FeelGood! Nature Tours runs small-group Blue Mountains day tours from Sydney, guided by owner-operator Craigl, a lifelong Sydney local and former professional photographer who now shares his passion for the region's wilderness and wildlife.

This tour is built for people who'd rather explore than sightsee, with wild kangaroos in their own habitat and real trails instead of crowded car park lookouts.

Craig has spent a lifetime exploring the Blue Mountains, and this tour is built around some of his own favourite places, found over 40 years of trekking across these ancient canyons, the hidden trails and lookouts most tour buses never reach, not the crowded points every other tour stops at.

In a small group of no more than 10, you'll walk into the bush, find wild kangaroos grazing in Megalong Valley as the light turns gold, and stand somewhere quiet while the tourist buses queue up at the postcard spot down the road.

It's also a late start. Sleep in, have a leisurely breakfast, or fit in another activity first, most Blue Mountains tours leave at 7:30am, this one leaves between 9:30am and 12:30pm depending on the season, timed to make the most of the light.

Craig customises the itinerary somewhat to suit the group on the day. If you're up for it, he'll take you to one of his own local secrets, a hidden Three Sisters viewpoint used by rock climbers. If you'd rather take it easier, he'll send you to the iconic Echo Point instead, and meet back up on the other side. Different tracks, same sunset. Nobody walks away without a storey.

Lunch is a proper Aussie pie with a side salad from Mountain High Pies, an award-winning Blue Mountains bakery, and there are around 20 varieties including vegetarian, vegan and gluten-free, automatically catered for, no notice needed.

As the sun goes down over a spectacular secret sunset location, usually the Three Sisters at Echo Point or Anvil Rock, subject to change on the day, you'll enjoy a twilight spread of Yarra Valley Shiraz, Brie and Danish Blue cheese, crackers, hummus and Australian sweets. It's one of the most talked-about parts of the day and it's included, not an upsell.

This is a full day out, roughly 10 hours door to door, genuinely off the beaten track. It's not a hardcore hike and you don't need to be an athlete, but you should be comfortable walking for a few hours on uneven ground. If that's you, and you'd rather explore than tick boxes, this is your tour.