Anyone familiar with "Activity Tours"? Any other suggestions?
TIA,
SJ

There's a few different tours that operate in the area sj3 and really depends on what you're after.
That particular tour seems reasonable value with the trip to Featherdale and the return on the Parramatta River [not your most spectacular river trip by a long way] you'll not be spending a heap of time actually at the BM.

If it's more specifically the BMs you want there's a rail/bus BM explorer ticket you can buy to get you up to Katoomba from where the explorer bus leaves from, it being a get on/get off/get on again as you like circuit service - http://www.explorerbus.com.au/howitworks/tourmap.htm and a visitor a while ago mentioned on here how dhe found it a little cheaper to just buy a train ticket to Katoomaba and use another service - http://www.trolleytours.com.au/

With either you could set your own timetable and there's plenty of walks up there to choose from if you want to do some walking.

And some other tours you can compare with;
http://www.bluemountainsmysterytours.com.au/
a range here: http://www.bcl.com.au/sydney/tours/bluemountains.htm

And to get more off the beaten track;
http://www.bluemts.com.au/jenolan4WD/ , a trip report on that area: http://www.followthatbird.com.au/Kanangra09TR.htm

I've been to the BMs, Jenolan Caves and Kanangra Walls on a self-drive but younger children prevented me from doing anything in the way of bushwalking, but certainly some spectacular sights about.

sallyjane3,

You can do this on your own without an organized tour. We did and it was extremely easy.

From a previous post of mine:

"Here's a suggestion for the Blue Mountains! You can gain even more flexibility and save money by going on your own without a tour.

Simply go to the CountryLink window http://www.countrylink.info/home at Circular Quay and buy a CityRail Blue Mountains ExplorerLink ticket. This ticket provides return train transportation from Central Station to Katoomba and an all day 'get-on-get-off’ Explorer Bus tour to 30 locations through the mountains. Stops include the Three Sisters at Echo Point, Leura village, the Scenic Railway plus many others.

You can leave when you want, see what you want, stay as long as you want and then return when it is convenient for you. Trust me, it is not complicated and very easy to do."

You guys are the best! Thank you so much. Self-tour it is!

We just got back from a tour to the Blue Mountains - enjoyed it a lot as we were taken to all the main places - echo point, ,Katoomba ,3 sisters, the scenic railway and cableway were amazing, etc and the guide explained everything to us. We used Tours-R-Us as we like a smaller bus - only 15 people on it. Even got to pat koala bears ,kangaroos ,wombats etc at the featherdale animal sanctuary. For $95 each we thought it was worth every cent as it also included our lunch and a cruise back to Sydney. The tours are very time efficient and it's fun being with other tourists. Sure would recommend this company !

Someone's recent thread reminded me about the Jenolan Caves.
http://www.jenolancaves.org.au/

For anyone considering a trip to the Blue Mountains, it's only about an hour from Leura, and a unique and beautiful spot. Well worth the add-on if you're driving yourself. And, if you can find a tour that includes Jenolan Caves, I'd recommend it. Probably add 1/2 day or so. There's accommodation if you want to spend the night.

SJ,
We just returned from Australia and used Activity Tours to the Blue Mts due to our time restraints, only four days in Sydney. We were picked up at our hotel at the scheduled time by Shane. There were 18 of us on the tour. We stoppped at Featherdale which was nice, while there we fed the kangas and pet & took pics with the koalas. Leaving the park he then momentarily stopped at an Aboriginal sketching.
Following we were off to Blue Mts. we drove to scenic world where we were given option to ride and hike the trails. We did it alll while there and were pleased we did.
We went back to Leura where we were given several options for lunch, we chose the pub per his recommendation, don't good food but too time consuming if you want to wander around th quaint time. We had no time to see Leura except from the bus windows.
Then the rain started so we were drivne to see Wentworth Falls but the hike was canceled.
Leaving the mountains we drove to the Olympic Vlg where we were given too much time to wander around, would have prefer more time in Leura.
Finally we were dropped of your the river cruise back to the Quay, which was ok.
Do not expect tea if it is promised we didn't get that or the souvenir koala, he passed the tiny clip-ons out randomly.
We are glad we went on the tour due to time resrtictions, the price was good but I am guessing there maybe better options out there.