On top of the world in Blue Mountains

Panoramic view of The Three Sisters from Echo Point

Closer view of The Three Sisters

We have been back for 2 weeks and getting back to the grind.

It was a wonderful discovery holiday, Australia really has much to offer. Driving holidays is our kind of vacation, we have done that a few times in the States driving from one state to another. In each stop, we stayed in one place for 2 or 3 days depending on our itinerary. But this is the first time we are doing it in Australia.

Our route begun on Hume Highway from Melbourne in the direction of Sydney. This is the shortest way to get to the capital of NSW but there isn't much to offer in terms of sights on the way. Goulburn is where we stopped for a night after driving for a continuous 8 hours with occasional bio breaks. Goulburn used to be a gold mining town and the first inland town in NSW. The town did not leave much of an impression.

But the journey really begins in our next stop which is the Blue Mountains. Boy, did I underestimate this place. All I can say is The Blue Mountains National Park definitely stacks up against the world acclaimed national parks I have explored in the States.

After setting my sight in this area, I only wanted to know more. There is nowhere in the world quite like it.

In 1998 the Australian Government launched a bid to have the Blue Mountain listed for World Heritage because of the international significance of its natural and cultural heritage. The area covers a modest 1 million hectares.

Blue Mountains became a World Heritage site in Nov 2000. I can just picture the thousands of buses transporting millions of visitors to the Blue Mountains during the Olympics. The title recognises the many special natural features world's only wild Wollemi Pine, a relic of the age of the dinosaurs.

This magical place have a way of making you feel big and small all at once. The deep gorges, massive rock formations and green encarpments makes you feel small. Yet the pleasure of taking in such an abundance of natural beauty can make you feel like a giant.

In my opinion, it offers some of the best walking trails through some of the best scenery in Australia. If you haven't visited to the Blue Mountains, you haven't really visited Australia.

Katoomba, the largest town and closest to Echo Point viewing point.

Vibrant colours from Kangaroo Paws

The sun was setting after a heavy storm.

An elderly couple enjoying themselves, performing step up exercises.

Whose voices drift with the white mist. Passing like the ghosts of ocean waves?

Sometimes when I glimpsed this world lit by a dew drop. Hanging like some beautiful crystal ball from a minute fern frond.

An immense gulf is unexpectedly seen the trees. This kind view was to me quite novel. And extremely magnificent.

The mountain terminates in abrupt precipices of immense depth. At the bottom of which is seen a glen. As romantically beautiful as can be imagined.

Katoomba, Kedumba, Godooba  The Valley of Falling Waters.

After a storm, snails come out to play.

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