A Visit To The Blue Mountains

By Author: Salvatore Andrea
Total Articles: 6261

Location:

The Blue Mountains is a mountainous region in New South Wales, Australia. It is very close to Sydney’s metropolitan area. The area begins on the west side of the Nepean River and extends as far as the Coxs River. It is situated in the central parts of the Sydney Basin. It is mainly a sandstone plateau and is dissected by deep gorges. The highest point of the range is Mt Werong.

The Name:

The name is derived from the blue tinge that the range takes when viewed from a distance. This tinge is said to be caused when incoming ultra violet radiation is scattered by particles within the atmosphere which causes distant objects to appear grayish blue in color.

Attractions:

The Blue Mountains is considered a World Heritage Site. It has a huge area of tall forests mainly of eucalyptus trees, sandstone cliffs, canyons, waterfalls and bush land. Some of the natural attractions there are The Wentworth Falls, the Three Sisters, which are the trio of rocky pinnacles named after an aboriginal legend, the underground rivers and chambers of the Jenolan caves and the six foot walking track to Katoomba.

Things to do:

There are various ways to experience the beauty of the Blue Mountains tours. One can go walkabout with an aboriginal Darug guide and explore the natural sites and learn about the song lines that are related to these sites, see bark and body painting demonstrations, taste bush tucker and swim in the crystal clear water of the waterfall .Ghost tours are organized along with cave concerts with natural acoustics, all in a fairy tale atmosphere. The pretty tree lined streets of Leura is the place to eat, drink and indulge in. The galleries, boutiques and small stores are worth browsing. The Great Blue Mountains Drive, which is a series of linked drives and discovery trails, is another must do for any traveler.