By Ellen Hill – Blue Mountains Tourism.
The Three Sisters are recognised the world over and the views over World Heritage-listed landscapes are insta-famous. However, the Blue Mountains are so much more than that. It’s a secret we locals guard jealously, but you can go deeper...if you know how.
If you really want to mingle with the locals, come up midweek when there are fewer visitors. Summer is ideal because you can escape the blistering heat by taking a slow walk under a rainforest canopy.
Empress Falls, Porters Pass/Centennial Glen and Victoria Falls in the upper region are cool and shaded, while the Sassafras Gully circuit walk at Springwood and South Lawson Waterfall Circuit in the central Mountains are less known, so you can stand in the spritz of an icy waterfall on a hot day in private.
‘The Mountains’, as we locals call the region, have attracted creatives for generations and wandering through their artistry is inspiring every day – in venues like Norman Lindsay Gallery at Faulconbridge, Lost Bear Gallery in Leura, Blue Mountains Cultural Centre in Katoomba, Gary Hayes Photography at Mt Victoria and Gang Gang Gallery in nearby Lithgow.
It’s in street murals at Lawson and on walls in hidden laneways of Katoomba. You can hear it in folk music in backdoor venues, soul in rooftop bars, whisky bar comedy and Aussie rock icons in grand hotels.
There’s an ancient culture that lies deeper, a privilege we get to live, work and play every day here in Darug and Gundungurra Country. From mid-January, you can learn about local Dreamtime stories, native flora and fauna, lore and bush tucker on the Gundungurra Country Experience at Scenic World developed by knowledge keeper and Elder Uncle David King (Dingo Darbo).
You can already learn and walk through Country at The Gully in Katoomba, there are rock paintings for those who know where to look and National Parks & Wildlife Service and Jenolan Caves weave Aboriginal culture through art and activities.
What is a perfect weekend getaway without sensational food and beverage? People often come for the bushwalks, but there’s another type of track weaving its way through the Mountains - the Craft Beverage Trail.
You’ll find cider from a Century-old orchard, beers brewed down canyons and spirits infused with local botanicals as you wend your way up the Great Western Highway and drop down into the Megalong Valley before cutting across to the cideries at Bilpin.
If you’re looking for the ideal Blue Mountains getaway, no matter where you’re visiting from, be sure to check out the itinerary planner where we’ve already created readymade itineraries based on the most popular attractions or tailor your itinerary to your own perfect Blue Mountains getaway at https://www.visitbluemountains.com.au/plan/itineraries.
