By Ethan Franke
It’s easy to see why the Blue Mountains are a popular getaway destination these days.
It’s also hard to imagine a better view than THAT after a long couple of hours driving. Going from being confined by the cramped suburban neighbourhoods and urban concrete jungles of Sydney to having nothing but nature and open space as far as the eyes can see.
European explorers first traversed the Blue Mountains’ 11,400km² of terrain in 1813. The area earned its name from the blue haze that oozes off the over 100 different species of eucalyptus which dominate the landscape.
Nowadays, attracting over five million visitors annually, the Blue Mountains sure do have a vast variety of pretty sights to entice Sydney locals to venture out west.
An obvious spectacle that one wouldn’t want to miss out on would be exploring the vast wilderness. The Grand Canyon track found within the National Park is a 6km loop which offers a decent few hours of tiring yet beautiful exploration. It’s a deep descent into the forest, with glistening waterfalls, jagged rock pathways and a steep stairway climb at the end. A water bottle is a must!
And from the national park a short, cruisy drive down the Great Western Highway can lead to many different fortunes.
Medlow Bath’s high tea restaurant the Hydro Pavilion offers a coffee-and-cake experience unlike any other, with a beautiful view looking directly on to the mountains. The Leura retail strip offers a fascinating window-shopping experience, with high-end clothing, souvenir shops and plenty of delicious dining locations for a pit stop. While Blackheath boasts a relaxing wind-down spot with Side B Vinyl Bar, a jazz and cocktails lounge, which also happens to be less than 10 minutes away from a west-facing lookout point for that beautiful sunset to end the day.
It’s safe to say that the Blue Mountains are no stranger to newcomers. And whether your adventures call for daring hikes, road-trip scenery straight out of a pop song music video, or a nightlife experience so distinct from Sydney’s, it seems to be a holiday hotspot with everything you could need.
Featured image: The view from the Hydro Pavilion carpark. Photo: Ethan Franke
Beautifully written !!!sounds like an experience to remember