Step back in time and follow in the footsteps of Australia’s pioneering explorers on the Footsteps of the Explorers – Blue Mountains Heritage Journey—a scenic and historic tour retracing parts of the famous 1813 crossing.

The day begins in Glenbrook, where you’ll enjoy morning tea before setting off into the heart of the Blue Mountains.

As you travel through the mountains, your journey echoes one of Australia’s most important exploration feats. The Blue Mountains—today recognised as a UNESCO World Heritage Site—are famed for their breathtaking sandstone cliffs, deep gorges, and eucalyptus forests. Yet, in the early 1800s, this dramatic landscape was seen as an impenetrable barrier.

With Sydney’s farmland struggling to support a growing colony, settlers looked west toward new lands. However, while Indigenous Australians had navigated these mountains for generations, European settlers found the rugged ridges and valleys daunting.

In 1813, explorers Gregory Blaxland, William Charles Wentworth, and William Lawson set out to overcome this obstacle. Their innovative approach—following the mountain ridges instead of the valleys—led them to success, becoming the first Europeans to cross the Blue Mountains officially. Their journey paved the way for further exploration and infrastructure, including George William Evans’ surveying expeditions and William Cox’s road construction in 1814.

You’ll visit a significant section of the original 1813 route at Wentworth Falls, where you’ll hear insightful accounts from Blaxland’s own journal and learn how this crossing transformed Australia’s inland settlement.

Later, enjoy a relaxing lunch at the Mountain Heritage Hotel, a venue renowned for its grand mountain views and classic hospitality.

The tour continues after lunch with more expert commentary as you follow scenic routes, enjoying panoramic lookouts and hearing more fascinating tales of exploration, perseverance, and discovery.

This experience perfectly blends dramatic scenery with captivating history—ideal for those who enjoy Australia’s pioneering stories set against a magnificent mountain backdrop.