The Blue Mountains, Australia

I recently took a trip to Sydney for the holiday season, and I thought I'd start my series of blogs about the trip with the Blue Mountains. The Blue Mountains National Park is located about an hours drive inland from Sydney. It was given it's name due to the blue tinge the mountain range takes on when viewed from a distance. I actually believed it was due to light reflecting off vapors from the eucalyptus trees, but apparently that is only a myth. Instead, it is material emitted by coniferous trees whose particles cause the incoming ultraviolet radiation to be scattered creating a blue-greyish color. To be honest, I can't really say I noticed an overwhelming blue tint through the many ridges and valleys of the park, but it was stunning nonetheless.



We headed up to the Blue Mountains on New Years Day with our rented camper van. It was a warm and sunny day, and we noticed about 30 minutes into the drive on the highway that the temperature seemed to be getting increasingly unbearable. A hot blast was blowing in from the window and the three of us crammed into the front seat didn't help things. In reality, I'm pretty sure the heat was caused by the van's motor situated directly beneath our seat. In fact, the only way to access the engine was to lift the front seat! Regardless, it felt surprisingly nice when we finally parked the van at a recommended spot and got out. We decided to take in the views and a small walk to Wentworth Falls. The spot offered amazing views near the parking lot, and a 10 minute walk down to the top of the falls. From there, you could explore the creek which tumbled down many rocks and cliffs before it's 250 meter drop over the main falls. It was very refreshing and a great introduction to the Blue Mountains!



We noticed a large system of hiking trails that started from this spot, so we decided we'd come back the next day and check them out. Before we left, however, we were able to capture some views of the afternoon thunderstorms.



That night, we drove down the only road in the park that goes into one of the deep gorges to hunt for a camp ground I saw on a map at the visitors center. As we descended into Megalong Valley, the road slowly winded through the dense and cool forest until we finally got to a simple and sweet campground. We snatched one of the last good spots, prepared some dinner and even got to make a campfire. The campsite was located along a small creek, and it was even free! This might also be a good time to talk about our camper van a bit more. We rented the van from Wicked Camper Vans, who decorate all of their vans with graffitied images and phrases. We had an attractive serpent along the side, and the back of the van stated "Good girls need spanking too" in bright letters. The sleeping quarters were not comfortable to say the least, but it did the job. One of the beds actually hung from the roof with chains! The back opened up into a small kitchen area complete with a gas stove and a sink.



The next morning we were up and out early in an effort to beat the heat of the afternoon. We drove back to Wentworth falls to start our hike, and we decided on the toughest and longest trail we could find. It was called the Wentworth Pass, and it started at the falls and made it's way along a narrow path cut into the cliff-side. Eventually, many steps and stairs later, we reached the bottom of the first part of the falls. It offered incredible views looking up and also had some great areas for exploring. As we continued, the trail kept offering great views back at the falls and eventually we made it to the very bottom where there was a great swimming hole situated in a large pool where the water fell in to.



At this point, we realized that the trail was about as low as it was going to go, which meant we had to make our way up and out of the gorge we climbed in to. Luckily, the weather turned and was getting cloudy, and there were brief periods of showers to cool the air. If they became heavy, we were always able to find shelter under parts of the cliff-side. The trail eventually started to climb out of the gorge, but it was hard to notice due to the stunning scenery. The trail climbed along a different creek that fell into the valley with a whole new set of waterfalls and pools. It was hard work though, and we rewarded ourselves after our 4 hour hike with some ice cream at the top!



That night, we randomly drove toward another campsite that I remembered seeing on the map, but this one was a bit sketchier. The road decided to turn unpaved, unannounced, and gradually got worse. The state of the van only exaggerated every bump and dip with it's creaky frame and loud bed chains banging around. It had also started to rain regularly and the weather was pretty foggy. We eventually got to the campsite, which again was basic but free, and quickly got some food made under the shelter of the back door. I have a feeling the campsite would have provided incredible views across the nearby valleys and cliffs, but the fog was thick and didn't lift all night or the next morning. The good news is that it was a bit chilly outside which was a nice relief both from Singapore and the previous day's heat.



Without sounding picky, I generally find it hard to be impressed at scenic landscapes and mountains having spent most of my life in either Oregon or Colorado. However, the Blue Mountains (and many areas of New South Wales, Australia) really were incredible. Although we did drive through most of the main stretch, there are still many other areas to visit in the area...I guess more to explore next time! In such a short distance from the city, it was a great place to visit for a couple days and I'm glad we made the trip.