I have just rediscovered the majesty of the Blue Mountains. Amazing views are just the beginning of the mountain’s allure. Just a two hour drive from Sydney it is another world, featuring spectacular landscape, village life, adventure sports and pampering spas.
With stunning natural beauty, the World Heritage region of the Blue Mountains is an Australian highlight for any visitor. The slate-coloured haze that gives the mountains their name comes from a fine mist of oil exuded by the eucalypt forests that form a dense canopy across the landscape of deep, often inaccessible valleys and chiselled sandstone outcrops. The scenery is captivating and is a hikers dream with over 140 kilometres of walking trails.
The national park is home to rare and ancient plants and isolated animal populations. Tucked away in the deep gorges the mountains provide a habitat for many unique plant species showcasing the extraordinary story of the evolution of Australia’s eucalypt vegetation.
The foothills begin 65km west from Sydney, rising to the 1100 metre high sandstone plateau riddled with deep valleys eroded into the stone. There are eight connected conservation areas in the region, offering truly fantastic scenery, excellent bushwalks, Aboriginal engravings and all the canyons and cliffs you could ask for.
Perched along the 100 kilometre spectacular sandstone plateau, the 27 towns and villages of the Blue Mountains enjoy sweeping views of the world-renowned escarpments and gorges. The famous Three Sisters stand tall surrounded by the stunning Megalong Valley.
Close to the picturesque town of Blackheath, is Evans Lookout which presents a magnificent perspective of sandstone cliffs dropping to the valley and canyon below. It’s one of the most scenic of the Blue Mountains lookouts, and is also a trailhead for the popular Grand Canyon bushwalk, perhaps the area’s best half-day excursion.
My visit was for a family wedding held in the grounds of the Hydro Majestic Hotel and the spectacular backdrop of the Megalong valley but I am inspired to explore more of the mountains soon.
