Day trip to the Blue Mountains

Blue Mountains, originally uploaded by Frickley.

Before leaving Australia, we had one more place that we were keen to explore - the Blue Mountains, about 100km from the centre of Sydney. Instead of doing an organised tour, we hired a car with Kate and Jess which worked out cheaper and gave us more flexibility in what we wanted to do when we got there. Our first stop was 'Evans lookout' - a spectacular view over the mountains with their famous 'blue haze' (a result of the ultra fine oily mist given off by eucalyptus trees) and of the Wentworth Falls (though we all agreed it was more of a trickle than a fall!). After that, we drove on to Echo Point to see the famous 'Three Sisters' rock formation and Jamison Vally before heading to Katoomba and 'Scenic World'. Kate decided to sit this one out while James, Jess and I took the cable car down into the rainforest before taking the world's steepest railway back up. We got on the train (I would be more inclined to call it a cage on rollers) which had seat that tipped you backwards - seemed strange but as soon as the train moved off, all became clear. Almost immediately the train tipped almost vertically - the only thing to hold you in were the tilted seats (no seat belts and no sides to each cabin). I have to say, I was absolutely terrified (it couldn't have helped that we were ascending backwards) and clung on the the rail for all my life was worth! I will NEVER be doing that one again!!!

Our last stop in the Blue Mountains was the Botanical Gardens where we had a stroll before stopping at the cafe for scones and jam - mmm, the perfect day!