Which Tour is better?

[d70_n00b]

Hey all,

My girlfriend finally made it out here (she's out here until next Tuesday)... We were looking into Blue Mountains Tours, and I can't decide between these two:

http://www.affiliate.viator.com/brochure/product_show.jsp?ID=1010&PRODUCTID=1016&CODE=3898A183&AUID=1074
or
http://www.affiliate.viator.com/brochure/product_show.jsp?ID=1010&PRODUCTID=1016&CODE=2230S99&AUID=1074

Personally I'm leading towards the second link, seems like it would be a better photo op (I'm assuming it's cool to bring cameras/tripods on the tour?)...

Just wondering if anyone's been on the tours or can provide some info/advice... We're hoping to book for next Monday (as we're probably doing Hunter Valley Wineries on Sunday).

Thanks guys!

[owen]

There are so many cool places to go in the Blue Mountains. The second tour only seemed to be partly covering the blue mountains, but including homebush bay as well.

If you want to get the most out of the blue mountains (As it's easy to spend a day taking in sights and only visit a small percentage) then I'd recommend trying to spend more time there.

Some places to look out for are:
Three sisters, Leura Cascades, Valley of Rivers(or Waters), Wentworth Falls just to name a few.

[birddog114]

My ideas is rent a car for the weekend and do the self driving same as self exploring.
Going with the tour as schedule in one day is too much and you may not having time to enjoy and doing the real photography fun, the area is a real photogenic place.

[d70_n00b]

owen,

Based on what I've heard, most people seem to agree with you... Blue Mountains has so many things to see/photog that I'm not sure where to start! Another question to add to the above, I suppose, is this:

I'm put up in Sydney CBD (down Pitt St., not far from Circular Quay)... Is there any good way to see the sights in Blue Mountains at my own pace without having a car or without a (rather expensive) tour? I'm pretty sure I can catch a train down there, but then how do I get to the many pretty sites (as mentioned above) without a car?

I guess what I'm asking is, is most of the stuff in walking distance, or is their some kind of public transport that'll cart me around once I'm down there?

Sorry for all the questions, I just don't wanna get down there to find out I can't get anywhere... Thanks!

[Geoff Marland]

The mountains are certainly worth spending a bit of time to see everything
that you can but the area is quite well spread out (over quite a few k's) and you will need some form of transport. I would certainly recommend a car and then you can stop in one place when you want and stay as long as you want for photos or whatever. Tours are set to a timetable which often only gives you a short time.

[birddog114]

The mountains are certainly worth spending a bit of time to see everything
that you can but the area is quite well spread out (over quite a few k's) and you will need some form of transport. I would certainly recommend a car and then you can stop in one place when you want and stay as long as you want for photos or whatever. Tours are set to a timetable which often only gives you a short time.

Agree! as same as I said above.

[Raskill]

Well, let me try this again. I tried to post good reply, but bloody optusnet sucks and I lost it all.

I worked and lived at Katoomba for three years and got to know the area really well, spending a lot of time bushwalking, canyoning abseiling etc.

Like the others say, if you can get your hands on a car do it yourself, rather than an expensive tour. All the lookouts are signposted and everything is pretty much near the main highways because the towns/highways follow the only way across the mountains.

Looking at the tours you've posted definetly go with tour one if you cant borrow/steal a car. The tour looks good and for one day you will see plenty. Definetly go into the Jamison Valley on the Sceniscender, it's very nice in the valley and has about 5 km of boarded walking tracks. Be aware that you won't be alone, it's the major draw card in the mountains other than the three sisters/echo point lookout.

If you can get a car go to Wentworth Falls/Empress Falls, which is easy to find. Charles Darwin went there and it helped him to form his theory of evolution because of the different species of plant/animal that live in the steep valleys. Some of the best waterfalls in the mountains are here. The walks are easy grade and most are loops so they return to the parking area.

I could go for for ages, but to answer your question, tour one. But only if you can't borrow a car. PM me if you want some more info.

Cheers and good luck.

[radar]

Hi,

if you can't get a car, here is another option:

-take train to Katoomba.
-walk to Three sisters, .... and other attractions around there, all fairly close
-take taxi to Leura falls
-walk around Leura
-take taxi to Wenthworth Falls
-walk around there, then back to Wenthworth Falls village
-take train back to Sydney.

At $210/person, you can get a lot of taxi rides. So if you don't mind walking, that should be a good option. Or even stay overnight and take advantage of pippin88's special accomodation deal.

HTH,

radar

[moggy]

With regard to your proposed Hunter Winery tour I don't think the wineries are open on a Sunday. I am sure someone will correct me if I'm wrong.

Bob.

.

[birddog114]

With regard to your proposed Hunter Winery tour I don't think the wineries are open on a Sunday. I am sure someone will correct me if I'm wrong.

Bob.

.

Yes, the wineries in the region are open, except Tyrell and couple more, perhaps Stubbsy will have his say.

[radar]

Hi,

I was at the Hunter wineries a couple of Sundays ago and all the ones I drove by and stopped at were open. The ones I stopped at were open 10-4pm.

cheers

radar

[Hendrix]

d70 noob, I have a friend in the blue mountains, who is also a photographer, Maybe you can contact him and arrange to be driven around to all the spots, if you want pm me for his phone nr

[d70_n00b]

Thanks all for the great information on this!! And once again I'm shocked to see the level of helpfulness from this forum... I love it!

I'm thinking about taking radar's approach, taking a train to Katoomba and then walking/taxiing around from there.

Special thanks to Hendrix (and his friend) for their offer! Sounds great, but I wouldn't want to burden anyone else with my girlfriend! Haha!

Also thanks to Raskill for taking the time to present all the great info on the area!

I'm hoping that taking a train and walking/taxiing will get me to most of the sites... If anyone is famaliar with this method and has tips, feel free to post! Should be going on Monday, so I've still got a couple of days to think it out.

Thanks again all!