Blue Mountains Are One Of Australia’s Natural Wonders – Katoomba, Australia
What Is It – The vastness of the Australian continent is almost as incomprehensible today as it was when James Cook claimed the region around modern Sydney as English territory in the late 1800s and named it New South Wales. Some modern visitors venture into the outback to visit places like the Uluru monolith or cross the country to see the distant places like Perth or Darwin, but most stick to the east coast cities and the Great Barrier Reef. Nevertheless, one of Australia’s most beautiful and interesting natural wonders, the Blue Mountains National Park, can be visited easily from Sydney.
The Blue Mountains have untouched, blue-tinted gorges, plateaus, and waterfalls. Their beauty amazed early settlers and also blocked them from reaching the fertile plains and pastures to the west for several decades. It took until 1813 for three determined farmers to penetrate the imposing ridges and rivers of the mountains and emerge on the western side. With a trail to follow now available, settlers migrated to the interior and established successful farming and grazing operations there. By the late 1800s the mountains were accessible by road and rail as well, so country homes and mountainside resorts became popular in the region. Today, a sizable portion of the Blue Mountains’ land is preserved as a national park and World Heritage site.
Popular Sites – People seeking to experience the beauty of the Blue Mountains usually start at the tourist centers of Katoomba and Leura The most popular sites in this region are the following:
* Echo Point and Three Sisters – There is an information center and viewing platform on top of the escarpment known as Echo Point. From this location, there are excellent views of the large mountain across the valley known as Mount Solitary and the iconic Three Sisters rock formation which consists of three pointed rocks created by millions of years of erosion. In addition to being the most popular place for photographs, Echo Point is the origin for a giant staircase carved out of the rock which descends one thousand steps all the way down into the valley. Only experienced hikers who are prepared to make the return trip up the stairs should pursue this entire route but there is a much shorter walk on this trail down to the first of the Three Sisters.
* Waterfalls – The waterfalls in and around the World Heritage area are also popular to see. The largest one is the Katoomba Falls in the western section of the town. Check in at the kiosk there for directions to the best vantage points to observe those falls. While smaller is stature, the Leura Cascades is known for its beauty, the canopy of tree ferns, and the descending pools which collect the water running from the cliff down into the rainforest. People enjoy taking 45 minutes to an hour for a roundtrip walk down the pathway and steps to the bottom of this picturesque area.
*Leura - Katoomba is the central location for most tourists visiting the Blue Mountains. However, the adjacent village of Leura has more to offer in terms of relaxation and amenities for visitors so it is worth stopping there for a break during your visit. The town has gardens and tree lined streets with cafes, art galleries, restaurants, and shops. It also has a museum with a large collection of toys and trains.
Ways to Enjoy the Scenery-Most of the scenic attractions in the area are close to the Katoomba Train Station. From there you can arrange a guide, proceed on your own, or take advantage of one of two innovative services offered to tourists. First, there is an excellent hop on hop off bus service known as the Blue Mountain Explorer that provides narrated transportation and stops at approximately thirty-seven key sites and viewing platforms in the Blue Mountain area. The buses go to every main stop once during the hour and there are interconnected routes, so it is easy to plan an itinerary for the day. The Explorer Bus charges $49 per adult but kids ride free.
A second alternative for adventurous visitors is to view the mountains and valleys up close by visiting the Scenic World attraction in the western section of Katoomba. Scenic World is a private, family-owned business that has been in existence since 1945 and costs $49 per adult. It features a glass floor skyway that glides on cables almost nine hundred feet over the valley floor between the mountains providing spectacular views. Ticket holders also visit the Jamison Valley by taking a steep ride on a rail car or descending on a scenic cableway. Down in the gorge there is a boardwalk tour of the rainforest and the old mines along with other hiking opportunities.
Interesting Facts – The Blue Mountains are a vast region with many attractions. Some other interesting sites are the Jenolan Limestone Caves located to the southwest, the large Wentworth Falls to the east of Katoomba, or the quiet mountain town of Blackheath to the northwest.
How to Get Here –. The tourist centers of Katoomba and Leura are a two-hour drive from downtown Sydney along the Great Western Highway known as Route 32. For many people, an easier way to get there is to take a relaxing train ride from Sydney’s Central Station on the Blue Mountain railroad line and get off at Katoomba Station. There are four or five trains running early in the morning and trains return to Sydney almost every hour beginning in the late afternoon, so it is easy to schedule your day or stay on overnight and return in the morning.
When to Go – If you enjoy foliage and brilliant colors, then the best time to visit the Blue Mountains is during Australia’s fall which runs from March to May. When it comes to the waterfalls, the cascades are greatest during Australia’s late spring from September to November and the pools are best for a cool swim during the summer months from December to February.