09 Aug Blue Mountains
Welcome to Blue Mountains
Experience the Crisp Eucalyptus at the Blue Mountains Australia
The Blue Mountains, approximately a two-hour scenic drive from Sydney, is a rugged region known for its high sandstone ridges, dramatic scenery, and charming mountain towns in the wilderness.
Be engulfed by cliffs, eucalyptus forests, and dramatic waterfalls. As you explore the many walking tracks, be enchanted by the natural beauty that loop around the verdant valleys and craggy cliffs.
Find after-dark excitement spotting glow worms in an underground cave, or indulge in a touch of luxury at a wilderness retreat.
Experience wonders at the iconic Scenic World, nestled in a charming mountain town with rugged canyons, where the glass-topped carriages of the Scenic Railway take you on a ride into the depths of the Jamison Valley. Bushwalk along clifftops to spectacular lookouts, and discover unique cultural experiences, from ancient Aboriginal sites to modern street art.
Visiting the Blue Mountains in Australia tickled our adventurous souls and will absolutely take your breath away.
How To Get There
Archeological findings state that the Blue Mountains were formed a million years ago during the Pliocene Epoch.
In 1788, it was initially called the ‘Carmarthen Hills’ and the ‘Landsdowne Hills’. But the distinctive blue haze surrounding the area allowed locals to change its name to the Blue Mountains.
Eucalyptus trees heavily populate the Blue Mountains, filling the atmosphere with dispersed oil droplets that, combined with dust, water vapour, and other particles, would distribute short-wave length rays of light that create the blue colour.
Located in New South Wales, Australia, the foot of the Blue Mountain is only a couple of hours away from Sydney by train or car. The surrounding areas comprise Penrith, Lithgow, Richmond, and Oberon.
Places Of Interest
Explore the Blue Mountains Botanic Garden, originally known as the Mount Tomah Botanical Garden. It offers many walking trails across its 97-hectare property, where you can discover walking trails, plant displays and natural areas.
Katoomba, a 90 min drive from Sydney via the Great Western Highway, is a town located at the heart of the majestic Blue Mountains historic National Park. It is the perfect spot to explore nature with its bushwalking trails and is also the home of the Three Sisters, famed for its sandstone rock formation.
Blue Mountains Echo Point
The Echo Point lookout in Katoomba is an ideal stop for stunning views of the Jamison Valley and the iconic Three Sisters in the Blue Mountains.
West of Sydney in the area of the Blue Mountains is a small town known as the ‘Land of the Mountain Apple’. You will come across many fruit orchards and roadside stalls selling homemade produce, especially during summer. Bilpin apples and Bilpin apple juice are famous around Australia.
The Gordon Falls lookout is a popular place for a day trip with the family, offering an ideal place for a picnic, bushwalks, birdwatching and sweeping views. A short stroll leads to the lookout with stunning views of Gordon Falls waterfall plunging 200-meters into the valley. You can also explore the Lyrebird Dell from the park for serene beauty and lush vegetation.
This popular activity in the Blue Mountains is easily accessible and economical too. The Blue Mountains Explorer Bus has 29 stops around the Katoomba and Leura areas. It is easily accessible from the train stations and many accommodations like the Fairmont Resort. It offers 12 trailhead stops that give you access to the region’s most renowned waterfalls and walk.
As you stroll through the streets of Katoomba near the Blue Mountains, keep your eyes open for an abundance of fantastic street art to admire.
In particular, the Street Art Walk displays world traditional street art from all disciplines, located at Beverly Place, Katoomba.
Where To Stay
With literally hundreds of properties of every style and price range, looking for a place to stay in the Blue Mountains proves quite challenging. First of all, let’s tackle when’s the best time to visit the Blue Mountains.
The mountains are the busiest during festivals and the winter season in July. Spring and autumn are popular months too because these are when the region is at its loveliest. Christmas and New Year also enjoy an influx of travellers.
Our favourite time to visit would be from late April to mid-May to avoid the large crowds. During this time, the colours of the Blue Mountains are stunning, and the cold weather is perfect for relaxing by open fires accompanied by some excellent red wine.
Although coming to the region during local festivals when the crowds are large, and activities are prevalent among tourists, these events can also influence the prices. So the best advice to genuinely enjoy the beauty of the Blue Mountains would be to go during off-peak periods.
A charming, cosy retreat adorned with landscaped gardens. The apartment is perfect for travellers, with its small kitchenette providing everything you may ever need for a weekend away from home. The different accommodation styles include studio and one to two-bedroom self-contained apartments. It also comes with a fireplace and a double hydrotherapy spa bath. The Falls Mountain Retreat also offers reverse cycle air conditioning and electric blankets to keep you comfortable through different seasons.
If you are after great views, then the Fairmont Resort and Spa is our top recommendation! The hotel is on the cusp of Jamison Valley and is a part of the World Heritage-listed Blue Mountains National Park. The hotel provides excellent facilities perfect for extended stays.
Only 90 minutes drive from Sydney CBD, Echoes Boutique Hotel & is conveniently located at Echo Point in the township of Katoomba, only 800 metres from the famous Three Sisters.
The hotel offers an intimate setting, and you will love the Echoes Boutique Hotel’s friendly atmosphere, with only 14 rooms and warm, friendly staff running the business. Despite being a boutique hotel, the rooms are very spacious, and the facilities are excellent.
The hotel opened in 1883 and remained one of the top places to stay if you wish to escape the city. Being recently renovated, you can still sense the timeless elegance of a bygone era with inimitable character.
A perfect setting for couples for a romantic getaway and is easily accessible to explore the Blue Mountains.
Parklands Country Gardens and Lodges
Parklands is a five-star luxurious Country Retreat set on a 10-hectare estate of gardens, rolling green fields, tree-lined avenues and a lake.
The rooms have lovely windows overlooking the garden, and guests can enjoy woodfires in their rooms, super-comfortable kingsize beds, ensuites with underfloor heating and warm towels.
It is one of the outstanding properties in the Mountains where beauty, luxury and privacy combine to guarantee an exceedingly comfortable and memorable stay.
Where To Eat
Dining in the Blue Mountains is about eating fresh, regional gourmet produce. Capitalising on its stunning location, you will be greeted with many innovative restaurants and cafes providing a veritable feast of flavours.
Enjoy dinner with family in the relaxed atmosphere with panoramic views of the Jamison Valley. The Echoes Restaurant is famous for its modern Australian cuisine with hints of Asian. It uses fresh and local produce that guarantees each meal a remarkable experience. It also houses selected Australian and imported wines.
Located in a refurbished heritage building, with views across the historic formal English gardens and the escarpment of Jamison Valley in the background, the restaurant provides a romantic feel.
The menu offers many creative plates. Try their whipped foie gras paired with sweet malt loaf and peanut crumbs that are agreeable even to the meticulous taste bud. Or try the quails and rabbits, perfect for anyone looking for an extraordinary dining experience.
Offering breakfast, lunch, and afternoon snacks, you will enjoy homemade and freshly baked pastries, sandwiches, doughnuts, pies, and ice cream. The place is simple, but the food will capture your heart!
Final Thoughts
Although highly famous among adventurers, the Blue Mountains is also a great escape for anyone who wishes to escape the hustle of modern-day living. It offers a convenient retreat for anyone to commune with nature. Easily accessible and offers many beautiful accommodations that are an experience worth a try.
Recommended Tours
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