Things To Do In Katoomba: Waterfalls, Hiking And High Tea

The historic Blue Mountains town of Katoomba is a vibrant, creative enclave filled with attractions from outdoor excitement to cosy places to sit and sip.

The lofty town of Katoomba is at the heart of the Blue Mountains. Set on the fringe of the heritage-listed national park, this heritage centre is usually the first stop on any excursion into the high country and is a great place to base oneself. While there’s plenty of natural attractions a stone’s throw from town, you certainly won’t be left wanting for things to do in Katoomba once you unlace your walking shoes.

Here’s our pick of the must-do and see experiences from the streets to bush.

In short

If you only do one thing in Katoomba, make it a trip to Scenic World. With something to thrill everyone from kids to adventurers, this is one of the best ways to interact with the Blue Mountains.

Visit the Three Sisters

Perhaps the most iconic Katoomba sight, the Three Sisters rise almost one kilometre above sea level from the north escarpment of the Jamison Valley. Steeped deeply in lore and of great significance to the Traditional Owners, these monolithic pillars are awe-inspiring for anyone who glimpses their majestic beauty. The sisters can be easily discovered on a gentle 800-metre walk in Katoomba, making them a must-see on any Blue Mountains jaunt.

Try a beer at Mountain Culture

Mountain Culture craft beers — Sink a cold one at Mountain Culture brewery. (Credit: Destination NSW)

This Blue Mountains-born craft brewery barrels out interesting and high-quality beer that’s adored around Australia, but has its roots in Katoomba. Located in a restored historic 1912 building, which once housed the local paper, a video store and a home for ‘lost or belated drunks’, the Mountain Culture brewery is a convivial place to sink a cold one after a day hiking. Stop by for a fortifying burger and beer, such as the award-winning Status Quo Pale Ale or one of the rotating limited-release beers.

Discover Scenic World

Scenic Railway, Scenic World — Pass through Jamison Valley’s stunning landscapes on the world’s steepest passenger railway. (Credit: Scenic World)

A veritable theme park with nature as the star attraction, Scenic World is a collection of jaw-dropping rides that show the magnitude of beauty in the Blue Mountains National Park. There’s the 2.4-kilometre Scenic Walkway for those who prefer to stay on the ground, but the real showstoppers are the eight-minute Scenic Cableway some 200 metres above ground; the Scenic Skyway that’s elevated 270 metres; and the historic 1878 Scenic Railway, which travels at a thrilling gradient of 52-degrees to take out the gong for the steepest railway in the world. Daredevils will race to get strapped in for Scenic World’s latest attraction, Beyond Skyway, a truly exhilarating 90-minute adventure that includes 20 minutes on the rooftop of the skyway, yes, outside! You’ll be in a full-body harness as you climb a ladder onto the roof, where you’ll be secured by anchor points.

Check out Katoomba Falls

Katoomba Falls from above — Make your way to one of the most captivating waterfalls in the Blue Mountains. (Credit: Destination NSW)

Thundering 150 metres from the Kedumba River to the Jamison Valley below, Katoomba Falls is one of the Blue Mountain’s most captivating waterfalls. Starting from Scenic World, you can take the short, two-kilometre circuit to take in the beauty of the falls with a photo op along the way at Juliet’s Balcony, which overlooks the dramatic Witches Leap.

Descend the Giant Stairway and take in the view at Echo Point Lookout

Honeymoon Bridge, Katoomba — The 998 stairs lead to Honeymoon Bridge. (Credit: Destination NSW)

For those keen to tackle a physical challenge, make for the Echo Point to Scenic World walking track via the Giant Stairway. Absorb the vistas from Echo Point before making your way to the Jamison Valley below. Forged from steel and stone in 1909, the 998 stairs lead to Honeymoon Bridge, which connects to the first of the Three Sisters. Once at the base, you can take the Scenic Railway back to the top, should you not feel inclined to tackle the stairs in reverse.

Need tips, more detail or itinerary ideas tailored to you? Ask AT.

Wild swim at Katoomba Cascades and Minnehaha Falls

There’s nothing like a dip in a cool mountain pool come summer. There are a few spots to wash away the heat in Katoomba, but our top picks are the layered Katoomba Cascades, where, after rain, the gentle falls plunge with force and kids can splash in the lower level, while adults enjoy a spa-like experience higher up. Also head to the deeper waterhole at Minnehaha Falls, where you can frolic under the gentle cascade and loll about in the water or sun yourself on the bank.

Enjoy a luxe stay at Ardour Lilianfels

Darleys at Lilianfels in Katoomba — Breathe in the fresh mountain air at Ardour Lilianfels. (Credit: Destination NSW)

A graceful place to relish the mountain air, this five-star resort is set amid deftly tended, cool-climate gardens and sprawls out across 89 guest rooms and suites styled with a luxe settler aesthetic. Ardour Lilianfel’s onsite fine-dining restaurant, Darley’s, is housed in a heritage-listed homestead and offers up splendid vistas of the Jamison Valley from across the cottage gardens. It’s special occasion territory for escapes that require a little indulgence. Previously known as Lilianfels Resort & Spa, it has entered a new era as Ardour Lilianfels since mid-2026.

Sip high tea at the Hydro Majestic

Scones and the Blue Mountains go hand-in-hand and one of the most stylish ways to take tea in the region is with a high tea experience at the grand Hydro Majestic. With dramatic views overlooking the Megalong Valley, tea is served daily between 11am and 3pm in the elegant Wintergarden room and consists of three tiers of finger sandwiches and petit pastries. While technically just outside of Katoomba in pretty Medlow Bath, it’s location only 8-kilometres away still makes it a worthy inclusion in your Katoomba itinerary.

Find clifftop thrills with Blue Mountains Adventure Company

With cliffs to climb and valleys to traverse, Katoomba and the Blue Mountains region is an adventurer’s playground. If your idea of a good time sees you dangling from a canyon tethered by a rope, you’ll love to slip into a harness for a guided experience canyoning, abseiling and climbing. Blue Mountains Adventure Company offers all these activities for beginner to advanced thrill-seekers, plus gentler walks to multi-day hikes.

Ride an e-bike in the Blue Mountains National Park

Blue Mountains Biking Adventures, Katoomba — Explore the Blue Mountains National Park on two wheels. (Credit: Destination NSW)

Not all exploration of the UNESCO World Heritage Blue Mountains National Park need be done by foot. For an energetic but less taxing experience, taking a guided e-bike tour ticks all the boxes for most fitness levels aged 12 to 70-plus.

You’ll head off the beaten track on the latest e-mountain bikes that assist your pedalling with a little motorised push, so you can spend your time admiring the bush surrounds rather than working up a sweat. Blue Mountain Biking Adventures offers tours that include a helmet, bike, snack and guide through Katoomba’s Narrowneck Plateau and other locations.

Join Gundungurra Indigenous Tours at Scenic World

Long before the area was named the Blue Mountains, it had been given the name Gundungurra Country. Learn about local lore with a First Nations guide as you explore the endemic flora and fauna and hear stories from the Dreamtime. Leaving from Scenic World, you’ll take the Cableway and Skyway as you learn about the rich culture of the region.

Hike the Six Foot Track

Serious walkers will be keen to follow the trail from Katoomba to Jenolan Caves on this three-day hike that follows an 1884 horse track. Weaving through Kanangra-Boyd National Park and state forests, enthusiastic nature-lovers will relish camping under the stars as they meander through the Megalong Valley to arrive at the caves. If the full Six Foot Track requires too much commitment, you can also tackle it in shorter sections.

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Indulge in some Blue Mountains spa time

Spa Sublime, Katoomba — Pamper yourself at Spa Sublime. (Credit: Darren Edwards/Destination NSW)

When wintry, snow-dusted days suggest a little pampering, book in for a massage or treatment at one of Katoomba’s day spas. Spa Sublime and Apsara Day Spa both offer a window into wellness on a weekend away in the mountains, where you can work out any tension from daily life or soothe limbs after a bush hike.

Follow the Katoomba Night-Lit Walk

While the Blue Mountains is undeniably spectacular by day, it also has an ethereal beauty by night. The Katoomba Night-Lit Walk is illuminated from dusk to 11pm, giving walkers a chance to safely experience the sights and nocturnal sounds of the bush come dark. Follow the forest path on the 1.3-kilometre route that passes Katoomba Cascades, Katoomba Falls, Orphan Rock and Witches Leap, at some parts you can also see the Three Sisters all aglow.

15. Take in the sunset at Boars Head

It would be remiss of anyone to visit the Blue Mountains and not find a position to admire the nightly light show at sunset. With vibrant orange and pink hues bathing the ancient rock cliffs and swathing the bush in a spectrum of colours, this is a free spectacle not to be missed. For prime viewing, make your way to Boars Head Lookout and join the audience for a picnic and a show. Be sure to rug up, though, it can get windy and chilly.

16. Tour Katoomba’s street art

Blue Mountains Cultural Centre, Katoomba — The Blue Mountains Cultural Centre serves as a creative hub that showcases the region’s distinctive artistic heritage. (Credit: Destination NSW)

The energy of the mountains imbues its residents with an abundance of creativity, which can be seen through the many galleries and bespoke craft boutiques, but also on the streets of Katoomba.

A joint venture between Blue Mountains Cultural Centre, University of Western Sydney and Street Art Murals Australia, the Beverly Place precinct has been decorated with large-scale murals that showcase the talent of street artists from the region and around Australia. Have your camera at-the-ready to snap a few selfies along the walk.

Hike the Grand Clifftop Walk

Grand Clifftop Walk, Wentworth Falls — This multi-day hiking track begins at Wentworth Falls and carves along the cliff edges of the Jamison Valley. (Credit: Destination NSW)

Those keen to come to the mountains and do some serious hiking will relish the Grand Clifftop Walk. The two-day, 19-kilometre hike starts at Wentworth Falls and concludes in Katoomba, scrambling up, over and around some extraordinary Blue Mountains vistas, from waterfalls and gullies to the Three Sisters. Your best bet is to overnight in Leura, where you can rest weary legs fireside and restore with a dinner in town.

See Katoomba in an ex-army truck

For a bit of fun, get around to see the Blue Mountains sights in ‘Wombat’ a former Australian Army Land Rover. While Wombat doesn’t go off-road, you’ll have a lofty vantage to take in the dramatic views of the Megalong Valley, Jamison Valley and Blackheath. Begin in Katoomba and set off for a 1.5-hour or three-hour tour, hopping on and off for short walks to the best lookouts.

Look up

stargazing in the Blue Mountains — The Blue Mountains is a premier stargazing destination due to the minimal light pollution. (Credit: Destination NSW)

Less than 10 minutes from Katoomba, you’ll discover the iridescent night sky on a stargazing tour at Wentworth Falls. The 90-minute Blue Mountains Stargazing experience is led by an astronomer who points out celestial bodies, satellites and even the ISS. You’ll talk star signs, constellations and history as you view deep space objects through a telescope and with laser-pointed naked-eye viewing. You’ll stay snug and warm with blankets, hot chocolate and tea.

Bate Bay’s sweep of beaches has been crowned Australia’s best for 2026, placing Sutherland Shire in the spotlight as a top coastal destination just south of Sydney’s CBD.

The beaches fringing Bate Bay – Cronulla, North Cronulla, Wanda, Elouera and Greenhills – have topped Tourism Australia’s 2026 list of best Australian beaches (as curated by Beach Ambassador Brad Farmer). For locals, it’s less revelation, more recognition.

The mood shifts from the moment you step off the T4 train service from Central to Cronulla and catch a glimpse of the ocean. At dawn, the Esplanade is already buzzing with regulars, and by mid-morning, parents have staked out a toasty spot on Cronulla Beach where excited toddlers clamber over rocks, and the Jellybean swim squad at Oak Park have donned their bright pink caps while singing Oh, What a Beautiful Mornin’.

By the afternoon, towels are being collected from across the sand as visitors wander back to Cronulla in loose formation.

North Cronulla beach — Dive into the world’s best beaches.

That’s the thing about Bate Bay beaches. This isn’t a story about a single beach. This long, uninterrupted sweep of sand and sea, where you can walk for kilometres without breaking stride, is not just enjoyed over summer; it’s a year-round destination. Here, Cronulla’s buzz gives way to Wanda’s wild edges, before stretching out to the quieter reaches of Greenhills.

But while Bate Bay’s beaches may have taken top honours in the 2026 Best Australian Beaches list, they’re only part of the drawcard. Sutherland Shire stacks up as a full-spectrum coastal escape, where good food, national park adventures and on-the-water experiences sit within easy reach of the shoreline. Whether you’re planning a long weekend or stretching out a stay, here’s how to make the most of Cronulla beyond the sand, sea and surf.

Beyond the beaches

Dining

The Sutherland Shire dining scene delivers from early morning to late at night with a mix of vibrant cafes, bars and pubs. Start your day at Grind Espresso, where the coffee comes strong and fast. From there, drift towards HAM for pastries, best eaten buttery warm.

By midday, locals linger across sun-lit tables. Loaf and Next Door appeal to the surfers who come in for snacks after chasing waves. Blackwood’s Pantry and The Press are also popular for breakfast and lunch, while Pilgrim’s continues to hold a special place in the hearts of vegans.

Newer arrivals signal where Cronulla is heading: Homer Rogue Taverna is being hailed as one of the best restaurants in Cronulla, with the confidence that comes from understanding what locals want. Ask a local to reveal their favourite restaurant for a special occasion, and it’ll likely be Pino’s Vino e Cucina al Mare, Yalla Sawa or Alphabet Street. Summer Salt, Sealevel, Benny’s, Bobbys and Pippis are a few of the best waterfront restaurants in the Shire.

Finally, when most places are winding down, Duke’s Providore shifts gears to become Duke’s After Hours – a low-lit romantic spot perfect for a date night. Parc Pavilion, Northies Cronulla and bars The Blind Bear, Las Chicas and Low & Lofty’s are also part of Cronulla’s identity.

Visit Bundeena

Bundeena Ferry Wharf — Catch a ferry to Bundeena.

A short ferry ride from Cronulla, Bundeena offers a counterpoint to Cronulla’s mighty surf beaches. If Cronulla is the Shire’s social heart, Bundeena – or Bundenesia, as it’s affectionately known – is the place to go to exhale and unwind.

Hop on the ferry from Cronulla, and within 30 minutes, you’ll be inhaling the eucalyptus-scented air. Check the creative pulse of the local community by timing your visit with the Bundeena Maianbar Art Trail on the first Sunday of every month.

One of the best things to do in Bundeena is paddle into Cabbage Tree Basin with Bundeena Kayaks. Follow the five-kilometre Jibbon Beach Loop Track that leads past quiet coves to ancient Indigenous rock art, or simply find a stretch of pearl-white sand to relax on.

Pristine walking trails

Royal National Park Cape Baily Walking Track — Cool off with a coastal stroll.

Beyond the coastline, Sutherland Shire offers myriad ways to shift gears. Royal National Park – the oldest national park in Australia – sits just minutes from the surf. Clifftop walks trace the edge of the continent, the rugged bushland is threaded with creeks and hidden waterfalls, and a network of tracks rewards those willing to go a little further.

Take the Coast Track, where the land drops cleanly into the ocean over sheer cliffs that have been stacked together like giant Jenga. Or veer inland, where pockets of forest cool the air and filter the light. It’s a reminder of how close nature sits to the bustle of suburbs in the Sutherland Shire.

Enjoy whale watching

humpback whale sighting noosa experiences — Spot whales from May to October. (Credit: The Edit Suite)

Twist your binoculars until the ocean is in focus, stretched like a creased blue sheet all around. Come May, the East Coast becomes the humpback highway. Thousands of whales migrate along this stretch of coastline each year, their movements tracked by keen eyes from vantage points like the Cape Solander platform in Kamay Botany Bay National Park, one of the best places for whale watching in Australia. There’s something quietly thrilling about seeing that first telltale spout or the arc of a breaching body against the vastness of the sea. From June to October, whale-watching cruises depart from Cronulla, offering a closer look at the migration.

Awards come and go. But places like Cronulla endure because they belong as much to the visitors as they do the early-morning swimmers, walkers and surfers.

Plan your escape at visitsutherlandshire.com.au.

Things to do in Katoomba: Waterfalls, hiking and high tea