Blue Mountains NSW
Blue Mountains, NSW, Australia
Only about 100km (60 miles ) west of Sydney is the beautiful area of the Blue Mountains, NSW (New South Wales). It is accessible by road and rail. There are many walks in this area for exploring the magnificent views, waterfalls and bushland in the Blue Mountains. This page contains some of our favourite places to visit when sight-seeing in the Blue Mountains NSW.
The Blue Mountains are part of the Great Dividing Range which stretches 3500km (2175miles) down the east coast of Australia from the northern tip of Queensland (Qld), through NSW and finishing in Victoria (Vic). The Blue Mountain National Park was set aside in 1959 and now has the highest number of visitors of any national park in NSW.
Major Attractions in the Blue Mountains, NSW
Katoomba
Katoomba is one of the most popular tourist destinations in the Blue Mountains, NSW due to the surrounding spectacular mountain scenery. From Echo Point, just south of the town, the famous Three Sisters rock formation can be viewed and there is a steep track, called the Giant Stairway which leads down to (or up from) the Jamison Valley.
An alternative way down into the valley is by the Katoomba scenic railway, which, at 52°, is reported to be the world's steepest cable-driven railway. There are walking tracks down in the valley so you can explore the beautiful bushlands.
Another way to see the sights is from the Scenic Skyway which travels across the gorge, with spectacular views of the Katoomba Falls.
Location of Katoomba and the Three Sisters
Three Sisters
Scenic Skyway and Scenic Railway
Scenic Skyway Cable Car
Jenolan Caves
Jenolan Caves are a collection of limestone caves located 175km (110 miles) west of Sydney in the Blue Mountains, NSW. Many of the caves have spectacular rock formations and are open to paying visitors. The caves were first opened to tourists in the mid nineteenth century.
Stalactites, Jenolan Caves
Nettle Cave, Jenolan Caves (photo taken c1888)
Have you ever been to the Blue Mountains NSW?
Bushwalks in the Blue Mountains
The Grand Canyon
The Grand Canyon walking track descends 350m (1150 feet) into a canyon in the Grose Valley, Blue Mountains, NSW. It is a three to four hour walk, but if you take as many photos as I did, it could take all day! The walk takes you next to Greaves Creek, through varying vegetation, through a small tunnel and behind a waterfall. The track is currently under repairs closed on weekdays (still open weekends) until January 2010.
Below are some of the highlights of our recent walk.
Steep walls in the Grand Canyon
Walk behind a waterfall
Beautiful Blue Mountains bush
Track through the rainforest, Blue Mountains
