Source: www.nationalparks.nsw.gov.au

The Blue Mountains hold some of the most wonderful scenery in New South Wales, if not Australia. But if you're heading for the mountains' famous lookouts, make sure you come in fine weather. Visit on a foggy day, and you'll be staring over the cliff into an eerie white blankness.

For more adventurous photographers, there are moments of rare beauty to be found in all kinds of weather – rainforests wreathed in mist; canyons overflowing with steady rain; hanging swamps laced with snow.

But if you're after that postcard shot, head along to some of the following lookouts in the golden light of late afternoon or early morning. Just remember to check on the weather (or the web camera in Katoomba) before you set out.

Glenbrook - Mount Portal Lookout
This lookout shows you where the Lower Mountains begin. You can see them rise abruptly to the west of the Nepean River.

Glenbrook - Tunnel View Lookout
This is just west of Mount Portal. It has superb views of Glenbrook Gorge and looks across to a historic railway line and tunnel.

Glenbrook - Nepean Lookout
You'll be standing on a rock ledge here, surveying the Nepean River gorge.

Wentworth Falls - various lookouts
The walking tracks around Wentworth Falls picnic area lead you to a variety of lookout spots, including Princes Rock Lookout, Weeping Rock and Jamison Lookout. You'll see the waterfall itself and, below, the Jamison Valley stretching away towards Mount Solitary.

Wentworth Falls - The Conservation Hut
This lookout is a good place to start many of the longer walks in the Wentworth Falls area, which will take you down into the Jamison Valley for a different perspective.

Wentworth Falls - Sublime Point Lookout
The view from Sublime Point Lookout is equal to – or maybe even better than – that from the more famous Echo Point Lookout in Katoomba. To get to Sublime Point, turn into Scott Avenue from the Great Western Highway, and follow the signs.

Katoomba - Gordon Falls Lookout
You'll enjoy distant views of the Three Sisters and Mount Solitary from this spot. In the foreground, to the left, there are cliffs and rainforests. Drive south down Leura Mall, turn east into Olympian Parade and follow the road to Gordon Falls Reserve.

Katoomba - Echo Point and other lookouts
There are lookouts all along the Cliff Drive, and whether you stay in your car or get out to stand on the cliff-edge, you'll get some great perspectives of this majestic area. But for dramatic views of the famous Three Sisters, there's only one lookout you need to visit: Echo Point.

Katoomba - Cahills Lookout
This lookout, just off the western end of Cliff Drive, offers spectacular views of Narrow Neck, Boars Head Rock and the Megalong Valley.

Blackheath - Govetts Leap Lookout
This is one of the most popular lookouts in the mountains. The Govetts Leap waterfall drops some180 m into the Grose Valley below. You could watch its floating, dancing waves of spray for hours.

Blackheath - Evans Lookout
You can follow the line of Govetts Creek, winding its way through the impressive Grose Valley, from this spectacular spot. It's at the end of Evans Lookout Road, off the Great Western Highway.

Blackheath - Pulpit Rock Lookout
Pulpit Rock Lookout takes its name from the pinnacle of rock that stand out from the main cliff-line. There are actually several lookouts here, with sweeping views of Mount Banks, the Grose Valley, and the cliffs which Govetts Leap plunges from.

Blackheath - Perrys Lookdown
This lookout is further to the north-east of Pulpit Rock. It's directly opposite the huge sandstone walls of Mount Banks, which rise awesomely from the thick forests below.

Mount Wilson - Mt Banks lookouts
The views from Mount Banks are magnificent, offering a different perspective on the landmarks around Blackheath and Katoomba. To see them, you'll need to walk the Mount Banks Track.