The magical Blue Mountains of Australia

Less than 2 hours from Sydney you will enter one of the most beautiful places on earth. The Blue Mountains, NSW, Australia offers individuals of all ages an adventure of a lifetime. There are activities of every type found in this magical and magnificent region. When planning your holiday, it will be very helpful to think about what kind of adventure will best meet your interests.

With a mix of canyons, tall forests, rain forest, and healthlands Blue Mountains is one of 8 individual conservation reserves in the area. There are over 1 million hectares of unspoiled and breathtaking land and over 142km of hiking trails that are defined by fitness level. At any given time the visitor will enjoy beautiful and colorful birds, animal life, and the greatest concentration of eucalypt on the continent.

Certified Adventure Tour Operators are available for all types of adventures including canyoning, mountain biking, rock climbing, caving, bushwalking, abseiling, and more. There are also tours provided for 4WD exploration, and great theme tours. For the Ghost Hunters, there is a magnificent Blue Mountain Mystery Tour that takes you through the haunted sites in the mountains where you will learn about the myths and legends of the area and visit abandoned cemeteries and haunted buildings.

Stop by one of the Visitor Centres to get free assistance from trained staff that are knowledgeable about the region and the special sites that you won't want to miss. You will also find bushwalking guides, maps, books, and other helpful information to make your stay more enjoyable. This will also be a great opportunity to get the phone numbers for the emergency services in the area and stick the numbers in your backpack or bag.

As you drive around Grand Circular Tourist Drive, you will get a complete view of the beautiful and quaint Blue Mountain Villages and surrounding mountains. In Euroka you may see mobs of gray kangaroos languishing amongst the vegetation. Stop at Red Hand's Cave and see the beautiful Aboriginal rock art. Take a great cycling trip along the Oak Fire Trail from Woodford to Glenbrook. Or, you can visit the magnificant Normal Lindsay gallery and sculpture garden in Faulconbridge.

In Lithgow, you will have a change to enjoy the historic zig zag railway, or take some time to wander through the 2nd largest enclosed canyon in the world at Capertee Valley. Fisherman will find guarantee catches at the Archvale Trout Farm. Or, you may want to enjoy the Annual Ironfest Heritage Festival and participate in the great activities that are held during this great event

There are over 79 trails for bushwalking in these spectacular mountains. With the Bushwalking Guide you will be able to learn the name and location of the trails, how long it will take to hike, what the grade of the trail is (easy to expert), the distance, and best of all, what you will see during your hike. Some of these trails are short and can be completed in as little as a half hour. Other trails are up to 42km one way and have campsites along the way and at the destination. There are trails designed for wheelchairs, children, and leisurely meandering through the forest.

One of the things you will notice straight away will be the marvelous waterfalls that are everywhere. Wentworth Falls will be a walk that you can enjoy up close as you meander through the forest. If you take the trail at the bottom of the Scenic Railway, you will come to the base of Katoomba Falls and the breathtaking rainforest gully that is encircled by spectacular trees. A hike from Govetts Leap to Evans Lookout will take you right by Bridal Veil Falls. And, you won't want to miss the most impressive falls of all, the Kanangra Falls in Kanangra Boyd National Park.

The world beneath the Blue Mountains is as fantastic as the Mountains themselves. Start at Jenolan Caves and listen to the beautiful musical concert that takes place in the Cathedral Cave under the High Arch. Following the concern, you can spend time explores the magnificent cave network with either a guided or unguided tour. The guided tour will give you an opportunity to learn about the geology and history of the area and see the unique features of each of the wonderful caves. You may want to seek out the remote Wombeyan Caves and enjoy exploring then spending the night at one of the on-site accommodations.

The extreme sport enthusiast will find that opportunities for caving, rock climbing, extreme bushwalking, diving, and more are abundant and will provide you with exactly the adventure you are looking for. Perhaps abseiling, kayaking, or spending time enjoying the magnificent view after you have made it to the top of a challenging peak.

No matter what you are seeking, the Blue Mountains, NSW, Australia holds the key to lifetime of memories that will never be forgotten. This magical place, so close to Sydney that you can easily make the drive, holds all of the pristine beauty that fills a person with wonder and joy.