Australia is a big country. Distances are frequently long and trips to faraway places require time and planning. That’s fine for many people, but for those whose time is more limited, somewhere closer to hand is the default option.

Something I think that the COVID lockdowns taught us all was that local tourist spots did have some value and were there to be appreciated, even it was several times a month! Not so long ago, our household needed a few days R ‘n’ R, preferably a short break that didn’t involve too much travel.

That led us to the Blue Mountains area, west of Sydney. Stretching from Blaxland to Mount Victoria, it has something for everyone, including recreational vehicle travellers. Historically speaking, the mountains were a blockade to the exploration of western NSW by European settlers. However, in 1813, three explorers. Gregory Blaxland, William Wentworth and William Lawson, discovered a way across the mountains. What’s interesting about the route taken by Blaxland, Wentworth and Lawson is that the main road today across the Blue Mountains, the Great Western Highway, closely follows the original track taken by the explorers.

Three Sisters, Katoomba

That not only opened a way across the Great Dividing Range, but also started settlements in the area. Some years later, in 1867, the railway was extended to Wentworth Falls and finally to Bathurst by 1876. That, of course, greatly encouraged the growth of towns along the railway line and, after the turn of the century, really started off the tourism industry in the Blue Mountains, something that still flourishes. Old-style guest houses became very popular and a couple of the more famous ones, the Carrington Hotel at Katoomba and the Hydro Majestic Hotel, are still in operation today.

It’s less well known, but the mining industry, mainly coal and shale oil, played a part in Blue Mountains history. In some cases, supplying a local power station. There were several coal mines around the Katoomba and Grose Valley areas, and shale oil was taken from the Megalong Valley,  as well as places further west like Hartley and Newnes. Some of the remains of mining activities can still be found by keen bushwalkers, but the well-known Scenic Railway was once used in the late 19th century for hauling coal out of the Jamison Valley. Much modernised now, it’s used exclusively for tourists and some mining artifacts can still be seen at the bottom of the railway.

Katoomba Cascades

In some ways, the Great Western Highway through this area might simply be regarded as an extension of Sydney suburbia but with a difference. On both sides of the highway is the Blue Mountains National Park. An area of 267,954 hectares, it not only restricts development but gives the residents and visitors alike a giant green lung. North American visitors tend to refer to the “Blue Hills” rather than mountains, which is somewhat accurate since geologically, the area is an uplifted plateau dissected by several rivers.

That said, there are plenty of lookouts and waterfalls by which to be enchanted. Bushwalkers of all standards will find something to enjoy, be it a two or three-day hike into Blue Gum Forest or just a 15 min walk to enjoy the marvels of Lincoln’s Rock at Wentworth Falls. Everyone has, of course, tangled with the tourist buses and seen the famous Three Sisters at Katoomba but there are plenty of other locations just off the beaten track where you could be the only person.

Keen photographers will be in their element. Early mornings and late afternoons are the best times to catch the sun on the cliff faces and a lightweight tripod will be a handy item for snapping the waterfalls in some of the valley areas. Don’t forget the polarising filter too!

Coachwood Glen, Megalong Valley

For those who enjoy the finer things in life, there are plenty of cafes and restaurants serving  gastronomic delights and there are even a couple of wineries in the Megalong Valley area. RV travellers looking for somewhere to stay have several choices. There are two caravan parks, one at Katoomba Falls and the other at Blackheath. Both are operated by the Blue Mountains City Council and are within easy walking distance of the respective towns. In the case of Katoomba Falls, there are several tourist attractions close by too. There are many camping spots in and out of the national park for those who desire something a little more rural and remote. Glenbrook, Woodford, Wentworth Falls, Blackheath and Megalong Valley all have camping locations. Discretion is the operative word in all cases. 

Wherever you might live, I’m sure there’s somewhere not too far away, just like the Blue Mountains, to be enjoyed in a leisurely way. Do it sometime soon!

Category: Features
Written: Wed 01 Feb 2023
Printed: February, 2023
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