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The Three Sisters and the Jamison Valley, from Echo Point, Katoomba

The Blue Mountains,[1] located immediately to the west of the sprawling metropolian area that is Sydney, is one of the most accessible areas of (relatively unspoilt) highland natural beauty in New South Wales, Australia. Although not particularly high as a mountain range, the Blue Mountains is nonetheless renowned for its majestic scenery of a unique kind, for its cultural attractions and for its relatively tranquil, alternative mode of life (despite being located so close to Sydney....)

The Blue Mountains region was inscribed as a World Heritage Area by UNESCO in 2000 [2].

[edit] Cities

The major towns in the Blue Mountains are:

• Blackheath
• Blaxland
• Katoomba
• Leura
• Little Hartley
• Megalong Valley
• Mount Victoria
• Oberon
• Wentworth Falls
• Springwood

Other, smaller, towns include:

• Medlow Bath
• Faulconbridge
• Glenbrook
• Warrimoo
• Valley Heights

[edit] Other destinations

The Blue Mountains is most famous for its three National Parks and other sites of natural beauty:

• Blue Mountains National Park
• Kanangra Boyd National Park
• Wollemi National Park
• Jenolan Caves

[edit] Understand

[edit] History

Although not especially high, the Blue Mountains were sufficiently rugged to prevent European explorers and settlers from penetrating the inland of New South Wales from Sydney for some time. Although Aborigines were able to negotiate the mountain trails, it took Europeans from 1788 - when Sydney was first settled - until 1813 (25 years) to discover a way over. Even then, it was never by following the valleys, but only by traversing the mountain ridges, that a road over the mountains was made possible.

[edit] People

The culture of the Blue Mountains is not as well known. "The Mountains" are a major weekend destination for Sydneysiders and yet the Blue Mountains locals resist development - you'll only find two fast food restaurants (McDonalds/Burger King) between Glenbrook and Lithgow. The people of the Blue Mountains live in "villages", however in the lower mountains, these are basically suburbs of Sydney. Locals of the Blue Mountains tend to be:

• Retirees
• Commuters
• Folks looking for an alternative lifestyle, including a large and active gay and lesbian community
• Artists (including, in the past, the infamous )
• People who want to get back to nature
• Hospitality and tourism workers

If you stay long enough to get to know the place, you'll find an interesting mix of 1860, 1960 and last year.

[edit] Get in

You can get to the Blue Mountains by car or take a direct "Inter-City" train from Sydney Central.

[edit] By car

Take the M4 out of Sydney, then continue as the M4 becomes the Great Western Highway (A32) on Lapstone hill. Sydney to Katoomba is 103km and takes about 1:50, if you don't get slowed down by the traffic congestion (which you commonly will on a Saturday or Sunday).

[edit] By train

CityRail [3] trains (limited stops) run regularly to the Blue Mountains from Sydney Central, and can also be caught from most major stations along the way (eg Paramatta). In the past express services had been offered to the Blue Mountains, however most were cancelled by city rail in 2005, and replaced with "limited stops" services, which means the journey now takes longer! Trains run every half hour or so as far as Mount Victoria and some proceed to Lithgow. While the train will get you to the mountains, be prepared to walk a fairly long walk to get to some locations. There are a number of locations that you won't be able to reach without a car (unless you plan to walk for 3 days). That said, most of the main towns in the Blue Mountains are linked together by the rail line.

[edit] By Tour

Many tour companies operate great tours up to the Blue Mountains. One Great tour company is Sydney Tours R Us. Tours are simply the best way to see the Blue Mountains.

[edit] Get around

The best way to get around the mountains is to drive. The Great Western Highway (A32) travels the length of the mountains and most places aren't far from it. Local Car Rental is available from RediCARRediCAR.

However you can get to some stunning view points near Katoomba and Leura falls using the cheap and regular bus service. Buses stop right outside the train station. Visit Mountainlink online http://www.mountainlink.com.au/ for more info on buses, or for the timetable.

If travelling between towns in the mountains (like from Katoomba to Springwood), train is also a great way to get around. Or, you can travel by train to the nearest station, then bus or taxi from there.

[edit] See

• Govett's Leap (at Blackheath).
• Echo Point and the Three Sisters (at Katoomba).
• Kanagra Walls at Kanangra Boyd National Park.
• Watch a movie at The Edge in Katoomba.
• Wentworth Falls.
• Corridor of Oaks and Sir Henry Parks Grave(Faulconbridge).

[edit] Do

• Ride the Oaks Trail on your mountain bike.
• Ride on one of the scenic rides into the Jamison Valley from Katoomba.
• To get away from the crowds in "scenic" Katoomba, get a bus (or taxi) to Leura falls, and walk down the steps to the wedding veil falls and along Federal Pass - a fantastic walk, not too hard, and loads of wildlife!
• Jenolan Caves.
• Zig Zag Railway. ph 02 6355 2955 or 02 6351 4826 (recorded timetable). fax 02 6355 2954. email zigzag@pnc.com.au. The Zig Zag Railway is a historic railway. It was the main system for descending from the mountains before tunnels were made, and now it is a tourist attraction. You can drive to it from the Bells Line of Road or catch a Cityrail train to Zig Zag station and change. The train journey up and down the mountain takes about 1.5 hours. Trains run at 11am, 1pm and 3pm, steam trains only run on Wednesdays, weekends, public holidays and school holidays. Tickets are $20 adults, $15 students and senioprs, $10 children over 5 and free for children under 5. Family tickets for 2 adults and 3 children or 1 adult and 4 children are $50. http://www.zigzagrailway.com.au/

[edit] Walks

• Govett's Leap.
• The thousand steps (at Echo Point, down into the valley).
• The thousand steps through the valley to the Scenic Railway.
• Six Foot Track (starts at the Great Western Highway (A32) and ends at Jenolan, takes at least a day).
• National Pass (Wentworth Falls).
• Faulconbridge Point Lookout/Grose River.

See the National Parks NSW website, http://www.nationalparks.nsw.gov.au/parks.nsf/parkContent/N0004?OpenDocument&ParkKey=N0004&Type=Xo for more info.

[edit] Sleep

• Redleaf Resort Redleaf Resort is located 90 minutes from Sydney and only 10 minutes north of Katoomba. A recreation and entertainment resort, Redleaf offers an enclosed heated swimming pool, spa, sauna, tennis court, and a games room equipped with juke box, video games, pool table and table tennis.

[edit] Drives

• Bells Line of Road.

[edit] Get out