Travel 90 minutes from Sydney into another dimension in the Blue Mountains
There aren’t many major cities around the globe that have a World Heritage listed wilderness practically in their own backyard, but that’s precisely what Sydney, Australia has in the magnificent Blue Mountains. Between the Blue Mountains and the other national parks that adjoin them, you will find over a million hectares of natural wilderness to explore, all within an hour’s commuter train ride of Australia’s biggest city. When you travel from Sydney towards the Blue Mountains, you feel as is you have been teleported to another world, one where there isn’t any sign of the hustle and bustle of the city you left behind. Instead, you find yourself gazing across an infinite panorama of undulating hills covered in blue-green eucalypts. As you step into this beautiful landscape, you peer over sheer rock faces, look up at spectacular waterfalls and into the eyes of Australia’s unique animal life. If you’re an outside lover, you will surely fall madly in love with the Blue Mountains. If you prefer putting on your hiking boots and exploring, you can spend weeks in Katoomba or Leura, two of the main cities, hiking a new trail every day. If the thrill of rock climbing or mountain biking is to your liking, then you’ll be in paradise. Most first time visitors to the Blue Mountains go to the charming town of Katoomba and head straight down the main street of town to Echo Point and the Three Sisters Lookout. The three sandstone peaks that are the Three Sisters together comprise one of the most photographed landmarks in Australia, but no photograph can do them and their surroundings justice. Standing against the railing and looking down may give even hardened rock climbers vertigo, but that doesn’t stop them from taking the Giant Staircase down the side of the Sisters to the valley below and trying their skills on one of the dozens of established climbing routes scattered for miles deep within the canyons at the foot of the Sisters. The Giant Staircase is also where thousands of hikers begin their discovery of the Blue Mountains. If you have limited time but want to feel like you’ve escaped society, when you’ve reached the foot of the stairs, you’ll have forgotten everything. Surrounded by unspoiled nature, the only real reminders of civilization you will notice will be the signs which will assist you to find your way and the occasional welcome bench where you can rest your weary feet and look out at the horizon. If fatigue overcomes you and you don’t want to have to face the steep climb back up to the top, just jump on the world’s steepest railway line and you’ll be back up in minutes. Incredibly, it is possible to come to the Blue Mountains, do all of this stuff and still be back home in Sydney in time for dinner. But, you most likely will not be in a hurry to leave. That will not be an issue, since finding comfortable Blue Mountains Hotel is easy. Aside from the many camping grounds in the area, you will find B&Bs, backpackers accommodations, hotels and motels to choose from. After you’ve checked in, step outside and take a look at the many great restaurants and cafes along Katoomba Street. Being Blue Mountains locals, they know you’ll be hungry and looking for a hearty meal. They will not disappoint you, either!