New South Wales - Australia 2004 - page 179

to conquer the sheer cliffs, valleys, and dense forest, and cross the mountains
(which are hardly mountains at all, but rather a series of hills covered in bush and
ancient fern trees) to the plains beyond. There they found land urgently needed
for grazing and farming. The Great Western Highway and Bells Line of Road are
the access roads through the region today—winding and steep in places, they are
surrounded by the Blue Mountains and Wollemi national parks.
The area is known for its spectacular scenery, particularly the cliff-top views
into the valleys of gum trees and across to craggy outcrops that tower up from
the valley floor. It's colder up here than down on the plains, and the clouds can
sweep in and fill the canyons with mist in minutes, while waterfalls cascade
down sheer drops, spraying the dripping fern trees that cling to the gullies. You'll
need at least a couple of days up here to get the best out of it—a single-day tour,
with all the traveling involved, can only just scratch the surface.
The Blue Mountains is also one of Australia's best-known adventure play-
grounds. Rock climbing, caving, abseiling (rappelling), bushwalking, mountain
biking, horseback riding, and canoeing are practiced here year-round.
BLUE MOUNTAIN ESSENTIALS
VISITOR INFORMATION You can pick up maps, walking guides, and
other information and book accommodations at Blue Mountains Tourism,
with locations at Echo Point Road, Katoomba, NSW 2780 ( & 1300/653 408
in Australia, or 02/4739 6266), and on the Great Western Highway at Glen-
brook, a small settlement 61km (38 miles) from Sydney (same telephone num-
ber). The Katoomba information center is an attraction itself, with glass
windows overlooking a gum forest and cockatoos and lorikeets feeding on seed
dispensers. Pick up a copy of the Blue Mountains Pocket Guide, a free guide
to dining, accommodations, bushwalking, and entertainment. Both offices are
open from 9am to 5pm daily (the office at Glenbrook closes at 4:30pm
Sat-Sun).
The National Park Shop, Heritage Centre, the end of Govetts Leap Rd.,
Blackheath ( & 02/4787 8877; www.npws.nsw.gov.au), is run by the National
Parks and Wildlife Service and offers detailed information about the Blue
Mountains National Park. The staff can also arrange personalized guided tours
of the mountains. It's open daily from 9am to 4:30pm (closed Christmas).
Check the website, www.bluemts.com.au, for more information on the area.
GUIDED TOURS FROM SYDNEY Many private bus operators offer day
trips from Sydney, but it's important to shop around because some offer a
guided coach tour where you just stretch your legs occasionally, while others let
you get your circulation going with a couple of longish bushwalks. One highly
recommended operator is Oz Trek Adventure Tours ( & 02/9360 3444; www.
oztrek.com.au). Their trips include a tour of the Olympic site, a visit to Glen-
brook National Park (where you'll see kangaroos and wallabies in the wild),
tours of all the major Blue Mountain sites, and a 1 1 ⁄ 2 -hour bushwalk. It costs

Color Me Blue
The Blue Mountains derive their name from the ever-present blue haze
that is caused by light striking the droplets of eucalyptus oil that evapo-
rate from the leaves of the dense surrounding forest.

Fun Fact