Blue Mountains
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Its exceptional geography and vegetation, as well as cultural value – there are several ancient Aboriginal sites – are the reasons why the region was included in the World Heritage List in 2000. It is now a popular destination among tourists and Australians alike. Various outdoor activities can be done, such as bushwalking on 87 miles of hiking trails, horseback riding, camping, and rock climbing. Not-so-active visitors can enjoy the spectacular landscapes from several scenic lookouts.
History
The Gundungurra, Wiradjuri, Dharwal, and Darug people have inhabited the Blue Mountains for several millennia. According to the Gundungurra creation story, the Blue Mountains were created after an epic battle between the Dreamtimes creatures, Garantach and Mirigan, both half-reptile half-fish. The battle was so fierce that it scarred the landscape.
In 1788, the first governor of New South Wales
, Arthur
Phillip, spotted the mountains from a hill in modern-day Oakhill College and named them Carmarthen and
Lansdowne Hills. The current name of “Blue Mountains” was first written down shortly after, in 1789. The name
comes from the blue haze that you see when looking at the mountains and valleys from a distance.Attractions
Katoomba is the Blue Mountains’ center of tourism. Only two kilometers south of the town center lies Echo Point Lookout, the most visited spot in the entire national park. No less than four million people visit that lookout each year and take pictures of Jamison Valley and the Three Sisters rock formation. Other visible features are the Ruined Castle rock formation and Mount Solitary. The Three Sisters is an iconic landmark, basically an unusual formation of sandstone rock. According to an Aboriginal legend, the rocks represent three sisters who were turned to stone. It is a natural feature that looks spectacular throughout the day; as the sun moves across the sky, the colors and shadows shift as well. Until 11 at night the rock formations is lit by floodlights. The Three Sisters are respectively 906, 918, and 3,025 feet tall.
A short walk from Echo Point Lookout lies the Giant Stairway, a steep hiking trail that runs down the cliffs towards Jamison Valley. It provides access to other hiking trails through this eucalypt-covered valley.
There are more scenic lookouts, hiking trails, waterfalls, as well as restaurants, art galleries, and museums in other towns in the region. Glenbrook, Springwood, Leura, Blackheath and Wentworth Falls are some of those.
Getting There
The proximity of the Blue Mountains to Sydney makes it an area that is easily accessed by car. The Blue Mountains entrance is located in Glenbrook/Lapstone, only a 50-minute drive away. Starting in Sydney, follow the signs toward Parramatta. Then, continue on the M4 highway in Strathfield and all the way to the national
park.An alternative road is the Bell’s Line of Road. This drive starts in Richmond and runs past Mount Tomah, Bell, and Mount Victoria. It is a fun drive through the heart of the Blue Mountains’ wilderness.
The Blue Mountains can also be reached by public transport. Trains and buses run between towns in the mountains and Sydney CBD.
Similar Landmarks
Australia is a national park country. Dozens of other national parks and wilderness areas can be found and visited all across the country. The most well-known are the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park, Freycinet National Park, Wilsons Promontory National Park, Kakadu National Park and Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park.Do you see any omissions, errors or want to add information to this page? Sign up.
Author: bramreusen. Last updated: Feb 08, 2015
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