Driving Routes
Discovery Trails
When you're ready to leave the highway, step aside onto one of the drive's 18 discovery trails. These take you into the heart of the world heritage area and its environs.
By following the Greater Blue Mountains Drive, you can visit these places confident of what to expect in terms of both driving conditions and the experiences on offer once you arrive.
- Kurrajong
- A scenic bushland circuit through quieter parts of Blue Mountains National Park and Wollemi National Park. A fine cycling tour. more...
- The Mounts
- A very spectacular and varied high mountain drive. One of the best places to see mountain rainforests and a botanist's delight! The excellent complete circuit across Bowens Creek can be completed by bicycle. more...
- Newnes Plateau
- A return daytrip traversing the high altitude Newnes Plateau to Wollemi National Park and the Glow Worm Tunnel. Follows part of the alignment of the old Newnes railway. more...
- Blackheath and Megalong
- A busy day-tour of plateau and valley environments with a wide selection of lookouts, picnic sites and walks. more...
- Blue Mountains Drive
- A winding, 'edge-of-the-world' drive around the cliff-tops, packed full of lookouts, picnic areas and walking tracks, and right beside lots of galleries, cafes, gardens and accommodation. more...
- Glenbrook
- Glenbrook Creek, Dharug Aboriginal art at Red Hands Cave and relaxed kangaroos at Euroka Camping and Picnic Area. more...
- Thirlmere / Wollondilly
- Thirlmere Lakes, Thirlmere Rail Transport Heritage Centre more...
- Wombeyan
- Wollondilly Lookout, Wombeyan Caves more...
- Yerranderie
- A long and adventurous mountain drive to an historic mining village. Best done as an overnight trip. A two-wheel-drive vehicle is adequate in good conditions. more...
- Jenolan and Kanangra
- A must-do variation off the main Greater Blue Mountains Drive into spectacular escarpment country and Jenolan Caves, with a bonus out-and-back drive deep into Kanangra-Boyd National Park. Overnight stay recommended. more...
- O'Connell and Tarana
- A scenic alternative between Oberon and Lithgow, along a section of The Tablelands Way through peaceful highland countryside. more...
- Wolgan Valley
- A spectacular return drive down the mighty, cliff-bound Wolgan Valley to the historic Newnes industrial area in Wollemi National Park. more...
- Capertee Valley and Dunns Swamp
- A very scenic alternative to the main drive between Capertee and Rylstone, through the grand Capertee Valley. 'Big sky' outback atmosphere with the weathered escarpments of Wollemi National Park and Gardens of Stone National Park winding around the valley. more...
- Mudgee and The Tablelands Way
- An enjoyable western diversion off the main drive between Ilford and Bylong. more...
- Goulburn River
- A highly varied circuit of the spectacular Goulburn River country, combining escarpment and riverside scenery with pleasant rural countryside and vineyards. Takes in part of the main Greater Blue Mountains Drive. more...
- Wollemi Foothills
- A scenic 'short-cut' to the main drive, following the Goulburn and the Hunter Rivers along the base of the Wollemi escarpment past vineyards and grazing stock. more...
- Great North Road
- Links with Discovery Trail 18 (to the south) for an interest-packed and alternative to the main drive, through the historic Macdonald and Wollombi valleys on the eastern side of the mountains. more...
- Hawkesbury Valley
- A pleasant rural drive through the Hawkesbury River country. Connects to Discovery Trail 17 (to the north) for an alternative to the main drive between the Hawkesbury and Hunter regions. more...
