The Ultimate Motorhome Guide to Blue Mountains National Park

From adrenaline-pumping rock climbing and canoeing to relaxing nature walks and sightseeing, Blue Mountains National Park is a destination that has something to offer everyone. It’s home to history, culture, wildlife, waterfalls, small towns, adventure attractions, and hundreds of species of eucalypts.

The park is a UNESCO World Heritage Listed site and is also on the Australian Heritage Register. Whether you’re a Sydney local, visiting from out of town, or looking for fun things to do on your trip to Australia, the Blue Mountains National Park is a fantastic option. You can rent a campervan from Sydney and drive to the park in just over an hour - its close proximity making it ideal for short getaways.

Here’s everything you need to know about exploring Blue Mountains National Park with a campervan on your next break.

Things to do in Blue Mountains National Park

You’ll never run out of things to do in the Blue Mountains, so give yourself as much time to enjoy them as possible.

• Three Sisters: Arguably the most iconic sight in the Blue Mountains National Park, the Three Sisters are three rock peaks, named in accordance to a legend in which three sisters were turned to stone. You can view the sisters from Echo Point lookout, which is often extra special at sunrise and sunset - although the site is also lit up with floodlights until 11 pm for night-time viewing.

Image: Alan Samuel, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Flickr

• Katoomba Scenic World: Katoomba Scenic World brings together many of the best features of the Blue Mountains National Park. Here you can take a ride in the steepest passenger railway in the world down through a 300-metre tunnel, and out into the stunning Jamison Valley. An elevated walkway lets you walk amongst the forest canopy, and the Scenic Cableway and Scenic Skyway both offer gorgeous views of the area.

• Jenolan Caves: The Jenolan Caves are some of the oldest in the world. They are both the largest and well-known in Australia, and open to the public for tours and adventures. A guided tour will take you through ten caves, or you can try a more demanding adventure tour, which will see you squeezing through small openings and climbing up ancient passageways. Note that it’s always roughly 15-16 degrees Celsius underground regardless of what’s happening outside, so wear close-toed shoes and dress warmly.

• The Greater Blue Mountains Drive: This scenic drive is one of Australia’s greatest, as it has been designed to show off all the splendours of the gorgeous Blue Mountains National Park. It is just over 1,000 kilometres in total (starting from Sydney), and takes you through small towns such as Mudgee and Katoomba, wineries, and more, so you’ll have ample opportunity to visit the top attractions in the mountains.

Campervan-friendly campgrounds in Blue Mountains National Park

Public

There are two public campgrounds that are accessible for campervans in the park. Both are free and do not take bookings, so it is first-come-first-served.

• Burralow Creek Campground: Set in the Lower Grose Valley, this campground has no electrical hookups, but it does have BBQ facilities and toilets. 4WD vehicles are recommended as access is by a fire trail.

• Dunphys Campground: The campsite itself has just 15 tent-only spaces available, but you can park your campervan in the carpark next door to the site. There are BBQ facilities and toilets on site, but no electrical hookups. Note that this site is on private property, so respect the land and always leave gates as you found them.

Private

There are six private campgrounds in the Blue Mountains National Park that have campervan spaces available. In all cases, it’s best to book as soon as possible to ensure a spot, especially if you’re visiting during the busy holiday season.

• Katoomba Falls Tourist Park: A short walk from Echo Point, this park offers full facilities as well as nature walks and waterfalls nearby.

• Turon Gates: An authentic bush hideaway with natural spaces and wildlife. Note that there are no powered sites, and generators are not permitted.

• Lithgow Tourist and Van Park: A quiet and shady park with electrical hookups for all sites, as well as a BBQ and kitchen area.

• Newnes Hotel Cabins: The Newnes Hotel Cabins offer real cabins as well as a large campground nearby. The site is close to the river, there are no power hookups, and guests can access the shower and toilet block for a small fee.

• Blackheath Glen Tourist Park: This park offers powered and unpowered sites, as well as full facilities such as a camp kitchen, shower and toilet block, and a laundry.

• Jenolan Caravan Park: Located close to the Jenolan Caves, this park offers powered and unpowered sites, as well as amenities including bathrooms and a kitchen block.

Best times of year to visit Blue Mountains National Park

Image: Alex Proimos, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Flickr

Here’s a quick guide of what to expect each season.

• Summer: Summer (December, January, February) can be quite hot in the Blue Mountains, with plenty of humidity. This is a good time of year to visit if you’re planning to spend time by rivers and lakes. It can be fairly busy during summer as well, mostly around the school holidays.

• Autumn: Autumn (March, April, May) is a fantastic time to visit as the days are cooler, making for ideal conditions for hiking, biking, and other adventure activities. The busiest time is around Easter.

• Winter: The region is cool in winter (June, July, August), but not freezing. The upper areas usually sit at around 5 degrees Celsius per day, while the lower regions are in the mid-teens. There are often a few days of snowfall per year in the upper areas, so be prepared just in case.

• Spring: Another great time to visit, spring (September, October, November) is neither too warm nor too cold, and the crisp clear days make for fantastic hiking and sightseeing.

Notes for visiting Blue Mountains National Park by campervan

Keep these important notes in mind when travelling through the Blue Mountains National Park with a campervan.

• You will need to pay an $8 per vehicle per day fee if you are visiting attractions in the Glenbrook area.

• There are often fire bans in place over summer. Double check before lighting any fires.

• No pets are allowed in national parks.

• A self-contained motorhome can give you more freedom to travel without worrying about finding bathrooms.

• Read our guide on campground etiquette to be a good camping neighbour.

• Wildlife may be cute, but you are not permitted to feed any animals you come across.

• Learn more about camping in a motorhome in Australia if you are new to the area or camping in general.

For more ideas on what to do in the Blue Mountains, check out our Sydney to the Blue Mountains motorhome itinerary.