Driving around the mountain

Driving the long way home can have its pros and cons.

Cons - Peter, my friend and the person who hired the car, lives in Sydney... I live in Newcastle, so the long way home is double the long way for him, as he has to drive back to Sydney, once we resurfaced in Newcastle.

Pros - PIE! And cute little towns.

We decided to drive north west through Bilpin and out through Berowa then back up the F3 to Newcastle... Some how this didnt work out and we ended up coming out at Wollombi... Yes - This means we somehow went the longest possible way... down Putty Road and through Yengo National Park.

But at least Peter had a belly full of pie to tied him over. Our first stop was Bilpin. There is a big shed there (an apple orchard) Bilpin Apple Pie. OMG they have so many pies to choose from! its pie heaven really. I didn't get one (as I'm vegan) but Peter got a raspberry and apple pie - and it looks just divine! He said it tasted pretty much the same too.

We a belly full of pie, we get back on the road - Thinking we are going the right way... Our GPS iphone system failed us, so we just went with the road signs... Lucky we filled up before we left... 4 hours later, after driving through the most beautiful National Park I have seen in a while, we pulled out of the rainforest of the Watagans and into Wollombi.

I have been to Wollombi many times before. It is a famous little tour - VERY LITTLE town know for its excellent pub and dangerous 'jungle juice'. It is a great place for a weekend getaway - It has the Watagans, the Central coast on the Hunter valley wine region right at its down step.

Govetts Leap

Drive in a big U shape for 10 min from Evans Lookout and you will arrive at Govetts Leap Lookout. Save this one for last. It's my favourite. I think the waterfall just adds that extra bit of ompf!

Govetts Leap allows you to get closer to the action -so to speak. There are many more walking tracks that can take you closer to the waterfall and down the mountain.

I recommend wearing good solid hiking boots or hiking trainers as the tracks can get very muddy and boggy - leading to slippery rocks and landings. I would also say a moderate level of Fitness is required to hike around here as it can be steep and tricky to manoeuvre - BUT WELL WORTH IT.

Make sure you take sufficient supplies with you - food and water. Its only a short drive into the town, but its best to stock up, just in case. Govetts Leap is also popular for picnics and family day outings.

Evans Lookout

I'm perched on the end of sandstone cliffs looking out over the Grose River Valle, The sun is setting and the colours that I see in front of me begin to play tricks with my eyes and dance through the spectrum of the rainbow.

Cliffs that were just a few moments ago yellow are now flushed with hues of pink and rose. Clouds that appeared ominous and wary are now tinted with gold and purple.

We are standing at Evans look out at Blackheath. Its about a 10min drive from Katoomba. What a magical place. There is almost some prehistoric about this view. A natural landscape that has formed millions of years ago is now being taken in by me and my friend, Peter.

We just sit in silence and let the power of the view engulf us.

If you're a yogi or into meditation - This is a perfect place to centre yourself and practice.

It is a very popular look out for tourists who are driving up from Sydney (or back to Sydney) and will only take a few moments (or hours, if you become awe struck like us) of your time to stop and really appreciate how magnificent mother earth really is!

There are plenty of hiking tracks around this look out also - Excellent hiking tracks, I think most are for some-what experienced hikers, but there are smaller trails that you can walk through to take in the bushland around you.

Jenolan Caves

Traditionally referred to as 'Binoomea' meaning Dark places in local Aboriginal dialects, Jenolan Caves is a mystic marvel of the Blue Mountains. Hidden in the mountains are worlds time seems to have forgotten.

As you drive up the winding bending path, you wouldn't even think that inside these mountains Sparkling treasures wait to be discovered.

If you're heading up to Jenolan Caves in Winter - dress warm, but wear layers as the caves are actually very warm and you will want to remove a few layers before entering.

Also, I would recommend to bring water and snacks. There is a take-away shop, but it is very pricey and you'll be dining on fried foods and white bread sandwiches...

There are many different caves to view and many different activities - There is something for everyone and for every level of fitness. You can even do Adventure caving - if that is something that you're into. We didnt have enough time to look into this, but it seemed to be very cool indeed.

Prices can be found here for tours - http://www.jenolancaves.org.au/the-caves/tour-prices/

I would recommend planning which tour you would like to go on and its starting time, before you get there. As they tours can sell out fast or you can simply turn up late and miss the start time.

I love Jenolan Caves, there is some much energy here and so must history hidden in the crystal formations.

Put Jenolan Caves on you 'Must visit' list if you're heading to the Blue Mountains - you will love everysecond of if!

The 3 Sisters

The central hub of the Blue Mountains and on of the most famous pulling cards is the Three Sisters. The three sisters is located at Echo Point in Katoomba. A purpose built lookout and tourist facilities are available around the look out - there are many vantage points to take in the spectacular views, so be sure to walk around.

I remember coming to visit The Three Sisters when I was younger with my family, The rock formations are still just as impressive as they were through my younger eyes. There is a local Aboriginal legend about the rock formation, that lead to its name.

"The Aboriginal dream-time legend has it that three sisters, 'Meehni', 'Wimlah' and Gunnedoo' lived in the Jamison Valley as members of the Katoomba tribe. These beautiful young ladies had fallen in love with three brothers from the Nepean tribe, yet tribal law forbade them to marry. The brothers were not happy to accept this law and so decided to use force to capture the three sisters causing a major tribal battle.

As the lives of the three sisters were seriously in danger, a witchdoctor from the Katoomba tribe took it upon himself to turn the three sisters into stone to protect them from any harm. While he had intended to reverse the spell when the battle was over, the witchdoctor himself was killed. As only he could reverse the spell to return the ladies to their former beauty, the sisters remain in their magnificent rock formation as a reminder of this battle for generations to come."

The Three sisters are massive! standing at nearly 1000m tall each they stand guad over the valley.

I would recommend visiting The Three sisters at Dusk or dawn - you will see the variation in colours as the light bounces from the different textured surfaces.

If you're in Katoomba and on a budget the local website  for the Blue Mountains has a great page - Top 10 things to do for Free - www.bluemts.com.au - There is also lots more information about accommodation and tourist tips.

 

 

Katoomba

Katoomba is a beautiful and strange little town. Its right bang in the middle of the blue mountains - It snows, it rains, its ice cold during winter - but it just seems to still have this magical charm.

Its hypnotising, to a point.

Everything is slower up here. People are friendly and say 'hello' to you as you stroll down the almost abandoned streets.

But, through all this 'stillness' there is still a bustling town underneath it that thrives on tourism and nature lovers.

Katoomba is about a 1.5 hour drive west of Sydney. This is a great weekend get-away spot. It is often frequented by outdoor adventure/bush-walking folk or those looking for a romantic weekend away.

There are plenty of choices for accommodation and eating out for all budgets - from awesome little hostels and guest houses to 5 star spa experiences that celebrities flock to.

Katoomba has it all.

Bring your bush walking shows - you will not want to come up here without exploring the Australia bush!

While we were up here we ate at Paragon - If you have a chance to try it - go - Its stuck in a time warp from the 1930's - Its my absolute heaven! Art Deco design, a lovely menu and tux-dressed waiters! Amazing!

Hostel No 14

A Quick little post for a short hostel stay.

Ever been on an impromptu road trip - they are the best!. My friend Peter and I decided we would hit a small car, and head up to the Blue Mountains (in Sydney's far west) on a Thursday afternoon. Its about a 2 hour drive from Sydney to the Blue Mountains. If you have grown up in Sydney at all, at some point during your schooling, you would have taken a day trip or weekend excision to The Blue Mountains. They hold major historical events and stories. The nostalgia and romance of the times of Explorers and Bush rangers still echoes through the haze of the blue Mountains.

The 'Mountains' are a popular weekend get-away spot at any-time of the year. In summer you can enjoy the nature, wildlife, bush walking  waterfalls, caves and shopping. While in Winter - you can enjoy all of the above - with a drop in temperature and if you're lucky some snow.

There are many places to stay and there are a few different towns to visit. Budgets range from camping all the way through to five star (say something like Lilianfels - OH some beautiful and a hit to the hip pocket).

As we were on a random road trip and hence on a budget, we did a night at Hostel No 14. I loved this place! It was warm, clean and had a beautiful charm about it. It looked to be an old (big) miners cottage that has been transformed into a guest house. It is more of a guest house than a hostel. You will not find any drunken you backpacker here. It is more for the budget concerned traveller. It is warm, there is heating through out. Breakfast comes for free and you can dabble away on you iPad or laptop with WiFi.

A twin room with share bathroom set us back $65 (that's $32.50 each) which isn't too bad for a warm bed, a cosie place to sit and read or browse the web and a bit of breakie and a cuppa of tea or coffee.

The manager of the hostel is very friendly and very accommodating  suggesting  things to see and do in the area and around the Mountains.

To book you can go straight to their website www.no14.com.au or I use hostelworld.com when booking hostels (its good for reviews)