The Blue Mountains

The Blue Mountains are inland west of Sydney and get their name from the blue haze that surrounds them. The views are stunning and it’s really great to get out of the big towns and back into the relatively quiet countryside. We started our tour in the Glenbrook area of the National Park. Our first stop was at Euroka to see the roos, past several lookouts and then on to the Red Hands Cave. We then travelled on to Wentworth Falls and on to Leura to Sublime Point well named as the photos will show. It was then on to Gordon Falls lookout, Leura Cascades, and Leura Falls. We spent the night I Katoomba where we met a lovely American couple and took them out on the town to show them the RSL and how to blag a ride into town and back for nothing on the courtesy bus. We then took them to a hotel for a $5 steak which it apparently they had run out of but could do a $10 steak which turned out to be two $5 steaks. We are still trying to figure out that one! But we all had a great time. We tried to educate the yanks about how to get a cheap meal and drink and a free lift into town but it was a bit late as they were off home in a couple of days. The following morning we set for the Three Sisters, Echo Point, and scenic world. We went on the scenic railway which was originally a coal carrying train that goes down into the gorge at an alarming angle so steep that you think you will fall out as there aren’t any seat belts. It was then a bit of a wander round the boardwalk near the bottom of the gorge and back to the top on the cable car. It was then on to the scenic walkway which is another cable car that takes you across the gorge 270 metres in the air where you can get the best views of Orphan Rock, The Three Sisters and Katoomba Falls but the best bit was it had a glass floor so the views were even more spectacular. Mind you it was a bit scary. It was then on to Blackheath for the night. The next morning it was of to Govetts lookout for a look over the Grose Valley and then on to Shipley Plateau and the Megalong valley. On then to the Jenolan Caves. There are nine caves that you can visit but as each tour is at least 1 1/2 hours long we decided that we would just go round one. Our choice was the Lucas cave as this is the best all rounder. We did get to see Nettle cave and the Devils Coach House which came in with the cost of the ticket. It was awesome. I’ve never seen caves as good. I’m not sure that the photos will do it justice. Our last day was spent travelling back to Sydney with a trip on the Zig Zag Railway which literally zigzags down the side of the mountain into the Lithgow Valley.