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