nvl325

I asked previously about traveling from Melbourne to Sydney via the coast, taking several days, without driving ourselves. Alternate idea for the extra 4 days:

We are flying into Melbourne (well, through Sydney) and spending 4 days there. 4 days at the end in Sydney, where we fly home from. The 4 days in the middle- we're thinking of an overnight trip to the Blue Mountains, and an overnight trip to the Hunter Valley.

Questions- I take it we'd fly from Melbourne to Sydney, then go straight to the Blue Mountains. Sounds like there are guest houses/b and b's to stay in for a night. Which of those towns would be a good place to stay? I guess it must be one that we could get to from Sydney on a bus or tour bus.

Then back to Sydney on the way to the Hunter Valley? Or can one get directly there without going back through Sydney?

I've been looking at maps and reading the Fodors guidebook, but it's hard to tell how, or the best way, to actually move between these places. Thanks in advance for advice!. This is happening at the end of July, by the way.

Susan7

You can get the train to the Blue Mountains. I'm surprised that's not covered in your guidebook.

http://www.bluemts.com.au/tourist/ab...wToGetHere.asp

Leura is a nice place to stay or Mount Victoria. Katoomba is the biggest town with a range of places to stay. There are lots of bed and breakfast places as well as pubs like this one at Mount Victoria. http://www.hotelimperial.com.au/

nvl325

yes, now I see the train mentioned, was not looking in the right place at first.

Any thoughts on how long to stay? Two nights give us that full day, so that's appealing. Is there enough to keep busy with for 2 nights? Especially with whatever time we'll be spending on the trolley/bus getting around...

Changed my mind, I think, about the Hunter Valley- being from California, we can visit vineyards here! So maybe 3 nights in the Blue Mountains? Don't know if that's too much.

lavandula

I think you could find yourself busy enough for 3 nights in the Blue Mountains - bushwalking, small museums, quaint coffeeshops (I am thinking of Bygone Beautys in Leura - and don't crucify me for the spelling / punctuation, it's theirs, not mine), antiques - and if you've had enough of the Mountains you can take a tour further on to Jenolan Caves, which is the other side of the Mountains. They're definitely worth a visit and great if it's bad weather in the Mountains and visibility is poor. Or just relaxing in a nice environment - many B&Bs have open fireplaces so you can snuggle up. You'll be there in time for Yulefest, which is celebrated by many local restaurants - http://www.katoomba-nsw.com/Yulefest.html

Lavandula

Bokhara2

I agree with Lavandula - and would add that you could take a drive to the Central West - Orange is great - if you wanted to take a wider arc. http://www.visitnsw.com/town/Orange.aspx