Travel | Blue Mountains
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© Emirates One & Only Wolgan Valley / Destination NSW ; © Kristen Greaves / Destination NSW
One thing is clear : the Greater Blue Mountains is back , and it ’ s well on its way to eclipsing its own name .
1 Kangaroos and wallabies might be a dime a dozen in these parts , but the Blue Mountains is also home to over 400 species – many of them endangered and not readily seen elsewhere .
2 Ten times older than the Grand Canyon , the Blue Mountains ’ dramatic sandstone cliffs and rugged canyons are an adventurer ’ s dream . For the less intrepid , there ’ s always a scenic lunch .
5 Senses – Sight THREE SISTERS
Stand at the iconic Echo Point Lookout overlooking the Three Sisters rock formation and marvel at the colour of the ‘ Blue ’ mountains . Densely populated by oil-bearing eucalyptus trees , water vapour and dust particles pick up these dispersed droplets and scatter short-wavelength rays of light that are predominantly blue in colour – hence the region ’ s name .
Dari Echo Point Lookout yang menghadap ke formasi batuan Three Sisters , Anda bisa menyaksikan keindahan warna pegunungan “ Biru ”. Diselimuti pepohonan eukaliptus , kabut dan partikel debu menyebarkan cahaya gelombang pendek yang didominasi warna biru — karenanya kawasan ini dinamakan Blue Mountains .
Sydney-siders moving west to open boutique hotels , restaurants and cafés , bringing with them a new wave of culture , ideas and passion .
In amongst all this noise , one thing is clear : the Greater Blue Mountains is back , and it ’ s well on its way to eclipsing its own name .
Action all areas With eight individual conservation reserves – Yengo , Wollemi , Gardens of Stone , Blue Mountains , Nattai , Kanangra Boyd , Thirlmere Lakes and Jenolan Caves Karst Reserve – the Greater Blue Mountains ’ biggest drawcard transcends all trends of course , and Dylan Jones , owner of Blue Mountains Adventure Company , says he ’ s convinced that to see the best parts of the region , one has to “ suffer – just a little ”. “ We specialise in single-day , mostly rope-based adventures such as rock climbing , abseiling and canyoning and I can tell you that you can spend a month exploring canyons and gullies and still not scratch the surface ,” Dylan says .
With over 400 walking tracks alone ( for the record , Jones recommends The Grand Canyon bush walk at Blackheath and The National Pass Walk at Wentworth Falls as two must-dos ), you ’ d be forgiven for thinking the destination is only for nature lovers and adventurers , but
2 nothing could be further from the truth . Recent upgrades to Scenic World mean visitors can enjoy the bush from the Skyway ( suspending them some 270m above the valley floor ), via the Cableway or through an elevated boardwalk , which immerses wanderers in Jurassic rainforest on the Jamison Valley floor .
Meander through the quaint townships of Leura , Blackheath , Lawson and Katoomba , allowing adequate time to check out the vast array of antique stores , chic boutiques and quirky cafés , and pop in to some of the art galleries that are concentrated in this area ( the Norman Lindsay Gallery & Museum Shop in Faulconbridge in particular is not to be missed ).
And by all means , visit those iconic spots – just don ’ t make the mistake of thinking this is a day-trip destination , warns Jones . “ You wouldn ’ t believe the number of people I see who only plan for one day here ,” he says . “ They always leave frustrated , telling me if only they ’ d known there was so much to see and do , they would have planned for a longer stay .”
Staying is believing At its clifftop location overlooking spectacular Megalong Valley , Hydro Majestic Hotel front office manager Meagan Iervasi is pondering what it is that ’ s drawing crowds to the region ( and indeed , to this historic hotel , which once saw the likes of the late and great Dame Nellie Melba entertain guests in the roaring ’ 20s ). “ The natural beauty of the area and the fresh mountain air has always been a given , but the Blue Mountains is a hub of artists and producers and I think people have recognised