Blue Mountains

Blue Mountains

Left Sydney via Parmetta, to show dad this historic town as he’d only seen it from the ferry, and its old colonial/settlement houses.

Arrived at the appropriately named Three Sisters Motel, Katoomba, mid afternoon, to find this a wonderfully placed resort, walking distance to Echo Point, at the very heart of the canyon, and within a few minutes of the most spectacular views.

The Mountains are actually below the land, a very odd experience, looking across and down continually... that first day the valley and peaks glowed a dark blue (the mist haze, not always seen, we'd didn't see this again during our stay).

We walked to the Three Sisters rock formations and clambered along the walkways to peer over the edge, and then along to Katomba Falls, through the dusk, picking our way down through gullies and rocks.

 

On Tuesday we realised the full extent of the range, much of it has never been explored, looking across at peaks and mountains, down to rainforest and valley floors, as far as we could see.

Given the limited time, we opted for the National Pass trek from the conservation hut at Wentworth Falls, which dropped us down to rainforest and under waterfalls, along narrow rock steps, literally clambering along the cliff edge with rocks above us and the valley floor below.

It took us about 3 hours to hike the ‘walk’ –its mainly steps, our knees were knackered- ending up climbing up the Giant’s Stairwell (very long and steep!) underneath, through and up to the top of the Falls, water streaming down from a brilliant blue sky onto us as we pulled ourselves up the rock face.

I felt as if I'd spent the morning on a film set of 'Fern Gully'. The heat was extreme at the top of the cliffs, but then it was chilly below the edge, and with the freezing water drops continually raining down, I ended up really cold, much to dad's amusement-he's still adjusting and was a mit hot!

Post much need picnic, we walked the Gordon Falls to Leura Falls hike, which goes overland along the very cliff edge, peering down and out at diverse green forests/eucalyptus trees/ferns/ and stark rock faces, waterfalls at every turn.

 

In the evening we wandered down to Echo Point, and by chance saw the most brilliant sunset.

It’s rare that the sky is completely cloud free, and watching the golden orb disappear over a mountain, surrounded by an abundance of colourful, diverse, parrots and cockatoos, was magical.

The reflecting rays makes the area seem light long after it should be dark, I guess because it’s high,  the stars appear in a light blue sky above yet darkness falls over the mountains opposite.

We were sorry to leave on Tuesday, and had to have one last walk, along the cascades to Katoomba Falls and back, admiring the glints of early morning sunlight on wild flowers, trees, rocks etc, watching the mist clear from the valley below.

As I type we have driven over 5 hours to Wagga Wagga, luckily the east side which is not flooded/out of bounds, and are collapsed in the motel ready to complete the run to Melbourne tomorrow (another 5 hours).

The drive has been good though; it’s a picturesque countryside, farmsteads, forests, rolling hills and plateaus, straight across New South Wales.

Next stop Melbourne (and for dad, the Grand Prix on Sunday).

We’re looking forward to seeing the sights and sounds of another city/state, next update to follow whenever we surface again.