Which towns are on the Great Western Highway in New South Wales?
The Great Western Highway runs from Sydney to Bathurst through the Blue Mountains. Key towns along the road include Parramatta, Penrith, Glenbrook, Wentworth Falls, Katoomba, Blackheath and Mount Victoria.
The Great Western Highway is one of the major routes heading west of Sydney. For most visitors to Australia, it will be the road they take to get from Sydney to the Blue Mountains. Several key Blue Mountains towns and villages are along the Great Western Highway.
How long is the Great Western Highway?
Officially, the Great Western Highway in New South Wales is 201km long. It stretches from Railway Square outside Sydney Central Station to the town of Bathurst, west of the Blue Mountains.
It undergoes several local name changes along the route. At various points, the Great Western Highway is known as the Parramatta Road, A22, A44 and A32.
It starts off running between through the Sydney neighbourhoods of Chippendale and Camperdown. It also takes in Petersham and Ashfield on the way to Parramatta and Penrith in Western Sydney.
5 fab ways to explore: Which Blue Mountains tour should I book?
There are dozens of Blue Mountains day tours leaving Sydney every day. The best choice will come down to personal preference and what’s included. Almost all include Echo Point and the Three Sisters – it’s just the rest of the itinerary that varies. These tours are the best bets.
- Good value tour including Featherdale Wildlife Park, Scenic World & Parramatta River cruise.
- Similar itinerary, but with small group and lunch included.
- Wildlife-focused tour including Calmsley Hill City Farm, Govetts Leap lookout & Blue Mountains Botanic Garden.
- Small group tour including bushwalks, Featherdale, Glenbrook lookouts and Govetts Leap.
- Crowd-avoiding sunset tour including Euroka campground kangaroos & Wentworth Falls bushwalk.
Nepean River to Bathurst on the Great Western Highway
Once the Great Western Highway crosses the Nepean River at Jamisontown, it climbs up into the Blue Mountains via Emu Plains, Glenbrook and Blaxland. Next come the Blue Mountains villages of Warrimoo, Springwood, Faulconbridge, Linden, Hazelbrook and Lawson.
From here, you’re into the most touristy bit of the Blue Mountains, passing Wentworth Falls, Leura and Katoomba. The drive then continues to Medlow Bath, Blackheath and Mount Victoria.
7 Blue Mountains experiences you should pre-book
- Scenic World tickets – combine dramatic train rides, cable cars & forest walks.
- The Blue Mountains hop-on, hop-off bus – get around Katoomba and Leura’s top sites hassle-free.
- Guided stargazing with an astrophysicist – learn how to read the clear night skies.
- Give canyoning a try – jumping, climbing and sliding through Empress Canyon.
- Take a half day abseiling adventure – in the Blue Mountains National Park.
- Indulge in a local produce tasting experience – with beers, wines & meats.
- Get adventurous – on a 4WD tour to the world’s second largest canyon.
From here, you’re essentially out of the Blue Mountains and heading to Bathurst. Hartley, Bowenfels, Marrangaroo, Mount Lambie and Meadow Flat come next. Then Yetholme, Walang, Raglan and Kelso are the last settlements of note before Bathurst.
Blue Mountains trains
One key thing about the Great Western Highway is that you don’t need to drive along it. The Main Western railway line, which serves the Blue Mountains, follows much the same route as the road. This means you can take the train, and you don’t need a car in the Blue Mountains.
However, if you want to see Blue Mountains attractions that are off the train route, a car is advisable. These attractions include the Euroka Campground kangaroos, Breenhold Gardens and the Jenolan Caves.
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