Blue Mountains Feb 2013

A short break in the Blue Mountains, west of Sydney was a welcome relief after a hot January then torrential rain for a couple of days. The weather was fine and sunny, just perfect for some bush walking.

We left home after coffee and headed west through Windsor, Richmond and up into the mountains via Winmalee and Springwood.

We made our way to Katoomba - the main regional centre - where I bought some new hiking boots at one of the local climbing stores. Then it was time to explore some areas we had not been to before.

On the northern side of the highway we headed for Minnie Ha Ha Falls. We had our lunch, then it was time to test those new boots.

One of the few summer flowering natives

Minni Ha Ha Falls

After our walk we made our way back to the eastern side of the highway, but decided to check out a couple of other places before heading to our accommodation in Leura for two nights.

We stopped in Leura for a milkshake and some people watching time then went and checked out Gordon Falls and the lookout at Olympian Rock. Gordon Falls had not benefited too much from the recent rains, but the view from Olympian Rock was gorgeous. Much of the vegetation on the path to the lookout had been affected by bush fire but was growing back and provided a stark reminder of the fragile nature of our native flora, but also it's capacity to regenerate after such events.

New growth on an otherwise 'dead' banksia

View from Olympian Rock lookout

The stairway down to the lookout

 
 
Our first evening we had dinner in the hotel restaurant which was included in our package for the stay, but it was not too flash so made enquiries about other restaurants locally.

After a leisurely start to the morning and a good breakfast we headed for Blackheath to take a walk in that part of the mountains which we hadn't taken before, the cliff top walk between Evans Lookout and Govetts Leap.

Bridal Veil Falls and a rainbow created when the sun shines down on the back spray

The narrow track from the valley along Rodiguez Pass

 

 Some beautiful examples of how the Banksia trees were immortalised in the books by May Gibbs. This is how the Big Bad Banksia Men come to be

The Banksia tree

A fresh flower

Seed pods emerging

The Big Bad Banksia Man

 We did not walk the entire cliff top walk as we were going to visit Govetts Leap lookout anyway. So we returned the way we had come after soaking up the beauty overlooking Bridal Veil Falls. The return walk provides an opportunity to see views and the flora and fauna along the way from a different perspective.

There were dragonflies, butterflies, lizards to be seen. Bellbirds constantly calling in the valley way below. Few people on this walk made it a very peaceful morning.

A burnt through tree - but still it lives. Such is the nature of our flora

A beautifully camouflaged lizard

Most colour is seen in the Spring but there is the occasional spash

 Driving around to Govetts Leap we called in to Blackheath for something to drink and some more people watching. Then we drove down to the lookout

This is a more popular spot, but being mid-week it was not too busy.

These stone structures were built in the early days for visitors to the Blue Mountains

One of our magnificent eucalypt trees - commonly called gum trees

Horseshoe Falls from Govetts Leap lookout

 With plenty of the day to spare to drove back along the highway towards Wentworth Falls. Being of the nature to find less crowded walks and lookouts, we took a different route to overlook the falls.

Wentworth Falls and Yester Grange in the upper distance

 After substantial rain the previous weekend, the Falls were probably better than they would otherwise have been. Rain has been in short supply over the summer months.

Our second night we headed into Leura for dinner - a lovely meal early in the evening and we were back at the hotel for a good night's sleep after our busy day.

After checking out of the hotel we headed just down the road to Sublime Point. Being early in the day it was not busy, so we had the place to ourselves. A beautiful Yellow Tail Black Cockatoo sat squawking  in the trees as we headed down to the lookout. He did not mind having his picture taken either.

The Three Sisters from the Leura side of the Jamison Valley

 I took a couple of quick videos - one of the view over Bridal Veil Falls and Govetts Leap and the other looking over the Jamison Valley