Blue Mountains

Blue Mountains needs a day trip from Sydney (1.5 hours by train): the lookouts over the Three Sisters and the eucalyptus forest trails make up the visit. September-November brings mild weather, ideal for long hikes. It's inexpensive compared to Sydney, with day-trip options that don't require lodging. Its name comes from the bluish haze produced by eucalyptus oils evaporating in the sun, a phenomenon visible from the lookouts that gives the mountain range its characteristic color and its name.