| Not all the tour guides will tell you about | | | | starting point for your journey. There is the |
| it. Nor is it often found on international | | | | famous Giant Stairway that runs down a cliff |
| tour maps. But like many of the charming | | | | through a two and half hour walk through the |
| places beyond the beaten path, the Blue | | | | Jamison Valley, into the Scenic Railway. |
| Mountains are sure to charm you with their | | | | |
| untamed adventurous spirit. A short 100 kms | | | | Along the way you meet the most celebrated |
| west of Sydney, it is close enough for a | | | | feature of the Blue Mountains, the Three |
| quick day trip, or a leisurely overnight | | | | Sisters, a sandstone rock face with three |
| visit. | | | | crests formed due to differential erosion. |
| | | | Tribal legend has it that three women in love |
| The Blue Mountains are actually sandstone | | | | were turned to stone by a witch doctor, who |
| plateaus that reach up to 1190 metres above | | | | then died, leaving the women in unrequited |
| sea level. You can expect pleasant | | | | stony eternal silence. |
| temperatures throughout the year, although in | | | | |
| the summer months the temperatures may reach | | | | At the bottom you can ride the Katoomba |
| the lower thirties. The plateaus are fringed | | | | Scenic Railway, a privately-owned tourist |
| by rugged eroded gorges reaching up to a | | | | service with a cable-driven railway system |
| depth of 760 metres, and providing dozens of | | | | that claims to be the steepest rail-route in |
| ledges for the adventurous rock-climber. Part | | | | the world, going to the maxima of an |
| of the Greater Blue Mountains World Heritage | | | | incredible 52Ú! Similarly, the Scenic |
| Site, the Blue Mountains is an extraordinary | | | | Skyway and the Scenic Flyway are two |
| natural reservoir of flora. | | | | celebrated cable cars traversing different |
| | | | arms of the Jamison Valley, with the latter |
| For a long time, the difficult terrain of | | | | claiming to be the steepest in Australia. |
| Blue Mountains prevented access to the | | | | |
| valleys beyond it. Explorers would follow | | | | The Jenolan Caves are a series of marvelous |
| rivers which would lead them to spectacular | | | | caves made of limestone with wonderful |
| and dangerous waterfalls, ending in a ledge | | | | display of stalactites and stalagmites, |
| or cliff. Early in the 19th century, three | | | | situated 45 km (70 km by road) south west of |
| determined explorers charted a new path along | | | | Katoomba township. The Zig Zag railway is a |
| the ridges and cliffs to cross what was | | | | heritage railway around the famous Lithgow |
| considered impossible. Later, the Blue | | | | Zig Zag, designed in such a way to traverse |
| Mountains were to provide numerous ridges, | | | | abrupt ascents. |
| cliffs, edges, rock faces, and gorges for the | | | | |
| mountaineers and rock-climbers as well as the | | | | The Blue Mountains, named so because of the |
| many abseilers who flock to the area. | | | | blue haze caused by the volatile fumes |
| | | | released by the surrounding eucalypts, is |
| There are many attractions in and around the | | | | full of adventure for everyone. Here you can |
| Blue Mountains. The Blue Mountains National | | | | do bushwalking, horse riding, abseiling, |
| Park is 250,000 hectares of natural | | | | visit day spas, ride the railways and cables, |
| wonderland, which unlike many other parks, | | | | see the Edge Cinema or the gardens, and enjoy |
| invites people with full accessibility. You | | | | the various rock formations and caves. You'll |
| can view the Park by car through the M4 | | | | find wonderful food and wine, and shopping |
| Freeway, which will be a one and a half hour | | | | opportunities to satiate your local interest. |
| trip from Sydney, or you can take the trains | | | | Or, if you feel like writing a novel, you |
| leaving hourly from Sydney Central Station. | | | | might find your muse within the inspiring |
| Day touring services are also available, | | | | scenes around you. Fact is, the Blue |
| which is a good idea for those who don't want | | | | Mountains are likely to find a way to charm |
| to explore all by themselves. A guided tour | | | | your heart. |
| will ensure you see all the significant | | | | |
| points and you will receive a useful | | | | Disclaimer |
| commentary as well. Catering arrangements are | | | | |
| also made by the tour companies, saving one | | | | We take no responsibility for inaccuracy or |
| planning headache. The English Gardens and | | | | omissions in the information provided, which |
| villages along the route are enchanting | | | | is not intended as specific advice. Before |
| escapes into a pastoral world. | | | | relying on the material, you should obtain |
| | | | appropriate professional advice relevant to |
| There are many small and spirited towns near | | | | your individual circumstances to evaluate |
| and within Blue Mountains - in fact 26 of | | | | accuracy, currency, completeness and |
| them in all - and Katoomba (aboriginal for | | | | relevance of the information to your specific |
| 'shiny, tumbling water'), situated in the | | | | needs. |
| heart of the mountains is the most frequented | | | | |