Blue Mountains

For visitors travelling from overseas, the nearest airport is Sydney Airport. From there, the best means to travel to the Blue Mountains is by car — about a 50-minute drive to the entrance at Glenbrook. Follow the signs to Parramatta and take the M4 Motorway at Strathfield through to Lapstone and the Blue Mountains. The trip to Leura or Katoomba takes about 90 minutes from the airport. If you're travelling by car, take the M4 Motorway out of Sydney or take the longer, meandering route via Windsor and Kurrajong along the Bells Line of Road. The rise from the coastal plain begins at Glenbrook, 65 kilometres west of Sydney, and the road passes through many small towns along the way to Leura, Katoomba and on to Blackheath. The iconic rock formation known as the Three Sisters is at Echo Point, Katoomba. Alternative routes will take you on a more scenic path via Bells Line of Road through Richmond and Mount Tomah, to Bell and across to Mount Victoria. It’s a delightful drive and a different introduction to the vast Blue Mountains National Park compared to the Great Western Highway. If coming from the outer west, follow the signs to Lithgow, go through Hartley and enter the Blue Mountains through Victoria Pass which will take you straight to the top of Mount Victoria.

Having a car in the Blue Mountains offers a far greater opportunity to see the sights, but travelling by public transport to your destination offers a relaxing alternative. An efficient rail service takes you directly from Sydney Airport to Central Railway Station. Shuttle buses from the airport also take you to Central Station. From here, trains serviced by Transport NSW take you to the Blue Mountains: Wentworth Falls, Leura, Katoomba, Blackheat, Parramatta, Westmead, Penrith and Springwood. They run regularly and more frequently during peak commuter times. Once you arrive in the Blue Mountains, there are various transport options. You can take a red double-decker Explorer Bus to the top 30 attractions with a ticket that gives you all-day access to the hop-on, hop-off bus. The Blue Mountains Bus Company operates the hop-on, hop-off Trolley Tours around the Katoomba and Leura areas and a public transport system. You can also reserve seats for a bus to the Jenolan Caves.

Taxis are readily available from the stations of Blaxland, Springwood, Wentworth Falls, Leura and Katoomba railway stations. The popular 13Cabs operate in the Blue Montains, too. Springwood Taxis www.springwoodtaxis.com.au +61 4751 1444 Katoomba Leura Radio Cabs www.katoombataxis.com.au +61 2 4782 1311 Blue Mountains Combined Taxis +61 2 4758 8800

In the Blue Mountains region, and Australia more broadly, there are several major pharmacy chains where you can pick up over-the-counter medications, prescription drugs, personal care items, and more. The major pharmacy chains are Blooms The Chemist, Chemist Warehouse, TerryWhite Chemmart, Priceline Pharmacy and Amcal. It's always worth checking the opening hours as these can vary, especially on weekends and public holidays. There are also many independent pharmacies in the region. Blue Mountains Pharmacy Katoomba Village Shopping Centre, 30-34 Parke Street, Katoomba NSW +61 2 4782 5450 www.bluemountainspharmacy.com Hazelbrook Pharmacy Hazelbrook Shopping Village, 192 Great Western Highway, Hazelbrook NSW +61 2 4758 6431 Best Buy Pharmacy 161-163 Leura Mall, Leura NSW +61 2 4784 1386

Country code: +61 Area Code: (0)2

Australia operates on a 230/240V supply voltage and 50Hz frequency. The country uses Type I power plugs, which feature two flat pins forming a 'V' shape, along with a grounding pin. This standard is also commonly used in New Zealand, Argentina, China, and several Pacific island nations. Remember to pack a universal adapter if your devices use a different plug type to ensure hassle-free charging.