Introduction

Hello and we welcome your interest in the Blue Mountains in Australia.

Nature Trail is an independent family-owned and run local tour operator, centrally based in the township of Katoomba in the Blue Mountains.  We first travelled here in 1993 and decided to buy and settle in Katoomba in 2001.

 

Nature Trail’s business founder, Steve Ridd, conceived the business name after coming up with a few naming ideas; one initially being ‘Blue Trail’ (due to be based in the Blue Mountains (Australia).  Others are free to take up that name.  Then on occasion one day back in summer 2013 after a family drive down into the Megalong along the rainforest road, Steve noticed a hiking track sign left ‘Coachwood Glen Nature Trail‘  (See photo above – this taken some years later).  ‘Mmm’ he thought, so later that day, upon his return home to Katoomba he checked out the meaning of the phrase ‘nature trail‘.

Namesake:

‘Nature trail‘ is a generic common term, with particular parlance in America outdoor recreation circles.

Definition:

“A nature trail is a designated walking path through a forest, park, or the countryside designed to help people observe and learn about local plants, animals, and geology.”

 

[SOURCE:

Torrey, Raymond H. (1927-07-31). “OUTDOOR MUSEUM SET UP IN PARK; Bear Mountain Area Has Been Equipped With Exhibit Hall and Trailside Indicators of Hudson Geology, Flora and Birds”. The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2026-06-02. ^https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nature_trail#cite_ref-1 ]

 

Steve thought: ‘well, that’s my focus for this venture’!  He had long previously ventured with quite different extreme focuses like at age 22 ‘bootcamping’ in Army basic Infantry training.  But no, in 2013 then approaching age 50, and as an outdoorsie conservationist/ environmentalist, this venture was going to be way more sedate.

So Steve checks the name availabilty on both the official ASIC website and also its Internet domain availability.  Unbelievably, Steven finds that this term ‘nature trail‘ in Australia has not been taken/purchased.  So Steven purchased both the business name and the domain name that very day – Tuesday 10th December 2013.

Nature Trail as a business name and domain, so pending website in Australia was born.

The venture had been originally conceived as a tour operation venture previously in 2010 by Steve whilst on holiday visiting his wife’s family in Northern Ireland and participating on a walking tour arranged by his wife atop Cave Hill reserve above Belfast, Northern Ireland.

Blue Mountains weather?

2013-2019:  Nature Trail business setup (7 years)

 

  • All was proceeding well, but at personal financial cost, risk, yet hope.

2025:  NSW Government fees policy against entrepreneurs perceived as ripe for the taking:

In 2025, Tour Director Steve decided to convert the Blue Mountains based tour business Nature Trail into a nonprofit benevolent organisation.  We were never about profit making from the outset anyway, but rather about sharing our insights of the Blue Mountains where we live and getting out and about and away from our otherwise webdesign work. We don’t employ staff and we don’t accept donations.

Our contact number is Tel: +61 2 4782 1300.  If we are unavailable then please leave a message with your contact details and we shall phone you back as soon as possible.

This website is best viewed from a desktop computer with a monitor larger the better, just as tour bookings are best made before you depart home, at the same time that you book your accommodation.  We can assist with local option for stays as well.

We focus on exploring Nature and the best places to see throughout the Blue Mountains region and adjoining regions beyond.  Visitors are on holiday after all and our detailed local knowledge can allow you to experience the best of our region and beyond to suit your particular interests.

We are a small family run business operating completely independently.   Our Tour Director, Steve, designs each tour, plans each trip to deliver a quality tour experience to match the preferences and capacities of each Tour Guest.  Nature Trail is accountable to no franchise, but only to our Tour Guests, and we’re committed to ensuring a quality touring experience in the great outdoors.

We’ve been hiking and road touring the Blue Mountains since 1995 and we are more than happy to share this vast region’s many magnificent natural features, experiences and insights with visitors.

We offer premium bespoke (made-to-order) tours specialising in mountains hiking as well as more leisurely country road touring (guests travel in the comfort and familiarity of their own vehicles).

Our tours generally start and finish in Katoomba in the heart of the Blue Mountains and keenly extend westward into the Central Tablelands region of New South Wales.

Being centrally based in Katoomba where we live, our tours start and finish where our Tour Guests are staying anywhere in the Upper Central Blue Mountains  from Wentworth Falls to Mount Victoria.

 

OUR SMALL GROUP SPECIALITY:

Nature Trail is a local, bespoke tour operator based in Katoomba where we live, surrounded by the Blue Mountains World Heritage Area.  Each of our tours is made-to-order and private to a dedicated single group booking.

To ensure each Tour Guest can enjoy a personalised quality tour experience, we limit numbers.

Our pricing is per Tour, not per Tour Guest.