Blue Mountains wildlife tour from Sydney: hike to Govetts Leap

Kangaroos, koalas and a 3km hike ending at a waterfall that drops 180 meters

A full-day Blue Mountains tour from Sydney combines wildlife encounters at Calmsley Hill Farm, scenic lookouts across the Grose Valley, and a moderate-to-challenging hike from Evans Lookout to Govetts Leap. The tour includes hotel pickup, a professional English-speaking guide, transport in a small luxury vehicle, morning tea, and a picnic lunch; groups are limited to 14 people. An alternative hiking track may be substituted if weather or access conditions prevent use of the primary route.

Step-by-step itinerary

Blue Mountains wildlife and hiking tour

• Visit Calmsley Hill Farm for morning tea
• See kangaroos, emus, koalas, wombats
• Explore Blue Mountains National Park lookouts
• View the Three Sisters rock formation
• Collect picnic lunch for hike
• Hike Clifftop Track to Govetts Leap
• Visit Govetts Leap waterfall lookout

The Experience

The day starts with pickup from your Sydney hotel and a drive to Calmsley Hill Farm, the city's oldest working farm, where you meet kangaroos, emus, koalas, wombats and other animals up close. You'll have morning tea or coffee on the property before heading into the Blue Mountains National Park. The small luxury buses can access lookouts and vantage points away from the main crowds, letting you see the canyons, valleys and rock formations without the queues at the larger viewing areas.

At the Three Sisters rock formation—one of the most photographed landmarks in the region—your guide explains both the geological story and the Aboriginal legend behind the name. You then collect your picnic lunch (a wrap or sandwich, fruit, cake or banana bread, and bottled water) and begin the hike. The Clifftop Track stretches 3 kilometers with views across the Grose Valley, Australia's Grand Canyon. The hike usually takes about 90 minutes and is rated moderate to challenging, finishing with roughly 800 stairs that lead up to Govetts Leap Lookout. At the lookout, you stand in front of a waterfall dropping 180 meters into the valley below—one of the most striking vantage points in the region. If weather or access issues make the Clifftop Track unsafe, the tour operator will substitute an alternative route that still reaches the same lookout.

The entire tour runs 10 hours from pickup to drop-off. Groups are kept to 14 people maximum, which means smaller crowds at each stop and more time for questions with your guide. Transport is air-conditioned throughout, and the vehicle is sized to reach the best locations that larger tour buses cannot access.

What’s included

• Hotel pickup and drop-off in Sydney.
• transport in an air-conditioned luxury vehicle.
• professional English-speaking guide.
• morning tea or coffee at Calmsley Hill Farm with animal encounters.
• picnic lunch with a wrap or sandwich, fruit, cake or banana bread, and bottled water.
• entry to all lookouts and the Three Sisters vantage point.
• the guided hike to Govetts Leap.

Good to know

Moderate physical levelStroller friendlyInfant seats availablePets welcomePublic transport nearby

Operated by AEA Luxury Tours

Is this one for you?Book this if you have a full day available and want a guided itinerary covering all major sights; choose the self-guided option instead if you prefer to set your own pace or skip the farm stop.

Traveler reviews

4.74★★★★★★★★★★

88 verified traveler reviews

5 ★74

4 ★8

3 ★3

2 ★3

1 ★0

Read all the reviews ›

Top questions

What animals will I see at Calmsley Hill Farm?

Calmsley Hill Farm is home to kangaroos, emus, koalas, wombats and various bird species. You'll have the chance to get close to the animals for photos and feeding during the morning visit, and morning tea or coffee is included on the property.

How difficult is the hike to Govetts Leap?

The Clifftop Track is rated moderate to challenging. It covers 3 kilometers with views across the Grose Valley and takes about 90 minutes to complete, finishing with approximately 800 stairs up to the Govetts Leap Lookout. Travelers should have at least a moderate level of physical fitness.

What is the Three Sisters rock formation?

The Three Sisters is the most famous rock formation in the Blue Mountains and one of the most photographed landmarks in the region. Your guide will share both the geological story and the Aboriginal legend explaining why it bears that name, and you'll visit one of the best vantage points that only small tour buses can reach.

What's included in the picnic lunch?

The picnic lunch includes a wrap or sandwich, fresh fruit, cake or banana bread, and a bottled water. You'll collect it before starting the hike, so you can eat at the lookouts along the way or at Govetts Leap.

Will the tour operate if the weather is bad?

The tour operator reserves the right to vary or cancel tours, or parts of them, due to extreme weather or operational changes such as road closures or fire bans. If conditions prevent use of the primary Clifftop Track, an alternative hiking route will be substituted to reach the same destination.

Is hotel pickup included, and how long is the full day?

Hotel pickup and drop-off in Sydney are included in the tour price. The full experience runs 10 hours from the time you're collected until you're returned to your hotel.