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Sydney's Blue Mountains

The World Heritage listed Blue Mountains

The Blue Mountains - an hour plus west of Sydney. The World Heritage listed Blue Mountains are green (and sometimes blue) but always gorgeous and right on Sydney's doorstep.

Australia's Great Dividing Range

The Blue Mountains are part of the Great Dividing range that stretches most of the way along the east coast of Australia. The mountains give way to a plateau and a mix of bush and farmland. With excellent adventure opportunities, superb bush walks and breathtaking scenery the Blue Mountains offers a memorable contrasting beauty to Sydney Harbour and beaches. You can also celebrate Christmas in July and you might even see some snow.

Three Sisters - Blue Mountains

The Three sisters is widely regarded as the pinnacle(s) of the Blue Mountain's attractions. An hour and half drive up a hill, turn left into Katoomba, follow the signs to Echo Point and see the Three Sisters in all their glory - unless its cloudy of course. It is amazing that a place like the Three Sisters can exist so close to a city the size of Sydney.

Blue Mountains – After The Three Sisters

The Blue Mountains has much to offer beyond the Three Sisters. Enjoy the beautiful Wentworth Falls, hitch a ride on train down a cliff (Scenic Railway), hang by a wire on the Skyway Cable Car, experience the Grand Canyon, Federal Pass and many other excellent walks and look out for a lot of Blue Mountains lookouts to look out from. Worth it if you can overnight or two or three. Once you've 'done' The Three Sisters visit the Blue Mountains Tourist Information Centre in Katoomba for more information.

The Blue Mountains can feel like a step back in time with the ageing architecture, fading wallpaper and high ceilings. Mostly this is a bonus, quaint you might say but perhaps one or two places could use abit more 'love' furnished upon them.

Blue Mountains Links

Are the Blue Mountains really Blue?

On a hazy day the Blue Mountains may earn their name, maybe. One thing is for sure - Australia is the flattest continent on Earth - so don't expect snow covered peaks - maybe during winter you might see some snow but that's about it.

On the subject of weather - if its cloudy be patient as it may just blow away - if the weather has set in consider a trip out to Jenolan Caves (see below).

Hopefully helpful links

Whatever you do be careful, stick to the paths and don't go abseiling without a rope.

Other things to do in the Blue Mountains

Things to do in the Blue Mountains

The Old but New Ivanhoe in Blackheath

The New Ivanhoe Hotel is another example of the old worldliness of the Blue Mountains. The 80 years young Ivanhoe is cosy in the cold with its open log fires. In summer there is plenty of natural sunlight on offer through the enclosed garden patio(s).

You can overnight at a reasonable price in one of the seven double rooms and three twin rooms with share facilities or in one of the large double rooms with ensuite.

Look out for the bright flower-filled window boxes outside the bistro. Inside you can enjoy some good pub food for not very much.

Jenolan Caves

Jenolan Caves is a four hour drive out of Sydney. Numerous caves to look at and crawl around. Jenolan is well worth journey if you like the cool, dark and damp. The trip out will give you a good look at the Blue Mountains (but you have to go a fair bit further west for the desert and the real outback).

A cautionary tale.
Whilst Caves house has a medical staff the nearest hospital to Jenolan is in Oberon. The road is now sealed but it’s still a fair old drive if you're concussed. So please be smarter than I was and watch where you are going.

Jenolan Caves dot Org dot Au

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