Blue Mountains Explorer Bus Review: Is the HOHO Worth It? (2026)

Is the Blue Mountains Explorer Bus worth it? After using this hop-on-hop-off service regularly and recommending it to hundreds of visitors, here’s my honest answer: Yes, it’s worth it for 80% of visitors, especially if you’re taking the train from Sydney, want flexibility without driving stress, or are visiting with family.

Below, I’ll share the complete details – routes, schedules, what’s actually included, honest pros and cons, and exactly when the Explorer Bus makes sense (and when it doesn’t).

Last updated: January 2026

Is the Blue Mountains HOHO Actually Worth It?

Is the Blue Mountains Explorer Bus worth it? I get asked this question at least once a week, and after recommending this hop-on-hop-off service to hundreds of visitors over the years, here’s my honest answer: yes, for most people it’s brilliant value.

The Explorer Bus has been helping visitors explore the Blue Mountains for almost 50 years, and there’s a good reason it’s stuck around. For $58 you get unlimited travel between Katoomba and Leura for the entire day, which works out considerably cheaper than organized tours ($120-200) and far less stressful than trying to navigate mountain roads and find parking on busy weekends.

But it’s not perfect for everyone. If you want everything organised from start to finish with zero planning, you might prefer a fully guided tour from Sydney. And if you’ve already got a car and a detailed itinerary worked out, driving yourself gives you even more flexibility.

Below, I’ll walk you through exactly what you get, what it costs, and when the Explorer Bus makes sense versus the alternatives. This way you can work out if it’s the right option for your Blue Mountains visit.

Book Blue Mountains Explorer Bus | Book Lyrebird Pass (Bus + Scenic World)

What You Need to Know About Cost and Value

Let’s talk about what you’ll actually pay. The Explorer Bus costs $58 for adults and $16 for kids aged 3-15 (little ones under three ride free). If you’re planning to visit Scenic World anyway, the Lyrebird Pass at $132 is worth it – it bundles the bus with Scenic World entry and saves you about $29.

Now, is $58 good value? Well, let’s look at what you’d pay for alternatives. Organised tours from Sydney run $120-200 per person. If you tried to rideshare or taxi between the major stops – Echo Point, Scenic World, Leura Village, Katoomba Falls, and a few lookouts – you’d easily spend $120 or more. Even parking at multiple locations ($4-12 per hour) adds up and then you factor in the stress of finding spots on weekends.

The trade-off? Buses run every 30-60 minutes rather than constantly, and the last one leaves at 4:57pm. So you need to do a bit of planning around the schedule. For most visitors though, waiting half an hour for a bus is a small price to pay for the flexibility and savings.

What makes the Explorer bus worth considering

The Explorer Bus does a few things really well that make it stand out from just catching local buses or trying to Uber around.

First, the driver commentary is genuinely useful. These aren’t scripted tour guides – they’re locals who know the mountains inside out. Mine pointed out a walking track I’d never heard of that ended up being the highlight of my day. They’ll also give you realistic timing advice, like “if you want to do the Prince Henry Cliff Walk, hop off here and catch the bus two stops down in about 45 minutes.”

The route itself hits all the spots you’d actually want to visit. Twenty-three stops sounds like overkill, but it means you’re never more than a short walk from a bus stop when you finish a bushwalk or want to move on from a lookout. Echo Point, Scenic World, Leura Village, Katoomba Falls, and all the major cliff-top lookouts are covered.

What I particularly rate is the flexibility. Your ticket works all day, so if you get to a viewpoint and it’s packed with coach tourists, just hop back on and try another spot. Planning to stay overnight in the mountains? Let the driver know and you can use your pass the next day too – that’s brilliant value if you’re doing a weekend trip.

The buses are comfortable (air-conditioned, wheelchair accessible) and each ticket comes with a booklet showing walking tracks between stops. It’s not fancy, but it does exactly what you need it to do.

The route covers stops like Leura Cascades, multiple access points for the Prince Henry Cliff Walk, and even spots where you can check out Katoomba’s street art scene between the main attractions. 

A sample of the stops on the Hop on Hop off route

If you want to learn about the history and visit some of the less accessible and beautiful parts of the mountains, then the Blue Mountains Explorer bus is hard to beat.

Even if you know nothing about the area before you arrive, the guide booklet they give you with your ticket will help you work out, which stops are best for you. The drivers are also extremely helpful and will steer you in the right direction.

When the Explorer Bus Makes Sense (And When It Doesn’t)

After years of helping visitors plan Blue Mountains trips, I’ve noticed the Explorer Bus works brilliantly for certain types of travelers and less well for others.

You’ll love the Explorer Bus if you’re:
Coming by train from Sydney and don’t fancy renting a car. The train-bus combination is dead simple and costs under $70 return on weekends. First-time visitors who want flexibility without the stress of working out driving routes and parking. Families with kids who need the option to bail on a stop if someone’s getting cranky. Anyone who enjoys a bit of local commentary – the drivers are usually long-time Blue Mountains residents with great stories.

You might prefer alternatives if you’re:
After a completely hands-off experience with everything organized from Sydney pickup to return. In that case, a guided tour makes more sense even at $120-240. Visiting with your own detailed plan and happy to navigate mountain roads. Driving gives you more freedom to wander beyond Katoomba and Leura. Traveling with a group where splitting an Uber or taxi actually works out cheaper per person.

The honest truth? For about eight out of ten visitors I chat with, the Explorer Bus is the sweet spot between cost, convenience, and flexibility.

How to Get There and Meet the Bus

The Explorer Bus picks up from Katoomba Station, which is where most visitors start. Here’s how to get there and what to expect.

Coming by Train (Most Popular)

Trains run from Sydney Central to Katoomba roughly every hour, taking just under two hours. The weekend fare is $9.65 return (Friday, Saturday, Sunday), which makes the train + Explorer Bus combo very affordable at under $70 total.

Weekday off-peak fares are similar, but peak times cost $12-19.30 return. Weekend trains can get crowded, especially during school holidays, so grab a seat early if you can.

If you are on a tight budget, you can walk or take the local buses however, the HOHO is quite affordable and makes for an easier day. We have a detailed guide to exploring the Blue Mountains by public transport.

Sydney’s rail system is undergoing a huge update, so always check the list of planned track work before choosing this option.

Driving Yourself

If you’re driving up, parking at Katoomba Station is free and the Explorer Bus becomes a smart way to avoid the weekend parking nightmare at Echo Point and Scenic World. Parking meters throughout the mountains charge $4-12 per hour and spots fill up fast.

The drive from Sydney takes about 90 minutes via the M4, though weekends can push that to two hours with traffic. Our self-drive itineraries have detailed routes if you’d rather skip the bus and drive between stops.

Going on a tour

If you want everything sorted from Sydney pickup to return, a guided tour removes all the planning stress. We’ve reviewed the best Blue Mountains tours here, but expect to pay $120-200 per person compared to $70 for train + Explorer Bus.

Quick tour options if you’re in a hurry:

• Off the beaten track 4WD tour
• FJ Tours with Scenic World
• Blue Mountains sunset tour for late risers

Common Questions About the Explorer Bus