Seeing Blue, Up In The Mountains
22nd March, Blue Mountains, Australia
Talk about déja vu. Yesterday, we were at the Jenolan Caves, just like we had been 4 years ago, and today we were re-tracing our steps (or tyre-tracks) around the various villages in the Blue Mountains area. But then, the Blue Mountains warrants a second visit and not necessarily as far apart as we had done.
Our first visit was Govett's Leap, a fantastic lookout in Blackheath over the Grose valley. Does that mean 'big valley', as in the German for the word 'big'? Unlikely, but it seems fitting, as looking over the valley you realise just how vast the opening is before you and how inconsequential you are perched on the lookout. A spec, no more.
View over the Grose Valley from Govett's Leap lookout.
If you imagine that the Great Western Highway is the backbone that runs along the high lands of the Blue Mountains, then the sight-seeing opportunities are the lookouts that you'll find at the ends of the 'ribs'. Moving along the highway, you can take small diversions left and right for views over the different valleys. Moving on from Govett's leap, we headed back up toward the highway, then crossed straight over (down the opposite rib, if you like) over to Shipley Plateau. Here was another test for Ethel (or old kombi van) as we moved off of sealed roads on to dirt tracks. Sticking to second gear all the way, I navigated our way around the pot-holes and other undulations in the 'road' that would cause the van and all its contents to shake crazily to the next lookout: Hargraves Lookout.
Ethel makes her way along the dirt track on Shipley Plateau (But where's
the driver?).
Ian overlooking the Kanimbla Valley from Shipley Plateau.
And that's pretty much what we continued to do for the rest of the day, stopping off at every lookout over valleys of eucalyptus trees bordered by rocky plateaux. And while I mention eucalyptus trees, it's worth pointing out that it's these trees that give the area its name - the blue haze is what the eucalyptus trees exude in their hundreds and thousands.
For lunch we spoiled ourselves with tea and scones on the balcony of the Hydro Majestic, a proper posh, and very old, hotel that hangs precariously over the edge of the Megalong Valley. Actually, a cup of tea was about all we'd manage to afford here, but it got us our balcony pass.
A poster advertising the Hydro Majestic from days past.
As well as all the lookouts over the valleys, there are plenty of waterfalls or cascades around the area, including the small but pretty cascades at Leura. We took a walk down alongside the water's edge, snapping away on the camera, then continued out to yet another lookout. Some people might get bored of this, but not us - each lookout has its own character, no matter if its still essentially a view of trees, and lots of them, stretching into the distance.
Manda at Leura Cascades.
Before the light faded we visited Gordon Falls and took in the wide ranging views at Sublime Point, then took a look around Leura village, a small but pretty village with flower boxes lining the main shopping street. After that we went back to Katoomba to find somewhere to eat before heading back to Blackheath caravan park where we could once more recharge the camera batteries ready for another day's frenetic photo-taking.
Spotted in Leura outside a clothes shop: a 'Seat for Bored Husbands'.
