Fun Blue Mountain trip

The Blue Mountains is a World Heritage wilderness that begins 60km west of Sydney Australia. The mountains are home to 400 different species of animals, 40 of them rare or threatened. It is surprising to most people to discover that they are not actually mountains but rather a valley that has been formed by thousands of years of erosion.

Only 2 hours from Sydney the Blue Mountains are the perfect distance for a day trip but a full weekend is the perfect amount of time to really experience the area.

How to get to the Blue Mountains

Katoomba - the main centre in the Blue Mountains is 122km west of Sydney. There are also train stations at the towns of Wentworth Falls and Leura.

Train: The train from Central Station in Sydney takes approximately 2 hours to reach Katoomba. Tickets are cheaper after 9am or on weekends. The return trip can be made using a variety of tickets. The cheapest is the off-peak return (purchased after 9am) at $10.80 If you want to leave earlier than that the ticket is $15.60.

Car: It is approx 1hour 40 mins drive from the city. Most of the journey is via a motorway although the last section can be quite slow. Traffic on the weekends, particularly Sunday afternoons, can be very bad. For the quickest run back to Sydney it's best to leave the mountains after 5pm.


The Three Sisters Katoomba         
      

The Three Sisters at Echo Point are a short drive or even a walk from Katoomba train station. They are the area's most visited attraction. Busloads of tourists flock here each day on one day tours from the city and it can get a little crowded sometimes but it's still well worth a visit. The 'sisters' are flood lit from dark until 10.30pm each night. They look equally amazing no matter what time of day you visit and even a foggy day can provide a great photo as the rocks pierce the fog.

The rock formation gets its name from a dreamtime legend that says the rocks were actually 3 young sisters whose father turned them to stone while he fought an angry bunyip. He lost the fight and the girls were forever stuck in rock.

The Giant Stair way or the Furber Steps

You choose 1000 or 800 step staircase down to the valley floor below?

The Giant Stair way takes about 20-30 minutes to descend. This track takes you out onto the three sisters themselves. You make your way down the stairs to the bottom of the valley and the Scenic railway. This walk is not suitable for anyone who is not fit.

 The Furber steps are a little longer but I think perhaps a little easier. There are several lookouts that run off the walk.. don't miss Juliet's Balcony! Once at the bottom of the steps you can catch the scenic railway back up to the top. I have done this walk and it's not that hard. I would rate it medium difficulty, make sure you wear sturdy shoes.


Wentworth Falls                   

There are numerous waterfalls in the Blue Mountains but my favourite - and among the easiest to reach without a car is Wentworth Falls. There is a walk called Darwin's walk (after Charles Darwin) that begins at the station and ends at the falls. It takes a little under 2 hours to complete and is a pretty easy walk.
Scenic World

The Katoomba Scenic Railway & Skyway

Almost everyone who heads to the Mountains ends up at Scenic World. There are 3 rides you can try here. The scenic railway was originally built as a way to bring coal from the Katoomba coal mine on the valley floor. Today this track which travels 405 metres to the top of the mountain is used to transport visitors.

The Skyway travels over 3/4 km across the Jamison Valley providing amazing views. The skyway has a glass floor that is opened to reveal Katoomba Falls and the valley below.

So guys, remember to charge ur camera full when you head to Blue Mountain.:D