Blue Mountains Explorer Bus Explorer Pass - Hop On Hop Off – 3 Day Pass

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Three consecutive days on the red double-decker Explorer Bus, looping 23 stops around Katoomba and Leura. Get off for a cliff-top walk, a waterfall or lunch in Leura Village, then catch a later bus, with the drivers' commentary in between.

Days

Three consecutive days

Age

All ages; under 3 free

Start / finish

Katoomba Station / 23-stop loop through Katoomba and Leura

Return

See itinerary for details

Tour style

Hop-on hop-off bus pass, at your own pace

Accommodation

Not included

Transport

Red double-decker Explorer Bus, roughly hourly

Meals

No meals are listed as included

Route

Map of Blue Mountains Explorer Bus Explorer Pass - Hop On Hop Off – 3 Day Pass

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Included experiences

Prince Henry Cliff Walk — Honeymoon Lookout to Echo Point and the Three Sisters
Katoomba Cascades and Katoomba Falls — short walks to the falls
Narrow Neck and Cahills Lookout — valley views
Leura Cascades and Gordon Falls — waterfall walks
Pool of Siloam — swim beneath a small waterfall
Leura Village — antiques, cafes and lolly shops

Blue Mountains Explorer Bus Explorer Pass - Hop On Hop Off | 3 Day Pass

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Itinerary

Map

DAY 1: KATOOMBA AND THE THREE SISTERS

Your pass begins at the Explorer Bus office at the top of the stairs out of Katoomba station, almost two hours from Sydney by train. Katoomba sits about 1,000 metres up on a sandstone plateau, and the blue haze the mountains are named for comes from fine droplets of eucalyptus oil rising off the forest. Catch the first bus, at about 9:15am, if you can: it runs out to Echo Point and back before starting the full loop of 23 stops, so you see the cliffs within minutes. The driver hands you a guidebook of maps and walks, and the live commentary between stops covers the geology, the lookouts and the history.

There's no set plan for the three days, but one easy way to split them starts here. Hop off at Honeymoon Lookout (stop 5) and walk the Prince Henry Cliff Walk, cut by out-of-work men during the Depression of the 1930s, to Echo Point (stop 6) and the Three Sisters, three sandstone pillars that in local Aboriginal story are sisters turned to stone. The valley below is part of the Greater Blue Mountains, World Heritage-listed in 2000.

DAY 2: WATERFALLS AND THE WESTERN LOOKOUTS

Spend your second day on the water and the long views. Stops 8 and 9 lead to Katoomba Cascades and Katoomba Falls, where the Furber Steps drop beside the falls to the floor of the Jamison Valley. Narrow Neck (stop 11) is a thin finger of plateau between the Jamison and Megalong valleys, and Cahills Lookout (stop 13) faces Boars Head Rock, a cliff shaped like a wild pig's head. Stop 15 is Cafe Lurline and stop 16 the Fine Arts Galleries. Stops 7 and 10 serve Scenic World if you buy a ticket there.

DAY 3: LEURA

Stops 18 to 23 cover Leura. At Leura Cascades the creek steps down through a chain of rock pools before it plunges into the valley. From Gordon Falls a short track drops to the Pool of Siloam, named after the biblical pool in Jerusalem, where a thin waterfall spills into a fern-lined pool you can cool off in. The Elysian and Olympian Rock lookouts face back across the Jamison Valley to the Three Sisters. Finish in Leura Village, whose main street is lined with cherry trees that flower in spring, then catch the train home from Leura station (stop 23) or ride back to Katoomba.

Map

Good to know

Meeting point: The Explorer Bus shop at 283 Bathurst Road, Katoomba, at the top of the stairs as you leave Katoomba Railway Station. You can also start with the driver at any stop.
Departure time: Buses run from mid-morning to late afternoon, roughly hourly and more often on busy days. Exact times are confirmed when you book.
Duration: Three consecutive days. A full loop without getting off takes about an hour.
Minimum age: None. Children under 3 travel free without a ticket; ages 3 to 15 travel on a child ticket.
Suits: All ages. Stroller and wheelchair accessible, though extra buses used in busy periods may not be double-deckers or wheelchair accessible.
Please note: By train, take the Blue Mountains Line from Sydney's Central Station to Katoomba, just under two hours. By car, follow the M4 and Great Western Highway; free parking is at the Railway Station Car Park in Goldsmith Place, Katoomba, then walk through the underpass and up the steps. Other parking in Katoomba is paid.

What to bring

Your booking confirmation
Comfortable shoes for the walks between stops

What is included

Three consecutive days of unlimited hop-on hop-off travel on the Blue Mountains Explorer Bus
Commentary from the driver between stops
Guidebook with maps and walking routes

Not included

Travel to and from Katoomba
Accommodation in the mountains
Scenic World rides (stops 7 and 10 are for ticket holders)
Food and drink

FAQ

Preparing for the trip

Do I need to take any medical supplies?

It is not necessary to bring any medical supplies other than any personal items you may require. Each tour carries a first aid box, and the tour guides are all certified in First Aid.

Do I need travel insurance?

Insurance is important in protecting visitors from loss or damange of goods, medical problems, cancelation by passengers or other casualties. Its highly recommended. Some tours on this website require you to have travel insurance. If you are Australian then it is not necessary.

Where can I get more information about this trip?

If you find that this tour page doesn't answer all your questions, then please get in contact with us! Our passionate team are always available to answer any queries you may have.

What immunisations do I need?

For the latest information on immunisations, we strongly recommend you or contact the Travellers Medical and Vaccination Centre (www.traveldoctor.com.au) to discuss health requirements for your trip. They will advise you about appropriate inoculations.

Will I be able to use my mobile whilst on tour?

You can use your mobile while touring in Australia or New Zealand, but coverage may be limited in remote areas. For best connectivity, consider purchasing a local SIM card or an international roaming plan.

How fit do I need to be?

These tours are designed to be fun, informative and active, and can be enjoyed by anyone with a moderate degree of fitness and agility. Travellers should be comfortable with hiking or walking up to 5km each day.

What should I pack?

Depending on where in Australia or New Zealand you decide to visit, your luggage will vary. For exact information please visit the "What to bring" section of each tour page.

Private tours and families

Is it possible to travel in a private group?

If you are looking for a private tour based on one of these trips, please contact us directly and we may be able to help. Over the years we have worked with families, groups of friends, schools, clubs and charities to put together the perfect trip.

Booking the trip

Does the tour price include flights?

No. Tour prices do not include any travel arrangements other than for the duration of the tour itself. If you need assistance with booking flights or buses our travel team and certainly help - Just ask!

How far in advance do I need to book my tour?

As a rule of thumb, try to book at least 2 weeks prior to departure, this will usually get you a seat on the date you want. That being said, we cannot guarantee that spaces will be available at the time of your booking so, if you can, book as soon as possible. Bookings can still be made right up until the departure date of the tour if seats are available. If you know when you'd like to travel, please contact us and we will let you know if you need to book soon or if you have time.

Do I have to book this tour online?

Definitely not. Our website is designed to make is easy and convenient for you to schedule your tour. However we understand sometimes its nice to talk to someone directly. So by all means give us a call and we can organise your trip over the phone.

If I book more than one tour can I get a discount?

Absolutely! If you are booking multiple tours then we may be able to offer you a discount. Send us an email at info@lostinaustralia.org and let us know what you thinking of doing and we can put together a price for you.Also, be sure to look out for monthly specials on tours. We often have some great bargains.

How do I know when a tour is available?

You can check the departure dates of tours by using our calendar on the top right hand corner of the tour page. This will tell you what days the tour departs. For availability of seats please contact us directly at info@lostinaustralia.org or call us.

If I make a deposit only, when will I need to pay the balance?

Balance on tours need to be paid at least 30 days prior to departure. Failure to do so could result is the cancellation of your seat with a fee charged. If you need more time to clear your balance then let us know ASAP and arrangements can be made.

Who travels with us

Is it ok to travel alone on one of these tours?

Plenty of travellers book these tours on their own. Solo travellers are very much welcomed and encouraged. During your outback adventure you'll meet new and interesting people and forge relationships that last a lifetime.Solo travellers will usually share a room with a travelling companion of the same sex, but even if you do get your own room you won't be charged extra. On camping tours there are generally enough tents available that you can have your own if you choose to.For more information please contact us directly.

Cost and Fees

Do I need to tip the guide?

If you had an amazing time on tour and wish to tip your guide, that is completely up to you. Tipping is not customary in Australia and is not at all expected.

Will I need additional money?

Travellers are advised to bring some cash, as ATMs and banks can be few and far between in the remote parts of the trip. It is handy to have some extra cash, as the tour does stop by local shops and cafes.

Are there any hidden fees I need to know about?

Our tour prices are completely transparent. There are no additional fees involved that are not included in the overall tour price shown. If you wish to do optional activities such as helicopter rides or wildlife safaris, then an extra cost may be needed. However, this will always be made clear at the time of your booking.

What does Paid Locally mean?

Some tours require you to pay national park fees directly, in cash, to the tour guide on the morning of departure. Rest assured this will be subtracted from the tour price when reserving your tour.

Whilst on tour

Can I book extra accommodation for the start and end of the tour?

We know our country inside and out and would be happy to give you good recommodations. Please contact us for recommendations.

Where do I meet the tour?

For pick-up times and locations, please check the "Start/Finish" section directly under the itinerary, which lists every pick-up point and its time.There is a lot of information there to help you plan your flights and arrival.Please review it carefully, as pick-ups can vary from tour to tour.

Reviews

5.0

Based on 2 reviews

Verified from

Real reviews from travellers who've done this tour, gathered from around the web and paraphrased.

How we collect and publish reviews

Where they come from. Our reviews are gathered from independent review sites and from guests who share feedback with us directly after their trip. They come from people who have actually travelled on the tour. Some longer trips are made up of shorter tours we also sell, run back to back — where a review was written about one of those legs, the review says so.

Why some are edited. Many of our guests travel in their second or third language. Where a review is hard to read, we lightly edit spelling, grammar and punctuation, or paraphrase a sentence for clarity. We never change the rating, the meaning or the sentiment, and we never write a review on a guest's behalf.

Reading the originals. Reviews sourced from public review sites appear there in their original form, and can be read in full at their original source at any time.

(5/5)

Angus the singing driver was so funny he made a foggy day with no views enjoyable. All the drivers over our three days were full of information.

Simon Wraight Verified· Travelled 21st January 2026

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(5/5)

We booked three days on the bus, travelling from Leura to Katoomba with plenty of great places to hop off and explore. Clean buses, and patient, informative drivers who took the circuit at a comfortable pace.

Kevin Marzahn Verified· Travelled 8th November 2025

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