The most popular means of transport to the Blue Mountains are by train and car.

The entrance to the Blue Mountains at Glenbrook/Lapstone is around 50 minutes drive west from Sydney. However the main tourist centre Katoomba is a further 50 minutes drive and the majority of fishing locations are further west still. Lithgow for example is around 2 hours and 10 minutes from Sydney.

Commuter train services from Sydney can take you as far as Lithgow with country train services to Bathurst and Orange available once a day. The water is not always close to the train stations, however Wentworth Falls Lake and Lake Pillins for example are close to railway stations.

Travel By Car

From the city, follow the signs towards Parramatta. Your aim is to travel west on the M4 Motorway (or M2 Motorway from North Sydney). The M4 starts near Strathfield and takes you through to Lapstone in the Blue Mountains. The Great Western Highway leads over the mountains as does Bells Line of Road if you are coming from Richmond.

Some websites will tell you that the Blue Mountains is a 90 minute drive from Sydney, however, Blue Mountains is far more to the Blue Mountains than the popular tourist destination of Leura / Katoomba (90 minutes from Sydney). Check the travel time to your specific destination before you travel.

Please note that some of the locations listed on this website have 4×4 access only, however the majority are 2 wheel drive accessible.  Take care when travelling on our winding roads, particularly around dusk and dawn when nocturnal wildlife is most active.

Approximate Travel Times by Car from Sydney
Penrith 45 mins
Glenbrook 55 mins
Wentworth Falls 1 hour 25 minutes
Katoomba 1 hour 30 mins
Blackheath 1 hour 40 mins
Lithgow 2 hours 20 mins
Bathurst 3 hours 5 mins
Orange 3 hours 55 mins
Mudgee 3 hours 45 mins

Catching a Train to The Blue Mountains

The most relaxing way to travel to the Blue Mountains is by Rail. There is an extremely efficient service to the Blue Mountains. If you are flying into Sydney a new rail link runs directly from Sydney Airport to Central Railway Station. From Central you can Board an air-conditioned double decker Mountains train. The journey is normally via an express service which leaves hourly to the Mountains. It will most likely stop at Strathfield, Parramatta, Penrith, Emu Plains, and then all stations up the Blue Mountains.

Most trains go through to Mount Victoria. Some even go as far as Lithgow. Trains generally run every hour and even more frequently during peak commuter times. Taxis are readily available from Blaxland, Springwood, Wentworth Falls, Leura, Katoomba and Blackheath.

Click Here for Train Timetables

Approximate Travel Times by Train

Sydney to Glenbrook 1 hour
Sydney to Springwood 1 hour 22 mins
Sydney to Wentworth Falls 1 hour 45mins
Sydney to Katoomba 2 hours
Sydney to Mount Victoria 2 hours 22 mins
Sydney to Lithgow 2 hours 45 mins
Sydney to Bathurst 3 hours 55 mins

Overview Map

View Central Tablelands Fishing Map in a larger map