FAQ
Most frequent questions and answers
We understand that not all your questions can be answered on a website. Please see the FAQ’s below, which may provide direction, otherwise call Sue on
0410 600 224 or contact her at sue@mountainstales.com
CORPORATE, PRIVATE SOCIAL GROUPS AND EDUCATIONAL TOURS
Please call Sue on 0410 600 224 or email (sue@mountainstales.com) to coordinate your tour. Each coach tour is tailored to your needs, interests and timeline, of which all details are in advance.
Minimum booking of 3 hours.
The Blue Mountains is well networked, I have access to some great guides to assist with tour groups. This can be discussed at the time of quoting.
Of course, we find most tours are one-way. A common itinerary is to meet your coach at the base of the Blue Mountains at Glenbrook Information Centre, and end the tour at Wentworth Falls, Echo Point, Mt York or your conference hotel.
The main focus is that we tailor the best tour for you and your group.
The tour is quoted based on coach size and guests pre-booked activities. If your passenger numbers change this may change the cost of the tour.
Invoice is sent once the tour is confirmed, with 50% due within a week.
Final payment is due a week prior to the tour.
No cancellations accepted after full payment
The tour will go ahead in “Mountains Weather” after all that’s part of the Blue Mountains experience.
If there is a thunderstorm or similar, your group’s safety will take priority until the storm has passed.
Please encourage your group to come prepared for the weather, hat and sunscreen in summer and warm clothes in winter.
Yes, we can. Having completed the Inclusive Tourism course, we understand the variety of needs required by guests.
At time of booking, this can be discussed, to ensure all visited sites are accessible.
The tour is quoted based on coach size, if one or two people drop out, this will not change the quote.
However, you have a greater number of gusts, and require a second coach, the tour will be requoted, to accommodate the second guide required.
Please give as much notice as possible, so this can be arranged.
Please ensure there is a spare seat at the front near the driver, for your guide.
Yes, all guides hosting educational tour have Working With Children Checks and most have a current First Aid certificates.
Safety and security is a priority for Mountains Tales on our tours.
VILLAGE WALKING TOURS
Your Mountains Tales guide will be wearing a navy-blue Mountains Tales shirt and an Akubra hat (unless a windy day).
They will be at the tour start location 10 minutes before the tour starts, with clipboard in hand and a smile on their face.
Please wear comfortable walking shoes and weather appropriate clothing.
Please check the weather in advance and consider jacket, umbrella, or hat and sunscreen.
Also, please bring a water bottle and your camera
We walk approx. 1.5km (1 mile) over 2 hours. The tours are at an easy pace, stopping every 50-100 metres.
The routes are on council footpaths, they are relatively flat with a few short inclines. Tours can be adjusted as required if a short break or stop is required.
The tour is written for a two-hour walk as a story, with a beginning, middle and end.
If you are short of time, a tour private tour can be designed for you, please call sue on 0410 600 224 to discuss.
Children under 18 are free with paying adults. You must advise at the time of booking that children are attending.
The tours are pram and stroller accessible. Our youngest guest so far was 6 months old; we did not take offence when he fell asleep!
Both the Leura Story Walking Tour and Katoomba Story Walking Tour are along council footpaths and fully accessible.
The Mt Victoria Walking Tour includes a walk of 20 minutes through the Memoral Park, which is grassed.
Sadly no, though there are multi-language day tours to the Mountains ex-Sydney.
Our booking process closes 3 hours prior to tour start time. If you wish to book within this time frame, please call Sue on 0410 600 224 to confirm space on the tour.
If space is available payment can be made in cash or EFTPOS at beginning of tour.
Leura Story Walking Tour – Outside Leura Railway Station entrance, we will be there 10 minutes prior to tour departure wearing a blue shirt / jacket and Akubra hat.
The tour ends at the end of Leura Mall shopping precinct (approx. 400 metres from tour start).
Katoomba Story Walking Tour – Outside the old Gearin Hotel, 273 Great Western Highway, north side of Katoomba Railways station. The Hotel is now closed and is a wonderful coffee shop called “On the Soul Side”. We will be there 10 minutes prior to tour departure wearing a blue shirt / jacket and Akubra hat.
The tour ends at the forecourt of the Carrington Hotel (approx. 500 metres from tour start).
Mt Victoria Walking Tour – Outside Mt Victoria Railway Station. We will be there 10 minutes prior to tour departure wearing a blue shirt / jacket and Akubra hat
The tours ends at Rotunda Park, in the middle of the village (approx. 300 metres from tour start) just in time to sample some lunch and shopping!
Please arrive on time for tour, your guide will be at the tour start location 10 minutes prior.
If you know you are running late, please all Sue on 0410 600 224 to discuss options, prior to start time, as the tour will begin on time, and the phone switched to voicemail, out of respect for other guests.
If you no-show the tour, there is no refund
The maximum on each public tour is 12 adults.
If, however you wish to book a private walking tour group, please call Sue on 0410 600 224 to arrange and the maximum is 20 adults.
The walking tour will go ahead in the rain, if however, a storm occurs, we will move to a safe location.
Rain is all a part of the “Mountains Experience” so please come prepared for the weather.
We do have spare umbrellas if you need one for the tour.
More than 48 hours’ notice, a refund less 10% EventBrite booking fee is applied.
If less than 48 hours’ notice, no refund. If you need to postpone your tour, please call Sue on 0410 600 224 to discuss a suitable replacement date.