Greater Sydney Has More Adventures Than You Think

Hanging out in the car all the way to Katoomba’s all well and good, but what if you could already be out exploring? The Lower Blue Mountains, Penrith, and the Hawkesbury bring big mountain vibes without the commute making for a outdoor weekend within reach of the city.

We Are Explorers acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of the Countries on which these adventures take place, who have occupied and cared for these lands, waters, and their inhabitants for thousands of years. We pay our respects to them and recognise that sovereignty was never ceded.

Unless you’re a local, you probably reckon you’re in the Blue Mountains when you hit your first bump on the way out of Western Sydney. I’m about to tell you otherwise.

You’re probably in Penrith or the Hawkesbury, and to be honest, they’ve been stitched up for far too long. I’m out to rectify this and get the forgotten Bluie Brothers on the map by shouting about the bangin’ spots that they’ve got on offer. I’m talkin’ tranquil lookouts to stand atop as kookaburras laugh in the day, plunging sandstone gorges to float through, and cheeky glowworm enclaves to explore.

I’ve also chucked in some awesome spots to visit in the lower Blue Mountains, because you know, it’s rad too.

Want a guidebook? Grab a copy of Blue Mountains Best Walks (Pop in ‘WAE15’ at checkout for 15% off!)

The Western Foothills – Penrith

The Penrith region at the base of the Blue Mountains is still part of Sydney – in fact, it’s only 50 clicks west of the Opera House. This is awesome ’cause you can get a view from a natural lookout instead of a skyscraper balcony, and the swimming has less chlorine and salt.

The region was originally inhabited by the Mulgoa tribe of the Darug people, so remember to tread lightly.

Read more: Remember to leave no trace

Penrith Lookout Hitlist

The mottled landscape downstream of Warragamba Dam is so damn (heh) scenic that four lookouts peer down into the gorges. Check them out:

The Rock Lookout

The walk from Fairlight Road to the Rock Lookout is only a few hundred metres and ends on a bloody great rock that’s perfect for picnics. Peer down into the Nepean River Gorge and further up into the Bluies.

Tunnel View Lookout

Tunnel View Lookout is about a five-minute walk and rewards you with views across Glenbrook Gorge to heritage-listed train tunnels that are over 100 years old, as well as wildflowers and the basalt peaks of Mount Banks and Mount Tomah in the background.

Nepean Lookout

Only 500m from the car park (they make it easy in Penrith, hey?), Nepean Lookout feels like it’s directly above Fairlight Gorge, allowing you to see up and down the valley and feel its immense scale.

Safety tip: None of the above lookouts have fences, so keep it cool and stay well back from the edge. If you’ve got kids (or friends who may as well be) keep reading.

Soak up the plains from Nepean Lookout

Portal Lookout

Portal Lookout might be the most stunning of the lot. Sitting above the confluence of the Glenbrook Gorge and the Nepean River, you can look out over the plains and trace the path of the river north, then east, all the way to the ocean. This one’s fenced and wheelchair accessible, so you can bring the whole crew!

Portal Lookout is great for all Explorers!

Paddle Through Nepean Gorge

Lookouts are cool, but when you spot someone down there paddling their canoe or stand up paddleboard you’ll soon be making a beeline for the water. Nepean Gorge cuts deeply through a section of sandstone, meaning the cliffs soar above you from the water level. There’s a section called The Narrows that opens out into a stunning hidden swim spot that could be years away from Sydney.

This is in Penrith!

If you don’t have your own paddling gear, hook up with the legends at Horizon Line Canoe and SUP Hire – they sorted me out with some kayaks and even run tours for first timers.

Camp at Euroka Campground

Euroka Campground is smack bang in the middle of all the natural goodness, making it the perfect base for a day of photography, swimming, and hiking at the base of the mountains. Euroka Campground has five different camp areas among the gums and nestled up to the Nepean River, with sites costing around $25 a night.

More like ‘Eureka!’

The Hawkesbury River and Surrounds

The Hawkesbury River begins at Yarramundi Reserve where the Nepean and Grose Rivers meet. It then heads north and east, doing a big lap of Sydney on its way to the ocean at Broken Bay. On the way, it passes through boating paradise, Wisemans Ferry, and meets with the stunning Colo River that flows in from further north.

Kickin’ it in the Colo

Take a Dip in the Colo River

There’s nothing like a hike with a swim at the end – especially if that swim is in the cooling waters that flow out of a pristine wilderness area like the Wollemi. The Bob Turners track is a 6km return hike with its halfway point bang-on a sandy beach on the edge of the Colo River.

It’s not super difficult, but the hike is remote, so let people know where you’re going, take water, food, and wet weather gear and be careful when wild swimming. (Yes, Mum).

Read more: Staying Safe Around Swimming Holes and Waterfalls

The highlight of Bob Turners track? A pristine inland beach

Take a Mini Road Trip (Or Two)

The Hawkesbury has a Hunter Valley vibe and is barely out of Sydney. For a winding drive without the traffic, take Bells Line of Road, the other much less well-known route across the Blue Mountains, and check out Botanic Gardens, orchards, quaint-as-heck cafes, and more than a few walking tracks.

Moody scenes on Bells Line of Road

Check Out the Glow Worms at Bilpin

You’ll have to wait until nighttime for this one – may I suggest perusing the Bilpin Cider Cellar Door while you wait? Just sayin’.

I reckon this Glow Worm Tour is worth its weight in glow. You’ll enter a private canyon that’s free of crowds and watch the thriving glowworms come alight like a subterranean night sky. The guides are all experts too, so get ready to grill them on shiny-bug biology.

Go Boating on the Hawkesbury River at Wisemans Ferry

You and the Hawkesbury River, I ship it.

As the Hawkesbury starts to widen, helped out by the Colo and Macdonald Rivers, it becomes the perfect stretch of water for boating. Think kayaking, fishing, water skiing, even river cruises in an old-school paddle boat.

Wiseman’s Ferry gettin’ w i d e for all your boating needs.

The biggest winner? Hiring a houseboat for a night or two – you don’t even need a boat licence to captain one! Get the lowdown on all the river activities Wisemans Ferry has to offer and start planning your escape.

The Lower Blue Mountains

The lower Blueies are great. Fewer tourists, closer to Sydney (if that’s where you’re comin’ from), and just as stuffed with the goodness we’ve come to expect from this particularly tantalising section of the Great Dividing Range.

Lower Blue Mountains Lookout Hitlist

After a caffeine pit stop at one of the bangin’ cafes on Ross Street in Glenbrook, it’ll be time to hit two of its prime lookouts.

Elizabeth Lookout

Park up at the Knapsack Reserve carpark and enjoy a short and flat stroll of just over 1km to this lookout. You’ll have views over the Penrith Lakes and all the way to the CBD on a clear day. If you’ve got mountain bikes you can ride along the fire trail in and explore paths in the reserve.

Marges Lookout

Just a few hundred metres north, Marges Lookout gives another sweet vantage point. There’s also the epic Knapsack viaduct to check out and a large dining shelter for snack o’clock.

Marges Lookout

Faulconbridge Point

Two kilometres of walking not doing it for you? Take on the 13km return hike to Faulconbridge Point. The shaded track ends at a properly remote Blue Mountains clifftop, well away from the bustle of the city. This track makes a fantastic pedal for mountain bikers too.

Remote views at Faulconbridge Point lookout

Ride From Woodford to Glenbrook

The Woodford Oaks Trail is a stunning 27km mountain bike ride in the Lower Blue Mountains. The track winds through heathland, making it a prime spot for mountain wildflowers, and The Oaks picnic area has you sorted for a mid-ride rest (read: snack session).

You can ride from Woodford to Glenbrook train stations, and Blue Mountains Bikes in Katoomba can sort you out for bike rental if you aren’t equipped. Cheerin’!

Misty heathland is the best kind of heathland.

Oh and remember those cafes I mentioned on Ross Street? That’s where the ride ends – should be enough motivation to keep ya pedalling.

‘Pedal harder! The coffee shop closes at 2!’

Keep the Adventure Going!

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• 17 Hidden Adventure Ideas to Get You Outside in Sydney
• The Complete Guide to 12 of the Best Wildflowers in the Blue Mountains | NSW
• 5 Caves Near Sydney You Need to Crawl Into This Year