| Not all the tour guides will tell you
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| | situated in the heart of the mountains is
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| about it. Nor is it often found on
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| | the most frequented starting point for
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| international tour maps. But like many of
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| | your journey. There is the famous Giant
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| the charming places beyond the beaten
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| | Stairway that runs down a cliff through a
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| path, the Blue Mountains are sure to
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| | two and half hour walk through the
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| charm you with their untamed adventurous
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| | Jamison Valley, into the Scenic Railway.
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| spirit. A short 100 kms west of Sydney,
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| | Along the way you meet the most
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| it is close enough for a quick day trip,
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| | celebrated feature of the Blue Mountains,
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| or a leisurely overnight visit.
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| | the Three Sisters, a sandstone rock face
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| The Blue Mountains are actually sandstone
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| | with three crests formed due to
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| plateaus that reach up to 1190 metres
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| | differential erosion. Tribal legend has
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| above sea level. You can expect pleasant
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| | it that three women in love were turned
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| temperatures throughout the year,
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| | to stone by a witch doctor, who then
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| although in the summer months the
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| | died, leaving the women in unrequited
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| temperatures may reach the lower
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| | stony eternal silence.
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| thirties. The plateaus are fringed by
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| | At the bottom you can ride the Katoomba
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| rugged eroded gorges reaching up to a
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| | Scenic Railway, a privately-owned tourist
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| depth of 760 metres, and providing dozens
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| | service with a cable-driven railway
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| of ledges for the adventurous
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| | system that claims to be the steepest
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| rock-climber. Part of the Greater Blue
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| | rail-route in the world, going to the
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| Mountains World Heritage Site, the Blue
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| | maxima of an incredible 52°! Similarly,
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| Mountains is an extraordinary natural
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| | the Scenic Skyway and the Scenic Flyway
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| reservoir of flora.
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| | are two celebrated cable cars traversing
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| For a long time, the difficult terrain of
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| | different arms of the Jamison Valley,
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| Blue Mountains prevented access to the
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| | with the latter claiming to be the
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| valleys beyond it. Explorers would follow
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| | steepest in Australia.
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| rivers which would lead them to
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| | The Jenolan Caves are a series of
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| spectacular and dangerous waterfalls,
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| | marvelous caves made of limestone with
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| ending in a ledge or cliff. Early in the
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| | wonderful display of stalactites and
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| 19th century, three determined explorers
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| | stalagmites, situated 45 km (70 km by
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| charted a new path along the ridges and
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| | road) south west of Katoomba township.
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| cliffs to cross what was considered
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| | The Zig Zag railway is a heritage railway
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| impossible. Later, the Blue Mountains
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| | around the famous Lithgow Zig Zag,
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| were to provide numerous ridges, cliffs,
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| | designed in such a way to traverse abrupt
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| edges, rock faces, and gorges for the
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| | ascents.
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| mountaineers and rock-climbers as well as
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| | The Blue Mountains, named so because of
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| the many abseilers who flock to the area.
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| | the blue haze caused by the volatile
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| There are many attractions in and
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| | fumes released by the surrounding
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| around the Blue Mountains. The Blue
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| | eucalypts, is full of adventure for
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| Mountains National Park is 250,000
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| | everyone. Here you can do bushwalking,
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| hectares of natural wonderland, which
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| | horse riding, abseiling, visit day spas,
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| unlike many other parks, invites people
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| | ride the railways and cables, see the
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| with full accessibility. You can view the
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| | Edge Cinema or the gardens, and enjoy the
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| Park by car through the M4 Freeway, which
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| | various rock formations and caves. You'll
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| will be a one and a half hour trip from
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| | find wonderful food and wine, and
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| Sydney, or you can take the trains
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| | shopping opportunities to satiate your
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| leaving hourly from Sydney Central
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| | local interest. Or, if you feel like
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| Station. Day touring services are also
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| | writing a novel, you might find your muse
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| available, which is a good idea for those
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| | within the inspiring scenes around you.
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| who don't want to explore all by
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| | Fact is, the Blue Mountains are likely to
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| themselves. A guided tour will ensure you
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| | find a way to charm your heart.
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| see all the significant points and you
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| | Disclaimer We take no responsibility for
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| will receive a useful commentary as well.
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| | inaccuracy or omissions in the
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| Catering arrangements are also made by
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| | information provided, which is not
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| the tour companies, saving one planning
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| | intended as specific advice. Before
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| headache. The English Gardens and
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| | relying on the material, you should
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| villages along the route are enchanting
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| | obtain appropriate professional advice
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| escapes into a pastoral world.
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| | relevant to your individual circumstances
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| There are many small and spirited towns
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| | to evaluate accuracy, currency,
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| near and within Blue Mountains - in fact
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| | completeness and relevance of the
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| 26 of them in all - and Katoomba
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| | information to your specific needs.
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| (aboriginal for 'shiny, tumbling water'),
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