.
Visit from March through May to enjoy warm, bright days and chilly nights among the earthy, autumn-colored foliage.
The vibrant spring season is another fantastic time to visit the Blue Mountains.
September and October offer fresh, rich growth of plants and energetic wildlife populations, along with the spring garden festival of the mountains.
Each of the four seasons in the Blue Mountains—summer, winter, spring, and autumn—offers different experiences and beautiful landscape views.
However, the rainy season is the worst time to visit the Blue Mountains since most trails and roads are either closed or extremely dangerous.
Travel is not recommended during these months since they often see the most rain in the Blue Mountains: February, March, November, and December.
How long does it take to visit the Blue Mountains?
Visiting the Blue Mountains can take a few hours to a few days, depending on what you want to do and see.
If you want to take in the views, you can easily spend a few hours in the Blue Mountains.
The Blue Mountains National Park is a great place to start, as it offers stunning views of the Jamison Valley and the Three Sisters rock formation.
You can also take a scenic drive along the Great Western Highway, which will take you through the towns of Katoomba and Leura.
If you want to explore the area more thoroughly, you can spend a day or two in the Blue Mountains.
There are plenty of activities, such as bushwalking, mountain biking, and rock climbing.
You can also visit some of the area’s attractions, such as the Scenic World Skyway, the Jenolan Caves, and the Blue Mountains Botanic Garden.
Most locals and tourists take a one-day tour to Katoomba, a city in the Blue Mountains, and return by night for a ferry along the Parramatta River.
You can also purchase an Explorer bus pass and explore the rainforest, waterfalls, cliffs, and restaurants in Katoomba in a single day.
Walking trails ranging from ten minutes to a week in length provide excellent opportunities for exploring the region’s native wildlife.
Buy tickets to the Featherdale Wildlife Park to explore the Australian wilderness.
Refer to the itinerary section to check out a proper rundown of everything you can do in the Blue Mountains.
Featured Image: Bluemountain.ca