The Rainy Day Special

A Self-Guided Blue Mountains Itinerary

Mostly, days in the Blue Mountains are sparkling, bright sunshine, clear skies. But sometimes it does happen that the mist rolls in and the rain comes down.

Good News! The Mountains are AWESOME on a misty day – the grey-blue haze of the forests bursts into dazzling shades of green, the trees dress up in cloaks of grey mist, and walking along the clifftop path feels like striding through pillowy clouds. Best of all, when the heavens really open up, our waterfalls come to shouting, joyous life.

Here are some of the best places to enjoy the Blue Mountains on one of our wet and wonderful days.

TIP: In the mountains weather changes fast – a grey day can turn good (or a good day turn wet and cold) quicker than you can say “wish I’d brought my sunhat/warmest jacket/gumboots”. Save your shivers by wearing layers, and pack a light rain jacket just in case.

Time Needed:

One Day

Best Bus Pass:

Lyrebird Pass

Highlights:

Waterfalls

Photography

Forest Bushwalks

Scenic World Rides

Stops:

Stop 1 – Blue Mountains Cultural Centre

From Stop 10 – Reid’s Lookout, Furber Steps and Scenic World Bushwalk

Stop 17 – Blue Mountains Chocolate Company

Stop 7 – Echo Point and the Three Sisters

Stop 31 – Leura Cascades

Stop 30 – Toy and Railway Museum

Stop 32 – Leura Village

Blue Mountains Cultural Centre World Heritage Exhibition

Make the best of bad weather by visiting this excellent museum and art gallery. Don’t miss the interactive World Heritage Exhibition and say thanks to the rain for helping grow your knowledge.

Blue Mountains Cultural Centre

Blue Mountains Cultural Centre Shopping, Art & Culture Allow 45 minutes Hop off at Explorer Bus Stop # 1 Wheelchair...

Bushwalk Reids Plateau Furber Steps

Bushwalk: Reid’s Plateau to Furber Steps Bushwalks, Waterfalls Allow 2 hours Hop off at Explorer Bus Stop # 10 Grade:...

Scenic World

Scenic World Must See, Shopping Allow 2 hours Hop off at Explorer Bus Stop # 11 Wheelchair Accessible Purchase Explorer...

Reid's Lookout, Furber Steps and Scenic World

The best place to be on a rainy day is beside a roaring waterfall.

If you can handle the wet and want a good walk, the walk down the Furber Steps is a great option.

There are some truly spectacular falls on this downhill-all-the-way hike, and at the bottom you can explore magical rainforest – as it was meant to be enjoyed, rain and all!

Walk the Scenic Boardwalk through tree ferns and towering turpentine trees, then ride back up on either the Scenic Railway or Scenic Cableway (the one-way ticket costs $21, you will be charged as you leave the ride if you don’t have a Scenic World Unlimited Ride Pass).

Tip: One of the most surreal and amazing things to do on one of our rare foggy days is to take a ride on the Scenic Skyway or Cableway. You’re floating in a little glass bubble with nothing to tell you which way is up and which is down – a unique experience!

Hot Chocolate at the Blue Mountains Chocolate Company

The Explorer Bus isn’t only about seeing the sights.

We like to look after all your needs, and when those needs include a mug of hot chocolate on a cold day, the Chocolate Shop should be your very next stop.

While your warm hands grip the steaming mug, watch through the big glass window as the in-house chocolatier creates delicious chocolate treats. (Treat yourself to a few for the next part of your journey with 10% off all full priced chocolates with your Explorer Bus ticket).

Blue Mountains Chocolate Company

Blue Mountains Chocolate Company Food & Drink Allow 30 minutes Hop off at Explorer Bus Stop # 17 Purchase Explorer...

Echo Point Three Sisters

Echo Point & The Three Sisters Must See Allow 30 minutes Hop off at Explorer Bus Stop # 7 Wheelchair...

Echo Point and the Three Sisters

Don’t ignore the most famous view in the Blue Mountains just because there’s a bit of rain.

Misty days can be magical here. As the fog rising from the valley lifts and swirls, it often parts to reveal hazy sunlight beaming on the Three Sisters.

Lucky you! – you just got the kind of once-in-a-lifetime photo that our local photographers wait months to capture.

Lunch

It’s the perfect excuse to treat yourself to a cozy lunch. Try Miss Lillian’s for delicious Asian food or Echoes Hotel Restaurant with an amazing valley view, both minutes walk from Echo Point. Or, you could take drastic action and skip ahead and choose from one of the many cafes in Leura village. But whatever you do, don’t miss the next stop!

Leura Cascades

Leura Cascades Must See, Waterfalls Allow 1 hour Hop off at Explorer Bus Stop # 31 Purchase Explorer Bus Pass...

Leura Cascades Bushwalk

The walk down beside Leura Cascades is one of our favourite short walks, and it’s absolutely unmissable after good rain when the cascades turn from a pleasant trickle to a thunderous roar.

This is one of the best places to savour the Blue Mountains on a rainy day – but if you just want a quick look and to get back to shelter as quickly as possible, this is a short enough walk that you can easily get down and back without getting completely soaked.

Leuralla Toy and Railway Museum

If it’s truly too wet to be out, check out this wonderful collection of old tin soldiers, trains, dolls and teddies. Note that the working model railways are all outside in the garden.

Leurella Toy & Railway Museum

Leurella Toy and Railway Museum Art & Culture Allow 30 minutes Hop off at Explorer Bus Stop # 30 Wheelchair...

Leura Village Shopping & Eating

Leura Village Shopping & Eating Food & Drink, Shopping Allow 1 hour Hop off at Explorer Bus Stop # 23...

Afternoon Tea in Leura

Ride the Explorer Bus into beautiful Leura Mall.

As you sit down with a hot mug of tea and a plate of scones smothered in jam and cream, congratulate yourself: you’re a true Explorer, and you’ve unlocked more rainy-day secrets of the wild and beautiful Blue Mountains than the people who came on tour buses could ever dream of doing.