Australia's Blue Mountains - Worth More Than Just a Day Trip!

Many visitors to Australia visit the Blue Mountains as part of a day trip from Sydney, often seeing little more than Echo Point and the Three Sisters rock formation before being herded back onto their coach and towards the next destination. While it is undoubtedly relaxing to sit back in an air-conditioned coach, it is surprisingly easy to arrange independent travel into the Blue Mountains, and the effort is well rewarded.



About the Blue Mountains
The Blue Mountains World Heritage National Park forms part of Australia's Great Dividing Range and offers visitors panoramic views across deep gorges to distant peaks, picturesque waterfalls and dense eucalyptus forests, along with interesting rock formations and sheer cliff faces. The contrast between the red sandstone, green canopy and blue sky is softened by the gentle bluish mist given off by the trees. The main tourist centre is the small town of Katoomba, just over 100 km inland from Sydney.

Getting to Katoomba
Trains run hourly from Sydney into the Blue Mountains, and the journey takes about two hours to Katoomba. Other places within the National Park can be reached by train and local buses, but Katoomba itself offers many facilities and a surprising number of walks straight from the centre. Although often busy with tourists, the town manages to retain a peaceful air, particularly to visitors who have just left the bustle of Sydney. Several of its buildings are in the Art Deco style and there are a variety of restaurants and cafes to choose from.

Where to stay
Katoomba offers its visitors everything from backpacker hostels to expensive hotels, but the YHA hostel deserves a mention. A former 1930s cabaret club, it is decorated in the Art Deco style common to much of the town, and has a level of comfort usually associated with more upmarket hotels. There are a number of comfortable sofas for relaxing in after a day's walk, and outside there is a large garden and patio complete with fountain and statue, offering a perfect spot for watching the sun set.

What to do
The more adventurous traveller can tackle abseiling, canyoning, rock climbing, caving, horse riding and more, but for those who prefer to see the outdoors on their own two feet there are many walks of differing lengths where the outstanding views can be savoured. Katoomba's Visitors Centre is at Echo Point, the opposite end of town from the railway station. This is the site of the famous Three Sisters rocks, and there is also a mountain railway and cable car, both popular with visitors. Echo Point is where the hordes of coach tourists will almost certainly be encountered, and it can be a heaving mass of people in the middle of the day. For this reason it is preferable to visit in the early morning or evening, when the quality of the light on the rocks is also at its best.

Walks
There are many clearly marked walks from Katoomba, both along the cliff tops and down in the forests. One rewarding walk leads along the well-named Amphitheatre Track to the picturesque village of Leura, and takes in the beautiful Bridal Veil Falls en route. Another walk with stunning views down sheer rock faces can be made by taking a short train journey to Wentworth Falls, and following the signs to the waterfall of the same name.

Maps are recommended for added security on walks, but the high standard of signposting means that they are rarely needed. Metal staircases have been built where the ascents and descents are particularly steep, and the going is good underfoot. As for all places, it is advisable for lone walkers to let somebody know where they are going, and the YHA has a signing out and in service for this purpose.

Weather
The weather in the Blue Mountains can be significantly cooler than in Sydney, and it is worth taking extra layers of clothing. Snow is common in winter, and in June, July and August Katoomba holds a Yule Fest, complete with many of the trappings of Christmas.

To sum up...
It is clearly impossible to do justice to such a beautiful area in a single day, or indeed part of a day. To have time to relax and soak up the Art Deco ambience of Katoomba, to discover the many walks and to enjoy the fantastic views demands a stay of at least three or four days, even in a busy itinerary. The Blue Mountains are worth getting to know!