Is it time to go on an outdoorsy style trip yet? I believe it is! I don’t know about you but being surrounded by pure nature is one of my favourite type of holidays, and while the thought of no phone service for a while might scare some people (see here: my boyfriend ๐), I personally love the feeling of being absolutely free from all things electronic! So with that in mind, off we went to the Blue Mountains, about an hour and a half drive from Sydney. We opted to go with a tour company for this trip, as we figured we would get the most amount of area covered in one day, and we sure did! What you’ll read this in this blog is from a Blue Mountains Tour we did with Sightseeing Tours Australia, which I recommend for all your Australian adventures.
Scenic World is one of those must-visit attractions when you come to the Blue Mountains and the place where you’ll get those Instagram worthy pictures. When you arrive at Scenic World you have the chance to take 4 rides: the Scenic Skyway, Scenic Walkway, the Scenic Cableway and the Scenic Railway. Yes, you have time to do all 4, and yes you should do all of them!
The scenic railway is the steepest of its kind in the world and designed so that passengers can choose at what incline they want to be positioned at and if you’re a thrillseeker try the ‘Cliffhanger’ ride which involves an incline of 64 degrees! With glass roofs on each carriage, you can look out onto the stunning Jamison Valley that surrounds you.
The walkway requires the least amount of effort as its a pleasant stroll amongst the Australian bush on a 2.4-kilometre boardwalk. Along the way, you’ll encounter native flora and fauna, hear the songs of the lyrebird and the trickling of water as it streams from the Marrangaroo Spring.
Scenic Cableway is a gradual 545-metre descent into the Jamison Valley stopping as you pass the iconic three sisters rock formation.
Lastly, the Scenic Skyway carries you 270 metres above the ancient rainforest with glass bottoms for those who are seeking an adrenaline rush! For those with a fear of heights, don’t worry, there’s also solid floors and seating available.
Descending into the Jamison Valley below, Katoomba Falls is ideally located between Echo Point and Scenic World which makes it a perfect stop on the tour. The circuit walk to the falls is around 2 kilometres and takes around 2 hours to complete. From Juliet’s Balcony lookout, you’ll get an uninterrupted view of the waterfall, sprinkling down in segmented sections. I recommend stopping here to take photos and soak in the tranquillity of the forest that surrounds you.
Be sure to check out the town of Katoomba as well, home to art galleries, a strong coffee culture and both local and fine dining eateries!
Kings Tableland is an important site to the Gundungurra people which is evident by the cave paintings you’ll see at the location. It was used as a camping site and meeting spot for over 14,000 years and remains as one of the most significant locations in the Blue Mountains. The plateau that juts out hundreds of metres above the forest below and overlooks a hauntingly beautiful vast land.
The traditional land of the Gundungurra people is carefully preserved to protect the ancient engravings and shelters of the area.
Animal lovers will love the Featherdale Wildlife Park, and if you’re keen on meeting some of Australia’s cutest critters, this is the place! Native animals such as kangaroos, koalas, reptiles and marsupials all call Featherdale home. For a small fee, you can even feed the kangaroos! But that’s not all you can do here, get up close and personal with animal encounters which will have you playing with the cheeky dingoes or meeting some very sleepy koalas.
How could you say no to these little faces?
The story behind the Three Sisters stems from the Aboriginal Dreamtime story that tells the tale of 3 sisters from the Katoomba tribe who fell in love with 3 brothers from the Nepean tribe. Their love was forbidden as they came from opposing sides, and before the brothers could take the sisters from their tribe, a witch doctor turned the sisters into the dramatic rock formations you see today. Sadly, the witch doctor was killed before they were turned back, and there the 3 sisters remained. The best lookout to see the iconic Three Sisters is Echo Point, but be prepared for a multitude of crowds all trying to get the best angle for a photo.
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