The Blue Mountains in May is in a strange in-between window. The autumn colour is past peak. The winter cold has not properly arrived. The school holiday crowds have gone. The big winter weekend events have not yet started. For a domestic traveller looking for a long weekend escape from Sydney, this shoulder window is one of the best times of year to actually enjoy the Mountains.

I have spent a lot of weekends in the Blue Mountains over a long time. The May-into-early-June window is consistently underrated.

The walking conditions

The walking conditions in the Mountains in May are close to ideal. The temperatures are cool enough that the longer Grand Canyon, National Pass, or Six Foot Track sections are comfortable without the punishing heat of summer. The tracks are quieter than the spring walking season. The visibility on the lookouts is often better than the hazy summer conditions.

The risk in May is rain. The Mountains can sit under cloud for days at this time of year. A weekend in the Mountains in May should have a Plan B for indoor activity — the antique shops on Katoomba Street, the cafes, the Norman Lindsay Gallery — in case the weather closes in.

The accommodation pricing

The accommodation pricing is the most attractive factor for shoulder season visitors. Properties that command peak pricing through the autumn colour and ski season periods are typically 20-40% cheaper through May into early June. The same cottage, the same B&B, the same boutique hotel — same product, lower price.

Some properties run shoulder season packages that include valuable extras (meals, walking guides, transport) that do not make the cut in peak periods. The shoulder season package is sometimes a better experience than the peak season equivalent at the same price.

The dining picture

The Blue Mountains dining scene is uneven through shoulder season. Some restaurants run reduced hours or closed days. Some take their annual close-down through May or early June. Some have a reduced menu. The high-end establishments that depend on the weekend visitor traffic mostly stay open and welcome the business; the smaller cafes and lunch spots can be hit and miss.

Book restaurants in advance even in shoulder season, and check the opening hours. A long Sunday lunch that worked in March might not be available in May.

The standout walks for May

A few specific walks work well in May. The Grand Cliff Top Walk between Wentworth Falls and Katoomba is open year-round and the May conditions are typically excellent. The Pulpit Rock and Govetts Leap walks at Blackheath offer some of the best lookouts in the Mountains with shorter overall distances. The Mount Banks summit walk gives a less-crowded big-view experience.

The Grose Valley walks are also excellent in May, with the cooler conditions making the longer-distance sections more enjoyable. The full Blue Gum Forest walks remain a serious undertaking and need a properly-equipped party even in mild conditions.

The Glow Worm Tunnel question

The Glow Worm Tunnel at Newnes is one of the most-visited Blue Mountains attractions in cooler months. May is generally a fine time to visit — the glow worms are active, the tunnel walk is manageable, the road in is passable in normal weather. The drive from Sydney is long enough that this is a full day trip rather than a side trip on a Mountains weekend.

The road conditions on the dirt section into Newnes deteriorate after rain. Check the conditions before driving in, particularly in May when the rain pattern is unpredictable.

The Echo Point experience

Echo Point in May is dramatically less crowded than in peak periods. The Three Sisters lookout, which can be shoulder-to-shoulder in peak season, is comfortable in shoulder months. The early morning visits — Echo Point at sunrise — are particularly worthwhile in May, with the cool morning conditions producing some of the best photography light of the year.

The packing brief

Pack for changeable conditions. A warm jacket. Good walking shoes. Rain layers. A spare set of clothes if the day walks get wet. The Mountains weather can swing from comfortable to cold in an hour, particularly at the higher altitudes.

The summary

The Blue Mountains shoulder season is a genuine domestic travel opportunity for Sydneysiders looking for a value-for-money weekend that does not feel like a compromise. Lower prices, fewer crowds, better walking conditions, and the same beautiful country. May into early June is a better time to be in the Mountains than the school holiday windows that bracket it.