My husband and I wanted to get outside of Sydney and see the Blue Mountains during our recent trip to Australia. Barefoot Downunder promised us an experience unlike any other tour group, and they delivered!
Here’s what really impressed me, both with the company and with our guide, Adam:
– Adam knew a lot not just about the Blue Mountains, but about Sydney and the towns we passed through on our journey. I appreciated that he made a point of acknowledging the Aboriginal peoples who originally occupied the land.
– We actually went into the Blue Mountains and hiked around — on the day we were there, the two-hour medium-intensity trail we were expecting to do was closed, so our group voted to do the four-hour, high-intensity trail. It was a challenge but absolutely worth it. Adam said we wouldn’t see any other tour groups on our hike, and he was right!
– The hike was definitely a challenge for me: while I exercise a little, I’m not an athletic person. Adam reassured me that I could take everything at my own pace and that we didn’t need to rush. I was able to take my time, carefully picking my way down the trail as I needed to, and while the hike was tough I’m proud I did it.
– While Adam happily pointed out various species of plants and animals as we hiked, he made a point of not disturbing the creatures we encountered. After seeing a guide from another tour company making noise to try and get a sleeping wild koala to turn around, I particularly appreciated Adam’s no-harassment policy.
– Barefoot Downunder planned the tour so that we’d be able to support the local economy with a post-hike lunch in a town near the Blue Mountains with lots of different restaurant choices.
– After lunch, we had a relaxed afternoon of sightseeing, but there were no stops at gift shops or any attractions that required tickets. Adam took us to amazing spots that we could enjoy as a small group with nary a big tour bus in sight!
– Adam made sure we knew where we could fill up and re-use water bottles, and he had a couple of extra water bottles available for folks who needed them. It might seem like a small detail, but it shows how Barefoot Downunder is committed to running eco-friendly tours.
If you want an active tour where you’re really getting out into nature, I can’t recommend Barefoot Downunder enough. (My main advice: Bring at least 2 liters of water per person.) This is a small company that leaves the land better than they found it.
To see our amazing reviews from our lovely past guests, please see our TripAdvisor page here: