Visiting the Blue Mountains

At an early 7 a.m. on a beautiful Monday morning, my family and I boarded a small, 20-person tour bus and headed toward the Blue Mountains. Just about 30 miles northwest of Sydney, the Blue Mountains received their name just as one would imagine–from a distance they appear blue! Hidden within the mountains are not only villages where people live, but also breathtaking scenes one would not believe lie so close to the bustling city.

Our tour first stopped in Katoomba, where we entered Scenic World, a family-owned “park” that provides access to mountaintop views. With cableways, skyways and railways, as well as walkways leading you through the forestry, there is a new sight to see with every turn of the head.

Next, we stopped at a few lookout points, where we saw waterfalls, vast ranges of untouched, mountains land, and various uniquely shaped cliffs. The air in the city can hardly compete with the fresh, crisp air of the mountains!

One of the main lookout points revealed the Three Sisters, a famous three-stone rock formation. Aboriginal stories tell of a man who wanted to marry all three beautiful sisters, despite it being against tribal laws to marry someone from an unassigned tribe. Their father, who would not allow it, turned the women into stone with his special weapon, yet the tool was lost and he died before he could turn them back. Today, they are on full display for us to view–and beautiful they remain!

It was then off to lunch, where we enjoyed 100% grass-fed Australian beef burgers, chicken parmigiana, and more at a local pub. Australian beef is said to be some of the best-quality beef in the world. The food was delicious!

After our short break, we ventured to Featherdale Wildlife Park, essentially a miniature-sized zoo with an array of Australian species! We were privileged the chance to pet and take photos with a koala, enjoy a fairy penguin-feeding presentation, and watch many kangaroos, wallabies, birds, and reptiles dominate the park (you can even feed the kangaroos and wallabies for a small fee)! While our time at the park was limited, we were offered a great taste of the most prominent Australian wildlife!

Fun Fact: it is illegal in all but two states in Australia to hold koalas, including in New South Wales (where Sydney is located), so it was great to be able to snap a photo with one at Featherdale, even if we couldn’t hold it completely!

At the end of the day, we enjoyed a ferry cruise that began near Sydney Olympic Park (where the 2000 Summer Olympics were held) and ended in Darling Harbor. The hour-long ride offered stunning night views as the boat made its way along the water, and a gentle breeze added to the calming atmosphere! The sun set, and we returned to the heart of Sydney’s CBD. What an eventful day!

While the tour I attended was only one version of a Blue Mountains itinerary, there are definitely other options. The day-trip is more valuable, of course, with a tour guide who can explain Australian culture and history along the way, but all the destinations aforementioned can be accessible on your own. Regardless of how you arrive, I highly recommend a trip away from the city–and into the beauty of nature!